1851

The 2016 presidential nomination process is still in its infancy. We don&#8217;t yet know how much money candidates have raised or can raise. There are no endorsements of real significance. And polling doesn&#8217;t really tell us much&#8212;yet. But with 74 days left until the all-important Iowa caucuses&#8212;which kick off election season&#8212; it&#8217;s good to know why this ordinary state in the heartland of America is so crucial in determining our next president. By being the first in the nation to hold an electoral event, Iowa has become a testing ground for candidates&#8212;and an important moment for voters to have their opinions heard. If a candidate does well it can signal possible success and garner more support from his or her party&#8217;s base. Candidates go to Iowa, even more than a year before the general election, because that is the first checkpoint to winning, or staying in, the race. <a href="http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/02/on-caucus-night-a-time-commitment/?_r=0&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=iowa-caucuses-what-you-need-to-know-2948" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">According to Michael Shear with The New York Times</a>, one reason Iowa retains its influence in the nominating fight is that its caucuses require more of voters than just filling in an oval, and more of candidates than just running a few ads. &#8220;The process requires commitment of several hours for a voter, and it encourages campaigns to have a level of organizational sophistication that often helps separate candidates who can go the distance from those who cannot,&#8221; Shear said. Similarly, Iowa also helps weed out the candidates who aren&#8217;t cut out for the job. Candidates who don&#8217;t live up to scrutiny don&#8217;t make it far past the Iowa caucuses. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/01/politics/iowa-scene-setter/?hpt=hp_bn3&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=iowa-caucuses-what-you-need-to-know-2948" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">According to former Iowa House Speaker, Christopher Rant</a>, Iowa matters because it helps to shrink the field. Similarly, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/why-and-how-iowa-votes-first/2011/12/05/gIQAgTRiKP_blog.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=iowa-caucuses-what-you-need-to-know-2948" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rachel Weiner of The Washington Post</a> believes that, &#8220;there are three tickets out of Iowa&#8212;first class, coach and standby. Any candidate who comes in fourth place or lower will have a hard time recovering.&#8221; But where Iowa truly gains momentum is in its power in catapulting worthy candidates to the top tier. &#8220;Where the event truly gains its importance is in terms of momentum,&#8221; <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/12/whats-a-caucus-and-why-jan-3-iowa-caucuses-are-important-in-2012/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=iowa-caucuses-what-you-need-to-know-2948" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">said Elizabeth Hartfield to ABC News</a>. From Senator George McGovern&#8217;s surprisingly strong finish in Iowa in 1972, to Senator Barack Obama&#8217;s decisive win in 2008, candidates who outperform expectations can ride their Iowa finish all the way to their party&#8217;s presidential nomination. &#8220;The Hawkeye State can serve as a catapult for candidacies, or a wake-up call to the campaigns of complacent frontrunners who risk losing everything by losing in Iowa,&#8221; said <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-insiders/post/why-the-iowa-caucuses-matter/2011/12/28/gIQAnSUNNP_blog.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=iowa-caucuses-what-you-need-to-know-2948" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Carter Eskew of The Washington Post</a>. Key issues that could make or break a candidate&#8217;s win in Iowa this year include the long-debated effort to raise the minimum wage throughout the United States. More than four out of 10 employees in the country earn less than $15 an hour, including 96 percent of fast-food workers. The viewpoints are divided&#8212; a change in wages could be too much, too fast for many franchisors and small businesses, while others say they&#8217;re more likely to vote if a candidate backs a $15 hourly wage. In early primaries and caucuses, there are few benefits to running against an increase in the federal minimum wage. Less than 13 percent of likely GOP early caucus or primary voters in Iowa and New Hampshire oppose an increase in the federal minimum wage, saying they would not vote for a presidential candidate who supports an increase. In fact, a majority of New Hampshire GOP primary and Iowa GOP Caucuses voters support at least one proposal (among $9, $10, $12 or $15) to increase the federal minimum wage (58 percent in Iowa and 59 percent in New Hampshire). With such a hot-button topic at stake, the winner of this year&#8217;s Iowa caucuses could mean big news for franchisees. In the end, the Iowa caucuses and the rest of the primaries and caucuses serve to bring candidates back to their bases before they swing to the middle&#8212;whether a candidate sees Iowa as a hurdle or a boost depends on the type of platform they have. Ultimately, every presidential-hopeful has to win over the people of Iowa before they can win over the rest of the country.

1851 Franchise

When it comes to the caucuses, every presidential-hopeful has to win over the people of Iowa before they can win over the rest of the country.

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

Iowa Caucuses: What You Need to Know   

iowa-caucuses-what-you-need-to-know

Children's Lighthouse

How Children’s Lighthouse Stands Out Among Other Children’s Education, Childcare, and Daycare Franchises

how-childrens-lighthouse-stands-out-among-other-childrens-education-childcare-and-daycare-franchises

The Growth Coach

The Growth Coach Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

the-growth-coach-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-for-2025

One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning

Why One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning Sees People as the Power Behind Franchise Growth

one-hour-heating-air-conditioning-franchise-growth

Lawn Doctor

Design with photo of John Perry and Lawn Doctor logo

How a 20-Year Industry Veteran Tripled His Sales With a Lawn Doctor Franchise

lawn-doctor-franchise-success-story-john-perry

Fitness Premier

The Secret to Fitness Franchise Success? It's Not Just the Workouts

fitness-premier-franchise-marketing-support

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Design with American and Federal Reserve flags against light blue background

Federal Reserve Expected To Cut Rates by Quarter Point, a Move That Could Boost Franchise Growth

fed-rate-cut-boosts-franchise-growth

Potbelly to be Acquired by RaceTrac in $566 Million Deal 

racetrac-acquires-potbelly-in-566-million-deal

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities - 1851 Franchise Agg

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities 

health-care-hiring-slowdown-in-home-care-franchise-opportunities

Caribou Coffee Names Scott Kennedy CEO, Eyes Continued Growth

caribou-coffee-names-scott-kennedy-ceo-eyes-continued-growth

McDonald’s Launches New Extra Value Meals as Consumer Demand for Value Continues to Climb

mcdonalds-launches-extra-value-meals

Technomic Releases Annual Ranking of the Top 15 Fast-Food Chains in the U.S.

technomic-releases-annual-ranking-of-the-top-15-fast-food-chains-in-the-us

Power Eats: Smoothie King Rolls Out Food Nationwide To Fuel Franchise Growth

smoothie-king-food-menu-power-eats

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

1851 Keyword - The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

part-time-franchises-picking-the-right-model

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Iowa Caucuses: What You Need to Know

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS