Iowa caucuses valuable, but too early

The Gazette Editorial Board

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The practical purpose of the Iowa caucuses is to winnow the field. This time, six major candidates sought at least an encouraging start toward winning the Republican nomination in August and challenging President Barack Obama in November.

Count us among Iowans who still value the opportunity to be first in the nation on the winding, sometimes wacky nomination trail. If only the caucuses weren't so early, the winnowing could be even more meaningful.

Just as in 2008, barely past the nation's major holiday period, Tuesday's Iowa caucuses capped the initial campaign push that essentially began with the Iowa GOP Straw Poll in August. And once again, many Iowans went to their caucus undecided - half of them, the latest pre-caucus polls showed.

No surprise.

Since November, three different candidates traded places at the top of polls: Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney. Ron Paul was steady and Rick Santorum surged mightily in the final two weeks when most Iowans were engaged with the holidays, not focused on politics.

The situation was volatile. And the outcome proved reminiscent of 2008 when Obama stunned the nation by winning Iowa. The Democrat favorite, Hillary Clinton, finished third. With no incumbent, the GOP saw eventual nominee John McCain place fourth among five candidates receiving significant support.

We congratulate Tuesday's top finishers, and we also wonder: How different might the outcome have been if Iowans had several more weeks to prepare, as they traditionally did before this decade's stepped-up political schedule manipulating? Less distracted as they sort through attack ads and read about, watch and meet candidates during cold, quiet January. More informed, more settled as they caucus in ... February. Not Jan. 3.