Massachusetts Senator John Kerry was the big winner in the first major test of the 2004 presidential campaign. It was a late surge of support from Iowa Democrats that carried Senator Kerry to victory in the first major showdown for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Senator John Kerry said,"And, now I have a special message for the special interests that have a home in the Bush White House. We are coming. You are going. And, don't let the door hit you on the way out."
The other big winner was North Carolina Senator John Edwards, who finished a close second.
Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean came in third in Iowa -- a somewhat disappointing finish after his leading the Democratic field for the past few months.
But the most disappointed candidate was Missouri Congressman Richard Gephardt. He dropped out of the race after a distant fourth-place finish.
The campaign now moves to New Hampshire for that state's primary, January 27th.