With the sounds of U2 playing off into the background, Barack Obama stated "Our time for change has come!" to a cheerfully loud crowd of supporters after winning the Democratic Iowa Caucas with 38% of the votes. The turnout was 82% up from the last Iowa Caucus in 2004. Sportsbook.com had the Democratic Party as the heavy -250 odds favorite to take back the White House in 2008.
Obama stated he wanted to "free this nation of the tyranny of oil for once and for all" and that “You have done what the cynics said you could not do. You have done what the state of New Hampshire can do in 5 days. You have done what America can do in this new year, 2008."
Democratic Presidential Candidate John Edwards received 30% of the votes in the Iowa Caucus voters and he did not concede defeat in his speech. "Status quo lost, and Change won!" stated Edwards after the results were made of the Iowa Caucuses. The comment was a clear jab at Hillary Clinton. Edwards needed a strong finish if not a outright win in Iowa because he does not have a good infrastructure in New Hampshire and lacks the financial power that the Obama and Clinton campaigns. The Edwards volunteers were willing to baby-sit or give rides in order to make sure their supports voted in the Iowa Caucus. John Edwards was out spent 6 to 1. Turn out was more than double that of the Republican Caucuses.
"Clearly Barack Obama has the momentum coming into New Hampshire where people there want change," commented Christopher Costigan, Publisher of Gambling911.com. "The fact that an African American won in a state that is 95% White suggests that in the whole scheme of things, Obama is the most significant factor now in the Democratic race."
Earlier in the day, the general consensus from political strategists stated that Clinton could not show up too far behind Obama and but it was not critical for the New York Senator to win Iowa. Since she came in third with 29% of the votes, she was the biggest loser of the night. Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright and President Bill Clinton were standing behind Hillary Clinton during her congratulatory speech to Barack Obama.
"It is clear, America needs a new beginning….we are not here to elect a President, we are here to change a Country." Hillary thanked all of the Democratic President Candidates specifically naming each person individually.
After getting less one percent of the vote in the Iowa Caucus, Delaware Senator Joe Biden dropped out of the race for the 2008 Democratic Presidential Nomination. Senator Chris Dodd also dropped out of the race after receiving less than one percent. Neither candidate announced who they would support for the nomination of the Democratic Party.
Sportsbook.com has posted political betting odds on which party will win the 2008 Presidential Race:
Democrats: -250
Republicans: +175
