In this case, the kids in Iowa. The Iowa Secretary of State organized a youth caucus earlier this week, and when they got a chance to express their opinions in the Democratic primary, they produced some surprising results.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) prevailed, with nearly 53 percent support. In second place was former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley, with 24 percent. Hillary Rodham Clinton, the front-runner in the real race, got about 15 percent.

Clinton’s campaign declined to comment on Friday. Sanders — who has been drawing sizable numbers of young people to his rallies — drew attention to the results on social media Thursday night soon after they became available.

Meanwhile, O’Malley’s campaign — which has been running a distant third in Iowa polling — could not stop talking about the outcome.

Bill Hyers, a senior strategist for O’Malley, issued a statement Thursday night, in which he mocked Clinton’s status as the “inevitable” nominee and said: “Tonight’s results prove one thing: Iowans are looking for new leadership, and many are finding it in Martin O’Malley.”

O’Malley needs all the good news he can get, and this is definitely a positive development. What it ends up meaning in the end is less clear. But the kids love them some Martin O’Malley.