The Republican campaign for president took a decisive turn after the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3, with one contender dropping out of the race and others heading to New Hampshire and South Carolina for the next round of primaries.
Mitt Romney claimed a narrow victory in Iowa - he won by eight votes over Rick Santorum. John McCain, the Republican nominee from 2008, endorsed Romney after his Iowa victory.
Santorum, a former Senator from Pennsylvania, headed to New Hampshire hoping to ride the wave that earned him near-victory in Iowa. He has polled well with social conservatives and fundamentalist Christians and hopes he can continue to earn their votes in the primaries ahead.
Michele Bachmann, a Minnesota Congresswoman who won the Iowa straw poll in August but came in a distant sixth in the caucuses, suspended her campaign. Former Utah governor Jon Huntsman, who did not campaign in Iowa, is gearing up for New Hampshire, where he hopes his politically moderate views will appeal to voters.
The first five minutes of this video give a summary of the Iowa Caucus results, and the rest is an in-depth discussion about the future of the campaign.
Quotes
"Last night, the people of Iowa spoke with a very clear voice. And so I have decided to stand aside. And I believe that we must rally around the person that our country and our party and our people select to be that standard-bearer." - Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.)
"I know the attacks are going to come. They're going to become more fast and furious now. And if you can't handle the heat now, you certainly can't handle the heat down the road." - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney
Warm Up Questions
1. How do Americans elect their president? What do you know about the process?
2. Have you ever cast a vote? List some examples of when voting helps make a decision.
3. What is a politician? What do politicians do?
Discussion Questions
1. Using this lesson plan, find when the Republican presidential primary will take place in your state. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/classroom/teachers/lessonplans/us/july-dec11/primaries-caucuses.html Based on what you saw in the video, do you think your state will have a decisive say in who becomes the Republican nominee? Why or why not?
2. Which candidate do you think has the best chance of winning the nomination? Which candidate do you want to win? Why?
3. Some analysts say that a long, drawn-out campaign for the Republican nominee will help President Obama win re-election. Why do you think they argue that? Do you agree?
Additional Resources
Republican Campaign Wraps up in Iowa, Moves to New Hampshire
Youth Reporters Reflect on Covering 2012 Republican Caucuses
