What are the magic numbers?
: I’ve been meaning to ask: What are the magic numbers for Iowa and New Hampshire — the numbers below which Dean’s showing is “disappointing” and above which the others’ are “impressive”?
The magic number is picked out of thin air or pundit’s butts, of course, but it matters. When Gene McCarthy got a surprising and impressive show in New Hampshire, he got Lyndon Johnson to quit. When Ed Muskie got a disappointing showing (even though he’d won) in New Hampshire, it killed his campaign.
So what are the magic numbers? Pundit away….
