Iowa representative of U.S., so no reason to alter presidential system that makes it first, study says

Political scientists at the University of Missouri and the University of Iowa argue that the Hawkeye State fairly accurately represents the make-up of the United States, so "There seems to be no cause to take away Iowa’s first-in-the-nation presidential status."

The findings of Peverill Squire and Michael Lewis-Beck, published in Political Science & Politics, are based on a study of 51 factors of economics, diversity and social problems. They "show that the overwhelming majority (39 of 51) were typical of the broader U.S. population, or within one step from the national average," writes Lynda Waddington of The Iowa Independent. They also note that it is pretty much in the middle in terms of size, location and time it entered the Union. (Read more)

We think the Iowa caucuses have a lot going for them; the state's electorate is well educated, and it gets to see the candidates up close. So do Iowa's rural journalists. However, we can't help but note that the study apparently ignores the fact that, in 2000, Iowa's population was 39 percent rural, while the rest of the nation was only 21 percent rural. To read the study, click here.