During a segment of why Iowa matters in coverage of the upcoming caucus, NBC news correspondent Andrea Mitchell called the state too white.

The rap on Iowa: It doesn't represent the rest of the country, too white, too evangelical, too rural. Still here, politics are personal, Mitchell said on Sunday's broadcast on NBC's Nightly News.

Mitchell's take on the American Heartland has sparked a load of criticism from media critics who felt her comments were derived solely from her opinion, like Alex Alvarez, who called her remarks a rather blunt analysis of Iowa.

Can you imagine any state in the union being referred to as 'too black' or 'too hispanic?' Newsbusters' Noel Sheppard wrote. Nice way of the NBC Nightly News informing viewers that much as the media did in 2008, the race card will be played whenever possible to assist Barack Obama in getting reelected.

However, NBC News responded to the criticism, saying Mitchell was only citing critics who feel that the Midwestern state is too white, reminding viewers she was referring to the rap on Iowa as a representation of the U.S. electorate.

That line was part of her report from last night's NBC Nightly News on why Iowa does matter, NBC spokeswoman Erika Masonhall responded. As Andrea mentioned, when she said The rap on Iowa... she was referencing critics who argue that the state shouldn't carry so much weight because it doesn't proportionally represent the rest of the country. She then interviews analysts and Iowa voters who explain why the state is so important in the election cycle.

A caucus in Iowa, a key state in the election, is set for Tuesday to help select the Republican candidate, with more than 120,000 Americans set to vote.

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