First, major media attention has rightfully been focused on the huge
Barack Obama win, and Hillary Clinton third place finish, in Iowa.
Hillary Clinton has long relied upon a sense of inevitability as a
strong foundation for support. Now that she is no longer able to
portray herself as “unbeatable” she must fight for the Democratic
Party nomination. That fight begins in earnest in New Hampshire in
just a few days. If Hillary regains her footing with a strong win in
New Hampshire she may regain that aura of invincibility. Otherwise,
the Clinton Era may be coming to an end.

The second reason that Fred Thompson’s minor comeback in Iowa is
escaping attention is the order of finish on the Republican side and
the prospects for each major player as the game proceeds. Huckabee’s
big win in Iowa will give him a media and money boost that will give
him the opportunity to build upon his success as the campaign moves to
New Hampshire and beyond. Although Romney was hit hard in Iowa, he has the personal finances available to fund a comeback in New Hampshire or at least battle beyond that state to seek victory elsewhere if he falls short again in New Hampshire. In a war of attrition, Romney has more stored supplies available than those who have to live off the
land.

McCain is short of cash, as is Thompson, but McCain has a real shot at
success in New Hampshire while Thompson has no real hope until South
Carolina. The news media has immediately turned its attention from
Iowa to New Hampshire, where Thompson is not campaigning. Thus, he is left on the outside of the coverage.

Thompson still has some slim hopes of success, but the dominoes will
have to fall exactly right for him to prevail. The Huckaboom still has
to bust — and soon — freeing up the conservative voters that
Huckabee has pulled to his team. McCain needs to fall short in New
Hampshire, giving Thompson a chance to pull his supporters to the
Thompson team in South Carolina. And in the national debates over the
next week or so, Thompson has to shine, not merely show up. Some
surprising strength in the Wyoming caucuses on Saturday might not hurt
either.

In a campaign that has already produced more than its share of
unpredictable twists and turns there are certainly more ahead. The
first of those twists will come in New Hampshire next week. For Fred
Thompson to succeed in his presidential ambitions he needs a big dose
of chaos in New Hampshire.