Today’s Iowa caucuses have turned into a real shooting match with a four-way rush to capture the prize.

Sens. John Kerry and John Edwards have led a late charge against the perceived front-runners, former Gov. Howard Dean and Rep. Richard Gephardt. According to polls late last week, the four candidates are within 5 percentage points of each other.

Such a tight race is good for Democrats and good for democracy. While the so-called horse-race coverage of campaigns is often derided, a close election sparks more interest than a runaway train.

Despite all the recriminations flying between the candidates, on many issues they agree or differ only around the edges. The tightened Iowa race gives voters there the opportunity to think about several people, their positions, personalities, strengths and weaknesses.

Some Democratic strategists wish for a quick decision on the nominee. But this race is just getting started.

Iowa is by no means an end in itself, or at least it shouldn’t be. The quirky caucuses, held in living rooms, school cafeterias and Legion halls, are not a true representation of the entire country. In 1988, a banner year for caucus participation, only about 125,000 people took part. The importance for a wider audience is in allowing the rest of the country to see candidates’ grass-roots organizing skills and watch them hone their message and policy positions.

Iowa’s caucuses have taken on the feel of a finish line. They’re not. It’s just the beginning.


Duty called


Police officers often take a bad rap. They are stuck giving out tickets, arresting people and generally enforcing the law. They make the news when something goes wrong: a shooting, an escape, an unsolved crime or allegations of wrongdoing.

But Thursday night, two Auburn police officers showed their true mettle, displaying courage and a commitment to protect.

Lt. Tim Cougle and officer Andre Levesque were the first people to arrive on the scene of an Auburn house fire. They found 85-year-old Fred Callahan battling a fire in his garage. After helping Callahan away from the building, Levesque rushed into the house to rescue 90-year-old Ruth Callahan.

By the time Cougle tried to enter the house a few seconds later, fire and smoke blocked the door. Levesque was on his own.

Cougle abandoned the flaming garage and made his way to the front of the house where he found the front door locked. Levesque appeared through the door with Ruth Callahan under his arm

It was cold Thursday night. Bitterly so. When firefighters arrived at the scene, the conditions were horrible. Below-zero temperatures and ice made fighting the fire even more dangerous than normal. But crews were able to save most of the house.

Ruth and Fred Callahan were fortunate. They survived a fire. But we’re all fortunate, because firefighters and police officers are willing to put themselves in danger to help others.
[email protected]