Some useful lessons from last night.

 

  • Never Take a Ratings or Revenue Lead For Granted:  Just ask Mitt Romney, who had to sweat it out all night after significantly outspending his rivals.
  • Shaking Hands & Kissing Babies Matters:  Just ask Rick Santorum, who participated in an extremely aggressive retail politics campaign and almost won after being in the single digits last week.
  • What’s Hot Today Can Be Old News Tomorrow:  Just ask Newt Gingrinch, who placed fourth, but was on a roll just a few weeks ago and looking like a soon-to-be GOP frontrunner.
  • Money (Advertising) Can’t Buy You Love:  Just ask Rick Perry, who spent a reported $4M alone in a last ditch effort the past few weeks, only to come in fifth place.
  • Polls and Research Can Be Misleading:  Just ask Ron Paul, who finished third despite many polls claiming he was poised to be the surprise winner in Iowa.
  • There IS Such A Thing As Bad Press:  Just ask Newt Gingrich, who suffered major campaign setbacks from Romney’s attack ads.
  • Substance Over Style:  Just ask Michelle Bachmann, who despite being the Tea Party darling and on a press roll for the past six months, claimed only 5% of the votes, which was good enough for sixth place.
  • Every Vote Counts., Good or Bad  Just ask Romney or Santorum.
  • Time Is the Great Equalizer:  Most things, good and bad, are soon forgotten.  It’s the sum of all parts and a necessary string of many days, weeks, months and years that matter.  Just ask all of the candidates (except maybe Perry and Bachmann), who will put Iowa in their rear view mirror and focus on New Hampshire and other primaries, proving that one good or bad day doesn’t equal the full sum of a campaign (or brand).