With Cruz cruising in Iowa’s polls, dramatic news today from Iowa’s eminence grise!  “Defeat Cruz!” says Iowa’s Gov. Why?  Because Cruz has been tepid on ethanol, a corn-based product.  And what fuel’s Iowa’s economy?  Yep, corn!

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/presidential/caucus/2016/01/19/branstad-says-he-wants-cruz-defeated-iowa/79003590/

In other news, former VP candidate Sarah Palin endorses Trump. Will this also tip Tea Party Conservatives away from Cruz?

More details here: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/20/us/politics/donald-trump-sarah-palin.html?_r=0

Finally, the latest polls out of New Hampshire show Sanders pulling away by 27%!

http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/01/19/bernie-sanders-widens-lead-over-hillary-clinton-in-new-hampshire/

Will Iowa turn into a slug fest?!  Will New Hampshire turn the tide to Sanders?! Stay tuned…

While the winner of the Iowa Caucus doesn’t always go on to win their party’s nomination, there are many reasons the candidates put so much effort into campaigning in Iowa.   According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, the most important reason is that the winner of the Caucus gets a significant boost going forward.   And more than anything, Iowa becomes a critical first test – where losers often have to go home!

Here’s a link to the article.