40 years ago, when Vice President Mondale won 49 percent in Iowa’s Democratic caucuses, far ahead of Senator Hart’s 16 percent, the press spotlight nonetheless immediately focused. With the help of a brilliant spot by consultant Ray Strother showing Mr. Hart tossing a hatchet into a tree, the Colorado senator went on to win the New Hampshire primary eight days later, 37 percent to 28 percent, and he suddenly became the favorite.