Five winners?

The Iowa caucuses are over.

Turnout was heavy, and emotions were high.

The five front runners all claimed victories of sorts.

The three Republicans getting the most delegate votes were Ted Cruz, Donald Trump and Marco Rubio. Each had reasons for their claims that this was just the start of future success.

Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton finished in a virtual tie, although Clinton claimed the victory. Both claimed this was just the start of their future successes.

Iowa is an anomaly as compared the most other states. A win here does not often translate into national success.

Next week, the candidates face the New Hampshire voters. New Hampshire has a population of less than two million. That is infinitesimal compared to the nation's total population.

Even though the first two states are the center of attention in the kickoff of presidential campaigns, the real tests come later. Some candidates, however, will not see these other states. Based on Iowa results alone, one Democrat and two Republicans have dropped out. As more states vote on the candidates, the field will narrow and the front runners will likely change in the process.

So may the pitches as the candidates speak to increasingly broader audiences. Still, the Democrats have moved to the left as Clinton and Sanders vie for liberal votes, and the Republican front runners staunchly fight for the conservative voter.

Those candidates who bring a more centrist position to the campaign have been left in the dust. “Moderate” is a nasty word so far in this race for the White House.

Should the most extreme of these candidates gain their parties' nomination, the political center will virtually cease to exist in the country.

This is not new in history. Also not new is that some democracies so split did not survive.

There is an abundance of passion, commitment and loyalty in these races for the presidency, but getting just what one wants is not always what is best for the country, especially when it is all or nothing.

Gordon Forgey,

Publisher