No Gary Hart Bounce for DeSantis or Haley

Republican presidential candidates Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (L) and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) participate in CNN's GOP presidential primary debate at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 10, 2024. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

Commentary

Forty years ago, when Walter Mondale won 49 percent in Iowa’s Democratic caucuses, far ahead of Gary Hart’s 16 percent, the media spotlight nonetheless immediately focused. With the help of a brilliant spot by consultant Ray Strother showing him tossing a hatchet into a tree, Hart went on to win the New Hampshire primary eight days later, 37 percent to 28 percent, and he suddenly became the favorite.