Did Iowa Decide the Race?

Two newcomers stormed the gates in Iowa and came away with dramatic victories Thursday night. Sen. Barack Obama's (D., Ill.) win was historic because only one other black candidate -- Jesse Jackson -- has won a caucus or a primary. And Mike Huckabee rose from relative obscurity by preaching his way into the hearts and minds of Christian conservatives.

From here, the election can unfold in two ways: the Iowa winners could hold on to their momentum, or the losers may come from behind. I see the losers getting revenge in New Hampshire on Tuesday.

Whether or not you support Obama, everyone should take a moment to recognize the significance of his win. The United States has long symbolized equality and freedom. Sadly, we also have had a history of slavery and then segregation that belies our stated principles. I hope our country can leave the wounds of history behind.

Small Biz the Clear Loser in This Election

Obama's win will help in New Hampshire, but I can't predict that he will win the primary. Massive turnout fueled his win in Iowa. First-time caucus participants and independents joined to crown him the winner. In terms of delegates, the race remained almost as even as can be. According to CNN, Obama collected 16 delegates to John Edwards' 14 and Sen. Hillary Clinton's (D., N.Y.) 15.

Obama is expected to get some help from independents again in New Hampshire. But many independents there will also be drawn to Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.) and Rep. Ron Paul (R., Texas). McCain has a successful history; he won New Hampshire in 2000.