http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040120/D8069JTO1.html
John Kerry rode an 11th-hour surge to victory in Iowa's kickoff presidential caucuses, upsetting Democratic front-runner Howard Dean and stunning caucus favorite Dick Gephardt. Kerry's comeback blew the nomination fight wide open, setting the stage for a free-for-all in New Hampshire's follow-up primary. Gephardt scrapped plans to fly to New Hampshire for next week's primary after a disappointing fourth-place finish in the Iowa caucuses, a source said Monday night, possibly signaling the end of his presidential campaign. "I want to thank Iowa for making me the Comeback Kerry," Kerry said in an interview with The Associated Press. Two weeks ago, Dean and Gephardt were the co-favorites, but Monday night the former Vermont governor was stuck in third. He pledged to plow ahead, saying, "on to New Hampshire." Gephardt, winner of the 1988 caucuses, was falling far short of the victory he needed to keep his political career alive. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina was in second. "It feels terrific," Edwards said as he awaited the final results at a downtown hotel. "What's happened here the last two weeks with my campaign has been phenomenal." In an echo of Bill Clinton's line from the 1992 New Hampshire primary, Kerry talked about his late surge. "We came from behind here, and we came for a fight here, and my message is now to the special interest who call the White House home: We're coming to you." Just weeks ago, before the Iowa race turned testy and tumultuous, Dean was the undisputed front-runner - and anything less than a victory for him would shake up the crowded field, raising questions about his Internet-driven organization and anti-establishment message. Late-deciding voters turned away from mistake-prone Dean and his signature position in opposition to the Iraq war did not seem to resonate. With 87 percent of the precincts reporting, Kerry had 37.9 percent, Edwards 32.1 percent, Dean 18 percent and Gephardt 10.6 percent. An AP analysis of the Iowa delegate count showed Kerry with seven delegates, Edwards with six delegates and Dean with three, with 29 delegates still to be allocated. xponent It Begins Maru rob _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
