How things look in Iowa

The Iowa caucuses are weird and interesting...especially on a year with no real clear front runner in either party. I thought this blog post from Iowa was really interesting and shows how up-for-grabs the votes really are there. My bet is on Edwards winning the caucuses - and maybe by a significant margin. Clinton will come in 3rd at best.

Click on the jump and read the whole thing..

Iowans Discuss What It Means to Support, And Then Support Again

Call it a testament to the seriousness of Iowa politics. Blame it on a field of so many acceptable candidates. Credit an Iowa caucus season that has now spanned two years. Regardless of reason, it's the stuff that drives pollsters and campaigns crazy: supporters realizing they're no longer sitting in a comfortable chair.

Nine Iowans have agreed to put their thoughts on the record and describe how they came to support one candidate -- and then another. Finish reading...

"Stopping a president who believes he can do no wrong..."

Candidates

So, I have attended two presidential forums in the past couple of weeks, and while I'm still holding out hope that Al Gore will jump into the race, John Edwards is growing on me.

He has spoken first at both forums and generated lots of buzz in the room, but at yesterday's forum, he was even better. He connected with the audience and made me feel like he has thoughtful, powerful ideas for the future. Many of the speakers echoed the same themes and ideas, but Edwards was able to convey more information, succinctly and to connect those ideas to individual lives. I was impressed.

As much as I want to support Hillary, I'm just not there. She did well in front of both audiences, but I can't get excited about campaigning for her.

And, Obama...well, he's another one that I'd like to support, but I don't feel like he's 'there' yet. With Richardson on stage sharing his wealth of international experience (he should be the next Secretary of State!), Obama feels like a small-town mayor or something. I think he's got a great future, but he needs more (of everything) before he's ready to lead the free world and clean up George Bush's mess.

The candidate that actually generated the most excitement though - Dennis Kucinich! He was great - and I'm glad he's in the conversation!