Senator Barack Obama and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee have won the Iowa caucuses, the first of the 2008 campaign. Obama won 37 percent of the delegate support in the Democratic caucus easily beating his top rivals. He is the first African American presidential candidate to ever win in Iowa, a state that is 95 percent white. Obama addressed supporters after his victory was announced.

Sen. Barack Obama: “You have done what America can do in this new year, 2008. In lines that stretched around schools and churches, in small towns and big cities, you came together as Democrats, Republicans and Independents to stand up and say that we are one nation, we are one people and our time for change has come.”

Former Senator John Edwards narrowly beat Senator Hillary Clinton for second place. Both received just under 30 percent support. At a campaign rally, Edwards was introduced by his wife Elizabeth.

Elizabeth Edwards: “I’m glad to introduce the next president of the United States and the second place winner in Iowa, John Edwards.”

John Edwards: “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Elizabeth, very much. The one thing that’s clear from the results in Iowa tonight is the status quo lost and change won.”

Clinton’s third-place finish comes just months after polls showed her with a wide lead over her Democratic rivals. Speaking to supporters in Iowa, Clinton vowed to continue her bid.

Sen. Hillary Clinton: “What is most important now is that as we go on with this contest, that we keep focused on the two big issues, that we answer correctly the questions that each of us has posed. How will we win in November 2008? By nominating a candidate who will be able to go the distance and who will be the president on day one. I am ready for that contest.”

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson placed fourth with two percent. Senators Chris Dodd and Joseph Biden both announced they are dropping out of the race after placing in fifth and sixth place. On the Republican side, Mike Huckabee won over 34 percent of the vote in what the Washington Post described as a devastating blow to former Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney.

Mike Huckabee: “Because tonight what we have seen is a new day in American politics. A new day is needed in American politics, just like a new day is needed in American government, and tonight it starts here in Iowa, but it
doesn’t end here. It goes all the way through the other states and ends at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.”

Romney received 25 percent of the vote after outspending Huckabee seventeen-to-one. Former Senator Fred Thompson narrowly beat Senator John McCain. Both had about 13 percent of the vote. Congressman Ron Paul placed fifth with about ten percent. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani placed sixth with about four percent of the Republican vote. Although Paul easily beat Giuliani and raised $19 million in the last quarter, Fox News has barred him from participating in Sunday’s debate in New Hampshire. The Des Moines Register reports an unprecedented 346,000 Democratic and Republican Iowa caucus-goers turned out this year. Despite the record-breaking turnout, it means that only about 12 percent of Iowa’s total population took part in the caucuses.