Iowa’s caucus system, which involves intense discussions among small groups of voters, places a premium on ‘retail politics’ and encourages slogans on ‘soaking the rich’ and ‘saving middle America’.

The Iowa results may not really decide who the eventual Democratic and Republican presidential nominees are. But amidst the growing economic inequality within the US and the widespread fear of losing jobs to China and India, the populism that is being dished out in Iowa could be more than a flash in the pan during the consequential American elections this year.

Edwards up close

In the last few weeks, Hillary Clinton, the best known Democratic candidate in much of the world including India, has been fending off a sustained challenge from Barack Obama, who presents his lack of political experience as an advantage and paints the wife of former President Clinton as an embodiment of the Washington status quo.

Clinton and Obama, however, have suddenly found themselves outflanked in Iowa by John Edwards who was the Democratic Party’s vice presidential nominee in the 2004 elections.

Edwards is a multi-millionaire trial lawyer who lives in a 25,000 sq foot mansion that serves as his home cum office in North Carolina. That didn’t stop Edwards from deliberately positioning himself as a champion of the disempowered working classes of America. This has worked well for Edwards, who has gained great momentum as the Iowa caucuses prepare to vote on Thursday.

Edwards’ narrative is about taking America back from special interests groups, who are killing the nation by holding down wages, out-sourcing jobs and denying medical care.

... contd.