Clinton is still concerned about Iowa.

[Eraserhead]

Maybe she is just doing the usual lowering of expectations.

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007710230367

[Sam Spade]

If Clinton wins Iowa (in convincing fashion, especially, b/c of the Dem primary system), the game is almost all but over.  If she doesn't, she has work until February 5 (work seriously that is, Obama would stay in until at least after then - he has the money).

[Mr. Morden]

Nothing really surprising there.  Clinton is just a few points ahead in Iowa, while she has huge leads everywhere else.  Plus, caucus polling is really difficult, so it's hard to get a really accurate read on the state of the race there.  Why *wouldn't* she be concerned about Iowa?

[Mr. Morden]

If Clinton wins Iowa (in convincing fashion, especially, b/c of the Dem primary system), the game is almost all but over.  If she doesn't, she has work until February 5 (work seriously that is, Obama would stay in until at least after then - he has the money).

Sam, on that last point, if Obama were to get blown out of the water in IA, NH, NV, and SC, and the polls show him way way behind in CA, NJ, GA, MO, MN, TN, etc., might he not just drop out of the race even before Feb. 5th, since he'd have no hope of winning anyway....even if he does have the money?  I mean, I've got to figure that at the very least, there'd be some pressure from party leaders for Obama not to force Clinton to expend resources on those big media markets in the Feb. 5th states.  If Obama dropped out, she could save some of that for the GE fight.

[Eraserhead]

Also I found Clinton's hatred of Mississippi amusing.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

I agree - if Clinton wins Iowa - it's over red-rover.

But it's certainly not necessary - the lead has shifted and sorted all year - plus Iowa polling is really unreliable. It's certainly not a state anyone is expecting to be a blowout.

[7,052,770]

Also I found Clinton's hatred of Mississippi amusing.

yeah, seriously, f ck her.

[Ogre Mage]

As I see it, Edwards and/or Obama needs to deal a decisive defeat to Clinton in Iowa to wound her.  And by decisive I mean 10 points or better.  If they are bunched together I think Clinton will be able to "blur" the result, even if she is not on top and maintain her frontrunner status.  Then the contest likely moves to N.H. where Clinton is leading by 20 points.  Edwards or Obama beating her by 1 or 2 points in Iowa is not going to stop her. 

I agree that if Hillary wins Iowa the race is over.  Her campaign machine will just take over.  The only other early state where she looks even remotely vulnerable is South Carolina where she is leading Obama by about 10 points and Edwards is nowhere.  And her lead in Florida is so large she could practically be exposed as one of those flesh-eating aliens from "V" and still win.

[Eraserhead]

Also I found Clinton's hatred of Mississippi amusing.

yeah, seriously, f ck her.

Ha I had a feeling that would turn you against her Harry.