What is the significance in Iowa state for USA 2008 presidential candidates campaign? And what is a ';caucus';?

The signifiance is that this is the only time anyone will pay attention to what people in Iowa have to say.





A caucus is open meeting where people cast their votes.





After tonight all the canidates will be burning rubber to get to NH for the next race never to return.





It is the start of the race and it is like a horse race after the gates are open and the horses are gone you never see the gate tell the next race.What is the significance in Iowa state for USA 2008 presidential candidates campaign? And what is a ';caucus';?
The candidates that are low in the polls will drop out and throw their support behind someone else.