Monday, Jan. 15, 2024 | 2 a.m.
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The Iowa presidential caucuses today mark the official start of the 2024 presidential election. But just how much do you know about this political tradition? Test your knowledge with this quiz.
1. This Republican’s 1980 victory in Iowa gave him “Big Mo” — a term that’s still used in political circles today. Who was it?
A: Ronald Reagan
B: Bob Dole
C: George H.W. Bush
D: John Connally
2. This contest generated the highest turnout for the Iowa Democratic caucuses in history.
A: JFK vs. Hubert Humphrey, 1960
B: Hillary Clinton vs. Barack Obama, 2008
C: Hillary Clinton vs. Bernie Sanders, 2016
D: George McGovern vs. Ed Muskie, 1972
3. Only one non-incumbent has won the Iowa caucuses twice. Who was it?
A: Gerald Ford
B: Ronald Reagan
C: George H.W. Bush
D: Bob Dole
4. Long before Hillary Clinton made political history by becoming the first female to win a major party’s presidential nomination, this woman became the first to receive votes in the Iowa caucuses.
A. Susan B. Anthony
B: Eleanor Roosevelt
C: Shirley Chisholm
D: Jacqueline Kennedy
5. Who won the 1992 Democratic caucuses?
A: Bill Clinton B: Tom Harkin
C: Al Gore D: Paul Tsongas
6. Which of the following candidates have won — and lost — an Iowa caucus?
A: John McCain
B: Ronald Reagan
C: George H.W. Bush
D: All of them.
Answers:
1. C — After being declared the winner, Bush said, “We will look forward to Big Mo (momentum) being our side.” It deserted him 36 days later when Reagan trounced Bush 50%-23% in the New Hampshire primary.
2. B — Turnout in the Iowa Democratic caucuses hit a record in 2008 when 239,872 Democrats — or 39.5% of the state’s registered Democrats — participated in the event.
3. D — The Kansas Republican senator won it in 1988 and 1996.
4. C — In 1972, the New York congresswoman, a Democrat, received 130 votes, or about 1.3%.
5. D — Iowans love voting for fellow Iowans. Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin swept his home state with 76.5%. Unfortunately, he won only two more states — neighboring Minnesota and North Dakota — and dropped out before Super Tuesday.
6. D — McCain lost in 2000 but won in 2008; Reagan lost to his future VP George H.W. Bush in 1980 but won (as an unchallenged incumbent) in 1988. And after beating Reagan, George H.W. Bush lost to Sen. Bob Dole in 1988 — but picked up another win as an incumbent in 1992.
J. Mark Powell is a novelist, former TV journalist and diehard history buff. He wrote this for InsideSources.com.
