10. "Iowa and NH are states where traditional retail politics still shine." In response to In response to 8
That's the belief.
They allow lesser known candidates to prove themselves with grassroots organizing ability. The caucus method itself is especially arcane and outmoded, but a poor Iowa performance still means fewer campaign donations, fewer endorsements, and fewer media outlets paying attention. That makes it awfully difficult for a candidate to stay in the race.
While true that Iowa's prominence is nothing more than irrelevant tradition at this point, so much of politics still remain based in the formula of "x happened y times, therefore z".