Ballot Bowl: Edwards vows to fight
John Edwards is devoting a significant amount of his resources in Iowa, where most polls show him locked in a dead heat with rivals Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. On the stump, he often says he is best able to take on Washington's special interests. Watch a clip from a recent event in Des Moines.
Ballot Bowl: Giuliani focusing on Florida
National security and Florida are both absolutely essential to Rudy Giuliani’s presidential campaign. The former New York City mayor has risen to the top of the national standings thanks in part to his tough-on-terrorism reputation. And Giuliani – who is lagging in the polls in most early-voting states - has wagered his campaign on a strong showing in Florida, whose voters don’t head to the polls until January 29. Watch him talk security with a Sunshine State crowd.
Nader blasts Clinton, says he's for Edwards
MUSCATINE, Iowa (CNN) - Consumer advocate Ralph Nader criticized Democrat Hillary Clinton Monday, and gave his seal of approval to her presidential rival, John Edwards.
In an interview with the Politico, the consumer advocate urged liberal Iowans to "recognize" Edwards by "giving him a victory." He added that Clinton would "pander to corporate interest groups" if elected.
Nader, who has long said Democrats and Republicans are almost indistinguishable, called Edwards his party’s "glimmer of hope."
Clinton, Edwards and Obama are either tied or separated by just a few percentage points in most recent polls, with Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses just two days away.
Nader is a controversial figure within the Democratic party – a liberal icon who is blamed by some for Vice President Al Gore’s loss to George W. Bush in the 2000 presidential race.
CNN poll: Favored candidates in both parties in dead heat
DES MOINES, Iowa (CNN) - With two days to go until the Iowa caucuses, a new CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll out Tuesday shows both the Democratic and Republican presidential nomination races tied at the top.
But with a quarter of all Democratic voters and nearly half of all Republican voters still making up their minds at this late stage, almost anything can happen Thursday night in the first contest for the White House.
Among Democrats, Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York wins the most support, with 33 percent of likely Democratic caucus-goers backing Clinton and 31 percent supporting Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois. But taking into account the survey's sampling error of 4.5 percentage points in the Democratic race, the race is virtually tied.
Clinton's $100 million year
DES MOINES, Iowa (CNN) - Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign reported late Monday night that the New York senator raised “over $100 million for the year” in her bid for the Democratic nomination.
The campaign did not release additional details such as the percentage of contributions that may be used for the primary and general election. But through the first nine months of 2007, Clinton raised more than $80 million, and transferred an additional $10 million from her Senate to presidential campaign account, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.
The Clinton campaign released the $100 million figure two days before the Iowa caucuses – the first presidential nominating contest of the 2008 race for the White House.
Bloomberg closer to '08 run?
In an interview with CNN, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg explains why he is attending a summit of moderate politicians this weekend and whether it means he may run for president. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)
TICKER MORNING EDITION: Tuesday, January 1, 2008
With the Iowa caucuses only two days away, CNN will offer extensive coverage of the 2008 presidential contest all day. CNN correspondents are traveling with the Republican and Democratic candidates throughout Iowa and New Hampshire, and will provide live reports from the campaign trail. In addition, viewers will be able to hear directly from the candidates on the pressing issues of the day. The “Ballot Bowl” will air from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET, and will be followed by three hours of “The Situation Room.”
Making news today:
No safe leads in the Hawkeye State
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Caucus-day logistics are starting to dominate campaign discussion; conference calls and ‘internal’ memos are more focused on precinct captains than policy, on second-choice caucus votes than old Senate positions. Not exactly heart-racing stuff, but Iowa is all about the details now, and history tells us the future course of the nation could well be shaped by something as simple as early-January Midwestern weather patterns. (Current forecast: clear and windy, and - naturally - cold.)
A new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll out this morning has Clinton and Obama virtually tied for the lead in Iowa: Clinton is at 33 percent, Obama is at 31 percent, and Edwards trails with 22 percent. Iowa polling is notoriously difficult. Meanwhile, Barack Obama’s campaign is crowing over the Des Moines Register’s new poll, which has the Illinois senator at 32 percent in the Hawkeye State, followed by Hillary Clinton at 25 percent and John Edwards at 24 percent.
On the Republican side, CNN’s new Iowa poll finds the race a virtual tie at the top, with Mitt Romney at 31 percent, and Mike Huckabee at 28 percent. Fred Thompson is at 13 percent, followed by John McCain at 10 percent, while Rudy Giuliani and Ron Paul each are tied at 8 percent. But Mike Huckabee holds on to the lead in the Des Moines Register’s poll with 32 percent, followed by Romney with 26 percent, and John McCain – who hasn’t set foot in Iowa since last week – is at 13 percent.
It’s a nail-biter to the end – with more than enough undecided voters in the mix for any number of election night outcomes.
- CNN Associate Political Editor Rebecca Sinderbrand
Scenes from the trail: Huckabee’s nutty New Year’s Eve
DES MOINES, Iowa (CNN) - Instead of kicking off one of his last campaigning days in Iowa with a stump speech, Huckabee did it with a 7:30am, three-mile run around Des Moines’ Grays Lake in 17-degree weather. “This really is insane, isn’t it?” he told reporters Monday.
When the shivering journalists asked who would win a footrace against Mitt Romney, Huckabee responded, “Bring him out here and we’ll see. Of course he’ll be running both ways the whole time.”
Shortly after, Huckabee dropped a bombshell at a news conference by deciding not to introduce an attack ad on Romney, yet showing it to the gathered press, sparking a frenzy among the gathered press corps.
The next stop of the day was even more chaotic. Back at his campaign headquarters, the next stop of the day, anti-war protesters had gotten inside and unfurled a banner reading “What would Jesus bomb?’ Police led them away, past a second protest struck up by Ron Paul supporters outside Huckabee’s offices. Those protestors were chanting, “Legalize the Constitution.”
After telling the guests at his New Year’s Eve party about his change of heart over his campaign ad, he grabbed a bass and played ‘Johnny B. Goode’ and ‘Hard Day’s Night’ with the band before making an early exit to get some sleep.
After a day whose sole purpose (essentially) was to get as much coverage as possible, what is Huckabee’s New Year’s resolution? “Stay away from you guys all I can,” he said jokingly to huddled reporters.
- CNN Political Producer Alexander Marquardt
POLITICAL HOT TOPICS: Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Compiled by Jonathan Helman
CNN Washington Bureau
CNN poll: Favored candidates in both parties in dead heat
With two days to go until the Iowa caucuses, a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll out Tuesday shows both the Democratic and Republican presidential nomination races tied at the top. Hillary Clinton, left, and Barack Obama are in a statistical dead heat in Iowa, according to a new poll. But with a quarter of all Democratic voters and nearly half of all Republican voters still making up their minds at this late stage, almost anything can happen Thursday night in the first contest for the White House.
Des Moines Register: New Iowa Poll: Obama widens lead over Clinton
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has widened his lead in Iowa over Hillary Clinton and John Edwards heading into Thursday's nominating caucuses, according to The Des Moines Register's final Iowa Poll before the 2008 nominating contests.
Washington Post: Huckabee Unveils Ad Only to Disavow It
Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee took an unorthodox gamble in his bid for the presidency Monday, unveiling an attack ad against Republican rival Mitt Romney and then immediately pledging not to run it in the hopes of appealing to the better nature of Iowa voters.
Washington Post: Mississippi Congressman Appointed to Fill Lott's Senate Seat
Rep. Roger Wicker, a 13-year veteran of the House and self-described "mainstream conservative," was appointed yesterday by Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R) to replace Republican Trent Lott in the Senate.
NY Times: A Once-Easy Campaign Becomes a Test for Romney
Just before Thanksgiving, Mitt Romney woke up to a disquieting new reality. After spending millions of dollars to ensure what was shaping up as a relatively easy victory in Iowa, his own polls found that Mike Huckabee had slipped ahead of him here, threatening his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination with a devastating defeat.
ON THE TRAIL: Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Compiled by Lauren Kornreich, CNN Washington Bureau
* Joe Biden speaks at caucus countdown events in Des Moines, Indianola, Knoxville, and Davenport, Iowa.
* Hillary Clinton attends "Picks a President" events in Ames, Sioux City, Council Bluffs, and Iowa City, Iowa.
* Chris Dodd holds “caucus for results” events in Clinton, Davenport, Cedar Rapids, and Marshalltown, Iowa.
* John Edwards holds New Year's Day events in Ames and Fort Dodge, Iowa, and drops by a phone bank in Des Moines and his campaign office in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
* Mike Huckabee meets voters in Sergeant Bluff and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and attends a “Blogger Bash” and a “Huck and Chuck Norris Rally” in Des Moines.
* John McCain attends a house party and media availability in Tilton, New Hampshire, and visits the Tilt'n Diner in Tilton and the Newfound Grocery in Bridgewater, New Hampshire. Later, he attends a town hall meeting and media availability in Lacona, New Hampshire.
* Barack Obama attends a canvass kick-off event in Des Moines, “Stand for Change” rallies in Sioux City, Council Bluffs, and Dubuque, Iowa.
* Bill Richardson attends a Football Bowl Watch Party in Pella, a Final Presidential Job Interview in Oskaloosa, and Football Bowl Watch Parties in Ottumwa, Fairfield, Mount Pleasant, and West Burlington, Iowa.
* Mitt Romney attends a number of house parties in the Polk County area where attendees will be watching the football games, including visits to homes in Ankeny, Johnston, Clive, West Des Moines, Norwalk, Pleasant Hill, and Ames, Iowa.
* Fred Thompson holds afternoon events in Iowa.
* The Senate Radio-Television Correspondents' Gallery Daybook:
* The House Radio-Television Correspondents' Gallery Daybook:
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