America will forever remember this year's Iowa caucus – no matter what happens next

When the actual results are announced few people will notice, writes Andrew Buncombe in Iowa

Supporters of democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) wait for results to come in at his caucus night watch party on February 03, 2020 in Des Moines, Iowa (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Iowa has a habit of getting under one’s skin.

Barack Obama remembers it as the place he won a stunning upset in 2008, pushing Hillary Clinton into third place at the start of a long and bitter primary challenge. That same year, Republican Mike Huckabee, the father of Donald Trump’s former White House press secretary Sarah Sanders, also stormed to victory, elbowing past Mitt Romney and John McCain, the latter of whom would be the GOP’s challenger to Obama.

Four years ago, Bernie Sanders came within a half-percentage point of Clinton, after her campaign sorely underestimated his vigour and appeal.