The Folks with First Say

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But the debate was important for another reason: it served as a reminder of how much Iowa itself has at stake on Feb. 8. Albert Gore came to Des Moines not to seriously contest the caucuses but to chastise Democrats for placing such importance on the unrepresentative Iowa test market. But the process has to start somewhere. Though Iowa may not be a perfect microcosm of America, it % offers an educated and committed electorate that takes its moment in the winter sun seriously. And though the caucus process may seem unreasonably quirky, it serves to test the depth of commitment people feel toward a candidate, something that ordinary primaries do not measure.

Perhaps, ideally, the race should begin in a more representative state, like Missouri. But for now, at least until someone like Gore or Mario Cuomo successfully rewrites the rules, Iowa's King Caucus happens to be first. And as long as its results are perceived to be important, they will be.

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DESCRIPTION: Attitudes of United States voters and Iowa voters on whether next President should be Democrat or Republican; percentage of United States voters and Iowa voters who say they have met a presidential candidate.

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DESCRIPTION: Approval rating of Ronald Reagan among United States and Iowa voters; attitudes of United States voters and Iowa voters on whether the country's problems are no worse than at other times or more serious.