President Obama reminded the press corp Monday afternoon why he was able to win Iowa in the primary and general elections something Hillary Clinton was unable to do in 2016. Obama explained how he won the Midwestern state that Donald Trump ended up winning by 10 percent points.
"As Democrats scramble to regroup after a pretty shocking upset, what is your advice about where the party goes now and who should lead your party?" Colleen Nelson of the Wall Street Journal asked the President in his first press conference since Election Day.
"You know, I won Iowa not because the demographics dictated that I would win Iowa," Obama responded. "It was because I spent 87 days going to every small town and fair and fish fry and VFW hall."
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Back in 2008 then Senator Obama defeated Hillary Clinton in the Iowa caucuses a win that helped fuel his eventual nomination. Clinton received 29.5 percent of caucus delegates leaving her in third place behind Obama and John Edwards.
During his answer, the President reiterated why he was able to be so successful in the state.
"There's some counties maybe I won that people didn't expect because people had a chance to see and listen to you and get a sense of who you stood for and who you were fighting for," Obama continued.
Building off his successful 2008 primary victory Obama and his campaign were able to carry the state in the general elections in 2008 and 2012. In 2008 Obama carried the state against Senator John McCain (R., Ariz.) by nine points and also won it in 2012 by five points against Mitt Romney.
Donald Trump handily defeated Hillary Clinton in Iowa winning the state by over nine points.