Iowa, Before the Storm

A presidential race at full throttle is the biggest spectacle in American politics, a polished, well-scripted and expertly crafted show for a mass audience. But the road to the White House, especially early in the campaign, can be unpaved, cold, and even lonely, filled with an element of chance that no campaign manager can control. In this photo essay, Politico Magazine takes a step back from speeches and debate stages and gaffes to look at the part of the campaign most of America never sees: the unusual, sometimes bizarre traces...