After months of debates and rallies Iowa is the first state where people actually get to vote for a candidate . But they never attracted much attention until the 1970s when Iowa moved its caucuses ahead of the first primary and decided to stage them all on the same evening . Comment: The primary system in America has been designed by politicians, not voters. Iowa 's status as first to vote means it is watched closely although it does not always pick the eventual winner . Its issues are sometimes different to the nation -- so far Iowa has been spared the worst of the economic downturn .
After months of debates and rallies Iowa is the first state where people actually get to vote for a candidate . Comment: The primary system in America has been designed by politicians, not voters. Iowa 's status as first to vote means it is watched closely although it does not always pick the eventual winner . Its issues are sometimes different to the nation -- so far Iowa has been spared the worst of the economic downturn .