Campaign '04: Beating The Spread

In Iowa, you can win when you lose, and lose when you win. Results in the caucuses don't matter so much as those in the expectations game--so campaigns are lowering the bar. Here are past winners, official and otherwise. --By Mitch Frank

1972 Senator George McGovern was an unknown, but campaign manager Gary Hart realized Iowa could win him notice. Ed Muskie got 35% of the vote, but McGovern won 22.6%--and a lot more coverage

1976 Playing off his anonymity, Jimmy Carter ran on the slogan "Jimmy Who?" He finished 10 points behind "Uncommitted" but gained national attention for beating a...