There are things we don't know and things we know about Sen. Barack Obama's resounding Democratic win in the Iowa Caucuses last night.

We don't actually know if Oprah Winfrey's seraphic endorsement of his campaign had an effect on his victory or if it was the $9 million he spent on political advertising. But we do know both at least helped.

We don't know how many black people actually participated in the caucusing that took place in schools, barns and homes across the state. But we know that the white folk weren't scared to support him.

Most importantly, we don't know if this means he'll be President of the United States, but we do know that going into the New Hampshire Primary for him, things look damned good. ...


The Iowa Caucus for both Democrats and Republicans count as a bellweather and a kickstart to grabbing delegates for this summer's political conventions. That Obama, a junior senator from Illinois came in and toppled the campaigns of more seasoned, connected and whiter (except for Bill Richardson) candidates is quite a feat.

In any other political year, for any other political candidate, it would have been worth a few cheers before making it toward New Hampshire, then Super Tuesday. But the reason this counts so much for Obama is that many didn't believe anyone would vote for a black candidate, meaning many black political leaders backed Sen. Hillary Clinton.

But this will show them and other skeptical black voters that a black man can be a viable White House candidate, and methinks people will lose their fear of supporting Obama. However, this does not mean that he's won the race, not by a long shot. He still has to make it through New Hampshire, Super Tuesday and all the leftover primaries and caucuses, then grab the Democratic nomination, and finally run against whoever the Republicans decide to sic on him.


















Meanwhile on the Democratic side, both Clinton and John Edwards are each left with needed wins in the upcoming primaries or find themselves retreating. Clinton, in particular has much to lose because she's put so much into her campaign and was expected going in to be the victor.

With the Republicans, Gov. Mike Huckabee pulled off a surprise win, many say because of his background as a Baptist minister enabling him to relate to evangelicals in Iowa. But that leaves Gov. Mitt Romney scratching his head, wondering if it was anti-Mormon bigotry that had anything to do with it (duh!), and Fred Thompson reaching for a new line from ''Law and Order.' None of the other candidates really even tried there because they knew Iowans simply wouldn't dig them.

Last night started a free-for-all that I hope will end in a battle royale between those who say they deserve to serve us as Chief Executive. A long time ago, only the patricians could even step to the table and dare say they wanted to be president, and their wealthy friends would get them into office.

Now it becomes anyone's race, and it should be.