It’s easy to beat up on Iowa, to criticize the power it has in the presidential selection process every four years. It’s not representative of the nation at large in terms of demography. And the influence of agriculture on the state economy often means it’s out of step with what’s happening nationally.

But there are also lessons and insights out of the quadrennial caucus vote – particularly if you go beyond who wins and losses and look at what happens in a broader context. Patchwork Nation's 12 demographic/geographic types offer some insights in this live map.

On Tuesday evening, when Iowa Republican caucus voters gather in classrooms and halls across the state, the name most critical to understanding the outcome won’t be among the candidates: Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor.

Four years ago, Mr. Huckabee won the caucuses in something of a surprise – former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney had invested a lot of time and money in the state.

And while the power of the Christian Right is often cited as the force behind Mr. Huckabee’s victory, that’s only half the story. Look at the 2008 caucus results mapped and analyzed through Patchwork Nation, our demographic/geographic breakdown of counties, and a few points become clear.