Iowa Tests Appeal of Populism

Tonight's Iowa caucuses are the first test for the aggressively populist message of Mike Huckabee and John Edwards; even if the candidates falter, writes the Wall Street Journal, their stridently anti-business message—"corporate greed is squeezing the middle class," Edwards declared yesterday—has played well in Iowa, and might continue to influence the campaign.

While Edwards' populism is in line with a Democratic tradition, Huckabee's attack on CEO wealth and Wall Street riches represents a challenge to traditionally pro-business Republicans. His proposal of a sales tax to replace the income tax has little respect among economists but has won praise in Iowa. Other candidates are now joining the populist bandwagon: yesterday, Hillary Clinton called Bush the president of "the wealthy and the well-connected." (More Iowa caucuses stories.)