Two candidates — one whose message focused on hope and another who is a native of Hope, Arkansas — have won the Iowa Caucuses. Illinois Senator Barack Obama’s victory was fueled in large part by huge swarms of first-time Caucus-goers.
"They said this day would never come," Obama told cheering supporters just after 10 o’clock Thursday evening. "They said our sights were set too high. They said this country was too divided, too disillusioned to ever come together around a common purpose but on this January night at this defining moment in history, you have done what the cynics said we couldn’t do."
On the Republican side, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee claimed victory in front of a smaller band of supporters in another room in Des Moines.
"Tonight the people of Iowa made a choice and their choice was clear and their choice was for a change," Huckabee said. "…Americans are looking for a change but what they want is a change that starts with a challenge to those of us who are given this sacred trust of office so that we recognize what our challenge is is to bring this country back together."
Audio: MIke Huckabee speech to supporters 10:17 MP3
Audio: Barrack Obama speaks to supporters. 12:50 MP3