BY CHRIS CHRISTOFF
Detroit Free Press

With all the finger-pointing and recrimination among Democrats over losing the presidential race and the dissection of John Kerry's candidacy, it may seem petty and spiteful to blame Iowa.

But what the heck, why not?

Iowa's Democratic caucus launched Kerry's Vietnam-laden campaign. It's where the soaring Howard Dean self-destructed and where party pedigree Dick Gephardt fell behind like a man overboard.

Then, it's where voters decided they'd really had enough of Democrats and went for George W. Bush.

In other words, it's where the die was cast for another heartbreaking loss for Democrats.

Is it any wonder that Iowa is once again in the crosshairs of people like Debbie Dingell, Democratic National Committeewoman, and U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, who want the Hawkeye State seated far away from the head table in the 2008 Democratic primaries?...

The Commission on Presidential Nomination Timing and Scheduling was hatched at the Democratic convention in July, under pressure from Dingell and Levin. Party chairman Terry McAuliffe is to appoint the 25 to 40 members by early December.

It's become an old argument, but Levin and Dingell have even more ammunition than they had this summer: Kerry's devastating November defeat, which has Democrats despairing over how to reverse their minor party status…

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