Editorial: The New York Times

• The Iowa caucuses are a controversial process due to their undemocratic nature and dubious track record of selecting presidential nominees.
• Despite the system being far from perfect, the consequences of the caucus results are real and potentially disastrous for campaigns.
• The Expectations Game is a critical part of the Iowa caucuses, more so than the victory itself.
• Contenders have adopted different strategies for managing expectations, which could result in their rise or downfall.
• A dominant Trump victory could challenge traditional norms and rules and be an embarrassment for the state's traditional power brokers.
• The potential lack of importance of political debates on the outcome could lead to questions about the entire system.
• The future of the Iowa caucuses could be in doubt as they have faced criticism in recent years due to operational glitches, the unrepresentativeness of their electorate, and the exclusive nature of the process.

Conclusion: Regardless of personal opinions about the Iowa caucuses, it's clear that their existence and outcomes have significant impact on the presidential race and may determine the future of the selection process within parties.

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