Clinton must rethink campaign, say analysts

Manchester: Democrat Hillary Clinton suffered a shocking loss to Barack Obama in the Iowa Democratic caucus on Thursday.

Clinton faces her next test on Tuesday in New Hampshire, where Obama has been threatening to lead in the polls.

The campaign ends in a November 4 presidential election, where the winner will succeed George W. Bush as president in January 2009.

"I think she's in a lot of trouble," said Merle Black, a political science professor in Atlanta. "The Clinton campaign has to do a lot of rethinking now," he said.

Obama vowed to open talks with leaders from hostile nations such as Iran, Cuba and Syria. Clinton and her husband tried to raise doubts about Obama's experience.

Bill Clinton scoffed at Obama as a risky, inexperienced choice, wondering aloud whether Americans would want to "roll the dice" on him.

In Iowa, change appeared to come out on top. Young people flocked to Obama's camp in droves, compared to older Iowans who forged the base of Clinton's support.

"I think Obama was able to generate some excitement about his candidacy that Clinton could just not generate," said Peverille Squire, a political science professor in Iowa.