I think we're all realizing the obvious: New Hampshire will be sort of interesting, but Feb. 3 is where the action will be. This is when:
- We find out if Edwards really can register the big win he's been promising in the South.
- Kerry will either have to sustain an Iowa/NH double, or break a tie with the NH winner.
- It will show how broad an appeal the candidates have in multi-racial states, where race will come into play like it didn't in Iowa and won't in New Hampshire (but will in the general election).
- Instead of state-tailored pitches and highly targeted outreach, the candidates will have to show how they do in a broad, 7-state contest, finding messages that can resonate from the Southwest to the Upper Midwest to the interior South.
Let's not get hung up on Iowa and New Hampshire. Feb 3 is where the action is.