Perhaps the single worst thing to come out from Democrats this cycle is the whining from two candidates that Iowa College Students who are originally from out of state will taint the vote.
As someone who went to school in Iowa, but still voted absentee in Illinois, this is bullshit and I have no idea what David Yepsen is babbling about:
At first glance, Clinton may have more luck with her strategy than Obama has with his. Only 5 percent of the likely Democratic caucus-goers are under age 25, while 50 percent are over age 55. Also, the Jan. 3 caucus date comes when many students are on break and may be out of town, which is why Obama is making an effort to get students who are not from Iowa to vote here.
The problem with this formulation is that college students from other states are just like anyone else who has moved into a state. By this formulation I shouldn’t be voting in Missouri now.
Iowa by tradition has encouraged college students to participate, caucus, and vote there during college. It’s part of the reason Iowa is special. I’m not sure why he’s trying to change that.
Finally kudos to the Clinton campaign for supporting students caucusing after what was likely a misstatement by Clinton. Dodd, we are waiting…