Do You Hear The People

[NHI]

"I'm in it to win it"

Hillary Clinton declared her candidacy for President in a two minute video released online and then one week later delivered a full announcement to supporters in New York City, where she bold told the cheering crowd, "I'm in it and in it to win it!" Clinton, the New York Senator and Former First Lady is seen as the clear favorite for the Democratic nomination in 2008, leading already in terms of organization, money and support. Most pundits believe Clinton will be very hard to beat in the primary and stands a good chance at winning the election against likely Republican nominee John McCain.

Public Opinion polls put Clinton with 48% of support for the Democratic Nod and against potential Republican rival McCain she leads the Arizona Senator 46% to 40%.

Giuliani: Security and Reform

Rudy Giuliani, seeing an opportunity in the faltering John McCain campaign, entered the race touting his security credentials, as well as the need to "Fix Washington", promising to reform the nation's capitol, calling his Republican rivals, including McCain and likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton "everything that Americans hate about politics and why Washington, DC is broken!" Running as an outsider, Giuliani is hoping to rally the Republican base to his candidacy despite previous support for gun control, gay marriage and abortion rights.

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has attacked Giuliani for being "a closest Democrat" and says his nomination would be a "disaster for the party and the conservative message." Romney, a moderate Republican is running as a conservative businessman, hoping to pickup McCain support, while also mobilizing the grassroots against Giuliani. Romney, who hails from Massachusetts, a state next to New Hampshire, home of the First in the Nation Primary, is putting much of his efforts into the state of Iowa, hoping a win there will propel him on a path to win the GOP nod.

Republican Nomination: August 2007

Rudy Giuliani: 32%

John McCain: 20%
Mitt Romney: 19%
Fred Thompson: 10%
Mike Huckabee: 4%
Undecided: 15%

Gold and Silver: Brian Schweitzer enters '08 Race for Prez

Considered a long-shot first term Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer announced he is running for PResident, declaring his candidacy for the Democratic Nomination in Iowa. Believing the choices in either party to be "insufficient" Schweitzer, a Democrat is running on a populist bandwagon, hoping to appeal to both the working class base in his own party, while appealing even to Republicans given his stance on gun and more socially conservative issues. Experts deem his candidacy DOA before the caucus, before Schweitzer remains determined to "make an impact, and have his voice be heard."

Democratic Nomination Poll: August 2007

Hillary Clinton: 51%

Joe Biden: 13%
Bill Richardson: 7%
Brian Schweitzer: 3%
Undecided: 26%

[NHI]

McCain is Out: How the Arizona Senator Lost His Footing the 2008 Race

The runner up to George W. Bush in 2000. A loyal Republican during '04 and a maverick in the Senate when he could be, John McCain looked poised in late 2005 and early 2006 to capture the Republican nomination. As the country and the party soured on the war and the Bush Administration McCain readied to position himself not as Bush's heir, but as a new kind of Republican. A reformer, willing to work with Democrats, buck his own party and fight for what he believed in.

Coupled with a superb staff and campaign organization, McCain rode in on a wave of good feeling and support at the onset of 2007, but by the summer his campaign was out of money and falling behind in the polls. McCain's lot did not improve. His support for the Iraq War only weakened his standing, as well as his inability to counter the attacks from his opponents for the nomination, namely Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, who spent nearly $5 million of his own wealth in an early ad blitz in both Iowa and South Carolina.

Summer turned to fall and forced to cut his staff, McCain took the cheap seats, staying in motels, traveling coach and visiting the state New Hampshire for days at a time hoping to turn around his luck in the state which delivered him a 19 point victory over George Bush in 2000. However, for McCain lightning striking twice seemed to be only found in fairy tales. The Arizona Senator struggled to find his footing after stumbling out of the gate. The once heir apparent for the nomination collapsed by Thanksgiving and rather than face the writing on the wall, McCain pulled the plug on his campaign and candidacy for the Presidency. "It's not in the cards," he said in his farewell speech. "I gave it my all. I fought the good fight."

For McCain, even before a single vote is cast, this election will be one to analyze over and over. What went wrong? How did it go wrong? Many pundits speculate his campaign's decision to coast on momentum and inevitability, while other will fault the decision to let attacks by Giuliani and Romney go unanswered. But perhaps the biggest answer was quite obvious from the start. The McCain of '07 was not the McCain of '00. The reformer. The crusader. The new McCain was one of Washington. Someone who had been tainted. Someone who could no longer say, "I'm a maverick and I am proud."

Mitt's Moment

For Mitt Romney, running for President in 2008, came 40 years after his father, George Romney's failed big to win the GOP nomination in 1968. Romney, a proud son of George is different than his father. While George was unafraid to speak his mind, Mitt is cautious, even calculated. He refuses to takes stance on issues unless pressed. He's earned a reputation as a flip floper, a label used to defeat his fellow Massachusetts Senator John Kerry in 2004. His fellow Republicans have been critical of him. Mike Huckabee is said to have said of Romney prior to a debate, 'the man is soulless', while Rudy Giuliani called him a "political weathervane" during the last GOP debate.

However, despite all these flaws and all these attacks, Romney stands in a strong position, perhaps the strongest (following the departure of McCain) to win the Republican nomination. The answer is threefold: Money, organization and message. Romney has shown a willingness to invest personal money into the race, helping to build his name and brand across the country. He's also amassed a strong ground game in both Iowa and New Hampshire, critical states he needs to win the Republican nod. He's also running on a message, "Outsider". A one-term Governor, Romney spends most of his time touting his experience at Bain Capital, as a job creator and says his abilities and time in business best prepare him to be President and to reform Washington, DC.

"Hillary has never run a business, she's never run nothing and now she wants to be President," Romney said recently on the stump in Iowa, "give me a break." Still, his golden trifecta is considered wobbly by some in the party. The issue of Romney's Mormon faith, something he has downplayed on the campaign, as well as his shifting positions on gun control and abortion have made him a prime target for his fellow candidates all vying to win the conservative wing of the party.

Romney, though looks to capitalize on McCain's failure by appealing to both moderate and conservative wings. The exit of McCain has left Giuliani as the only so-called 'moderate' candidate left in the race, leaving Romney with a chance to mobilize the grassroots in Iowa and appeal to moderates in New Hampshire.

Polls currently show Romney hanging on in Iowa where Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is making a strong play. The latest poll put Romney ahead 34% to Huckabee's 27%. While in New Hampshire, Giuliani is favorite with 41% support, compared to Romney's 30%.

The Man Who Wants to Take on Hillary

Senator Joe Biden and Former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson are considered prime candidates for State or even the Vice Presidency with Hillary Clinton, but hardly anyone gives them a serious chance at beating the Democratic frontrunner. Clinton's organization and money even scared away Illinois Senator Barack Obama, who rose to prominence in 2004 following his well-received keynote as the Democratic Convention. However, one Democrat, first term Governor and outspoken frontiersman Brian Schweitzer believes he is the right candidate to take on Hillary and quite possibly beat her for the nomination.

"I believe she is truly embodies the establishment in this country," Schweitzer said to the New York Times. "She caters to the Wall Street fat cats, all the while pretending she is a champion for working people." Schweitzer, who is focusing heavily on the Iowa Caucuses sees an opening to run a campaign where he can appeal to blue collar voters and even some Republicans turned off by all the candidates. "I'm a different kind of Democrat," Schweitzer said of past nominees. "I don't do staged hunting photops. I talk about energy, I don't believe government is the answer and I'm blunt."

Schweitzer hopes his folksy charm and appeal will win him votes in the Democratic primary. Hillary Clinton still leads nationally by a healthy margin and the latest Iowa poll puts the former First Lady ahead with 49% support.

Iowa Caucus Poll: Republicans (Romney +7)

Romney: 34%
Huckabee: 27%
Giuliani: 20%
Thompson: 7%
Undecided: 12%

Iowa Caucus Poll: Democrats (Clinton +18)

Clinton: 49%
Schweitzer: 18%
Biden: 6%
Richardson: 2%
Undecided: 25%

New Hampshire Primary Poll: Republicans (Giuliani +11)

Giuliani: 41%
Romney: 30%
Thompson: 8%
Huckabee: 3%
Undecided: 11%

New Hampshire Primary: Democrats (Clinton +44)

Clinton: 56%
Schweitzer: 12%
Biden: 7%
Richardson: 2%
Undecided: 23%

South Carolina Primary Poll: Republicans (Giuliani +7)

Giuliani: 30%
Thompson: 23%
Romney: 22%
Huckabee: 10%
Undecided: 15%

South Carolina Primary Poll: Democrats (Clinton +38)

Clinton: 52%
Biden: 14%
Schweitzer: 8%
Richardson: 3%
Undecided: 23%

[NHI]

High Turnout Expected on both Republican and Democratic side

Des Moines Register Poll: Romney: 33% Huckabee: 27%

IOWA CAUCUSES: 2008

8:00 PM EST
Results are slowly coming in. On the Republican side, the race is being described as TOO CLOSE TO CALL. Ahead, is Mitt Romney, followed by Mike Huckabee and in third place Rudy Giuliani.

No results as of yet on the Democratic side.

8:37 PM
No results to report.

8:58 PM

From the Romney Campaign: Spokesperson Kevin Madden: "We are feeling very good about Iowa. The Des Moines Register Poll, which is a great indicator of the end result put Governor Romney ahead over Governor Mike Huckabee."

9:36 PM
Results are slowly coming in:

Romney: 35.4%
Huckabee: 28.9%
Giuliani: 22.0%
Thompson: 11.5%
OTHER: 2.3%

9:59 PM
ROMNEY: 34.2%
HUCKABEE: 29.6%

10:03 PM
Mayor Rudy Giuliani will place third in Iowa; addressing supporters at 10:30


GIULIANI: "We're going on to New Hampshire and beyond."

10:35
Fred Thompson Campaign says "they are reassessing next steps."

10:47 PM
ROMNEY: 33.0%
HUCKABEE: 30.1%

10:51 PM
The Race in IOWA is being described as TOO CLOSE TO CALL, per ASSOCIATED PRESS.

11:35 PM
Mike Huckabee takes Lead in Iowa.
HUCKABEE: 33.7%
ROMNEY: 33.1%

11:48 PM
Huckabee still in the lead.
HUCKABEE: 33.9%
ROMNEY: 33.2%

12:06 AM
ROMNEY RETAKES LEAD, PER AP.

ROMNEY: 33.8%
HUCKABEE: 33.6%

12:34 AM
ROMNEY holds onto lead.

ROMNEY: 33.9%
HUCKABEE: 33.5%

12:59 AM
Huckabee addresses supporters. Calls results "a win."

"When the votes are all in we'll be neck and neck or have surpassed the Massachusetts Liberal who thought he could buy the election!"

1:18 AM

Romney addresses supporters, does not declare victory. "Whether we win the gold or silver we're in this for the long haul!"

AP Declares Romney Winner of Iowa Caucuses

2:39 AM
AP calls Iowa for Mitt Romney.

ROMNEY: 33.88%
HUCKABEE: 33.57%