The Trail: A Daily Diary of Campaign 2008

I don't know Hucklebee's middle name, but Romney's middle name is Mitt -- as for Obama's middle name, I think it's because no one would do a double take for anyone but his : )

With the benefit of hindsight (Obama lost New Hampshire yesterday), some of the comments above are quite funny. Keep it up, folks.

You know and the rest of america knows that obama=change.The Q is, is america ready and willing the accept change? NO, he will do well but he will not be the candidate the win's. SAD, SAD America SAD.

Does anyone know what Mitt Romney's middle name is? How about Hucklebee's? Why don't these republicans refer to EVERY candidate by their full name??

Hillary's experience consist of marrying the winning horse (Clinton) and planning dinner parties at the White House...oh wait; she does have policy experience. She unsuccessfully tried to push through national health care.

If Hillary was not married to Bill, she would not be where she is. She would not be a contender. She is also quite good at making "Vast Right Wing (X-File like) Conspiracies".

Obama came up hard. Hillary married Bill Clinton.

The Clinton's want to be a dynasty like Bhutto in Pakistan, the Ghandis in India, Megawatti in Indonesia, and that woman in Argentina. Most Japanese PM for the last 15 years have had fathers who were high ranking politicians or PMs themselves. IS OLIGARCHY THE AMERICAN WAY?

Obama is more competent than Bush when he entered office. GW Bush was quite experienced at getting mediocre grades, using alcohol and drugs, as well as running organizations into the ground. His very weak Texas governorship was his saving grace (along with his father).

America needs real change. You do not create change by electing a member of the establishment who is already beholden to the machine. That is asinine.

Obama 2008!

Bill Clinton 1992- accomplished governor
Hussain Obama 2008- beat Alan Keyes.
Hussain Obama 2008- voted "present" on Iran, while he talks about great vision on Iraq vote.

Hussain Obama- all talk no results, no courage

Hussain Obama- accomplished lawyer. Denies his heridity for success. A true coward

If anyone in this race reminds me of the best qualities of Bill Clinton, it's Barack Obama. Obama is the true statesman. He's the one who speaks to the people in clear, honest terms and inspires us to believe that together we really CAN change America for the better. Hillary just reminds us that Bill had a reason to look elsewhere when he wanted some action.

If anyone in this race reminds me of the best qualities of Bill Clinton, it's Barack Obama. Obama is the true statesman. The one who speaks to the people in clear terms and inspires us to believe that together we really CAN change America for the better. Hillary just reminds us that Bill had a reason to look elsewhere when he some action.

Why, why, WHY can't you cover John Edwards???

Dan, you should know better. You're a good reporter. How about a story on how Edwards, outspent by both Obama & Hillary, managed to come in second? That should say SOMETHING about the power of his message.

Please, please "play fair" and give Post readers full coverage so they can be informed.

Hispanics start having their say in selection of Democrat nominee in Nevada. Until they are engaged in the process, who wins or loses would not matter.

Hispanics are the second largest Ethnic group and they have to have their say in the process

Crackhead black muslim is the ideal Democrat candidate for corporate media and Republicans. They get to kick him around and have fun. They did that with serious, accomplished individuals like Gov Dukakis, Al Gore, war hero John Kerry. Just imagine what they will do with a self identified crackhead muslim.

I hope rest of the country does not follow the few Iowans. They almost always choose a looser for the Democrats.

Only 11% of Iowans showed up yesterday how embarrassing. It is not a win for anyone at all. Obama got 3% of the Iowans to vote for him, Edwards and Clinton each got 2%, Huckabee about 1%. With 2.9 million people in Iowa there should have been more than 2.3 million people participating. Thats the problem in America...Americans do not vote in large numbers.
Take the last Presidential election only about 30% of all Americans voted and Bush and Kerry got only about 15% each of all Americans to vote for them...this is pathetic.
Obama, Clinton, Edwards, McCain, Romney, Huckabee, Paul, and yes Thompson should all go until Feb 5th when 28 state will have had there say...
The media is trying to create the news rather than reporting it...they are out to make money not tell you all the facts...

It strikes me as amusing that Hillary Clinton keeps talking about her readiness to lead and hit the ground running (while disparaging Barack Obama's readiness to lead), yet his organization trounced hers in Iowa.

Who got the job done in Iowa? Who mobilized a new bloc of voters? If results mean anything, Obama looks to be the more capable leader.

Hillary Clinton's experience? Hillary Clinton was the First Lady, not the President. Hillary Clinton did not have a security clearance, which means if Hillary has any "experience" as president, she got it illegally. I believe this is the reason she will not release her first lady calendar and notes because it would reveal her role in the White House, which probably went waaaaaaaaay beyond traditional duties and responsibilities of First Ladies. It has implications regarding both her husband's presidency and what it would be like if she became president.

My other problem with Bill and Hillary is the idea of the two-fer. I don't want a co-presidency. I want the person who the American people elected (us) to provide leadership, make the final decisions, authorize action, and be the face of the United States.

I am also disturbed by what I see as the Clintons trying to do an end-run around the constitution to get a 3rd term for their "co-presidency." In a recent news article, Hillary Clinton said that Bill Clinton would NOT attend national security council meetings in a Hillary White House. She, Hillary went on to say that ex-president Bill Clinton would not have a security clearance. But the truth is when ex-presidents leave office, they retain their top secret security clearance. I could not believe she would lie about something so easy to check.

I agree with the poster who wrote that people vote for someone they like. The reality is half of the voting public doesn't like Hillary.

I'm a Republican and I'll be registering as a Democrat to vote for OBAMA in my state's primary.

If Hillary Clinton wins the Dem nomination, I'll be voting Repub in the general election. It may not be my first choice, but I could live with a McCain presidency.

OK, over and over I keep hearing how Obama is the idealist but will get beat by the GOP nominee. This is what people say every election. So for the past couple elections, we dems nominate a smart, un-charismatic policy wonks that people can not connect to. Obama is charismatic, smart, and very progressive (look at his voting record and his ratings from progressive groups like the ACLU). And he talks to people in a language that people can relate to. He is the democratic version of Ronald Reagan. He will get Obama Republicans voting for him and bring back all the Reagan Democrats. And he will be every bit progressive as Reagan was conservative.

And when you want to talk experience between the top 3 dems, I don't see that much advantage that any of them have over the other. Really can you name the legislative accompishments in Hillary's 7 years in the Senate now? Nothing really sticks out in my mind but I would love to hear from the Hillary fans with a list of legislative accomplishments that sets her apart from Obama. I know Obama has been key supporter of VA issues for dems and he has worked (Bi-partisanly) to help eliminate conventional weapons from troubled areas like Africa and the Cauacaus' and to make goverment earmarks more transparent. This Bipartisan work is not Liebermanesque where you call it bipartisanship by caving to the GOP's wishes. This is working with specific GOP Senators to get important things done that represent progressive values. Please compare this to Hillary's accomplishments? And if you could point me to those I would appreciate it.

This election is like watching one of the reality television shows. It seems as though the "American Idol" mentality has taken over in blogs, cable news, and Internet news sites. Get someone on stage with a cadenced speech, a fan club, a catchy slogan and you have a President. What happens when that person enters the board room (Oval Office)? Unfortunately the American people have to wait four years to fire someone who doesn't do a good job.
When I was growing up - reading newspapers and watching the nightly news was informative for my current events lesson at school. You really didn't know whether the anchor was a Democrat or Republican. Now the news has morphed into entertainment. I truly hope the electorate will critique the issues and the candidates beyond what the media dishes out. The election of our President is more than a popularity contest. Talking about change is easy. Implementing it is tough.

i will never vote for a MORMON

Great article. Thanks for reporting the results of the New Hampshire primary four days early.

It's so clear. New Hampshire young people will vote just like Iowa young people. Well-educated NH voters will vote just like educated Iowa voters. Obama will win, and since these two states represent an overwhelming 2% of the population, the nomination is all his. A second victory for Obama would indeed be "crippling" to the others, with only 98% of the population to go.

Thanks for playing, John Edwards.
Thanks for playing, Hillary Clinton.
Thanks for playing, Bill Richardson.
Thanks for playing, the other 290 million people in the US. We'll tell you what to do when your turn comes.

The media has considered the opinion of 10% of the population of Iowa, divined what will happen in New Hampshire, and saved the rest of us the trouble of actually voting.

Maybe tomorrow you can tell us who will win between Obama and McCain? That is, if you're still planning on having McCain win. Let us know if you change your mind.

Don't forget Obama studied CONSTITUTIONAL law while at Harvard, clearly important background to have in light of the sorry mess the current law-breaking-with-impunity adminstration is leaving for us humble citizens.
I've gotta say some of the idiot speak on this thread - "where's the 21st century Andrew Jackson?" - makes me wonder about the sensibility of universal sufferage. There can't be another Andrew Jackson because Trails of Tears and the mass murder of Native Americans is no longer possible in 21st century America, thank God.

I, TOO, AM EXTREMELY PERTURBED BY THE EXCLUSION OF JOHN EDWARDS FROM THIS ARTICLE, AND, IN GENERAL, THE MEDIA BLACKOUT OF EDWARDS AS A STRONG FORCE IN THIS RACE FOR THE PRESIDENCY. I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU, WASHINGTON POST, JUSTIFY SUCH INCOMPLETE AND IRRESPONSIBLE COVERAGE. EDWARDS IS A FIGHTER, BUT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO FIGHT WITH THE MEDIA TO BE TREATED WITH FUNDAMENTAL FAIRNESS.

I'm with a couple of the other commenters here. Why did you disappear John Edwards? CNN is doing the same thing on the Anderson Cooper show tonight. He's a close third in the early polls in NH and he beat Hillary in Iowa. It's not good coverage to write him out of the story.

asusdmb WROTE:...

"I challenge the doubters to give him [obama] one chance. Just one chance to prove to you that he is the real deal and really listen to him."...

exactly!... a carter world where it will be a single 4 year term ending in ignominy and pain for amerika just like it was with carter..

carli.yung WROTE: ..

"I am an international reader who has been following the US elections with great interest. Quite frankly, I'm sick ..."

HEY!...WE AINT (sic) ELECTING OUR PRESIDENT TO *SATISFY* YOU!!!!!!....

(hmmm..where you from?.... who's your country's leader...putin? ...hu jintao???)

I really don't understand all of this 'empty suit' and 'naval gazing' chatter about Obama. I assume all you folks have been listening to the chattering classes and the Clinton and Edwards campaigns a little too much. Yes, he's inspirational. Yes, he gives a good speech. But he's also a workhorse with the courage of his convictions. Do your research.

After graduating from Columbia with a double major in English Lit and Poli-Sci, Obama had his pick of high-pay, high-profile jobs. Instead, he wanted to connect with the black community and took a job as a community organizer on the south side of Chicago. In the process, he created (damn near singlehandedly) a number of organizations that still exist and have real political power in the city.
After Harvard Law, he again had plenty of big-money jobs, and instead he went back to Chicago to organize a a voter registration drive that signed up 150,000 new voters in the disenfranchised South Side.
When he went to the state Senate, he championed a cause NOBODY liked, requiring cops to videotape all suspect interviews. The repubs thought it was soft on crime, the dems were scared it would make them look like they were soft on crime, the cops hated it, and the voters got spooked everytime someone says 'it'll be harder to protect your children'. The whole legislature assumed it was a lost cause. Ditto for the governor, who also wanted nothing to do with it. Obama worked on them, and worked some more. He talked to the repubs, he talked to the dems, he talked to the cops. It wasn't triangulation, it was true persuasion. He worked the repubs around, he worked the dems around, and he worked the cops around. (Remember, at the time he was a junior state senator with NO clout, almost no staff, just himself.) In the end, the senate passed the bill, 35-0.
Then, Obama moved on to the governor, and talked HIM around to signing the bill.

None of this was easy, and none of it was accomplished through great oratory. Do you really believe that African Americans on the south side of Chicago who just lost the only job they're likely to get are sunny optimists? Not so much.

His accomplishments have come through intelligence, empathy, understanding, judgement, and and unyielding faith in Americans and our ability to overcome the odds.

Throughout, Obama has never taken the easy route. He hasn't taken the one that will make him money, he hasn't taken the one that will give him recognition. Instead, he has taken the path that will allow him to make a difference.

I challenge the doubters to give him one chance. Just one chance to prove to you that he is the real deal and really listen to him.

Great article. I don't get the people that keep insinuating that Hillary's years in DC = more experience ... I'm not sure what she would really be without her husbands name. And I am a woman, I want to support her, but she has made that impossible with her foreign policy positions.
On the other hand, Obama has opposed the Iraq war from the beginning. I don't support him because he's "new and exciting". I support him for the positions he as taken (as opposed to Clinton & Edwards). Obama has actually worked his way up from the bottom, as opposed to Hillary who rides on her husbands name. The more I learn a out Hilary the less I like her. The more I learn about Obama the more I like him. I'm so thankful that Iowa saw the light and hope it continues in NH.

hmmm... seems like everybody is screaming..!!!::::

>>>OPRA-BAMA 08....

welcome to a 21st century jimmy carter world...

oh god, where is the 21st century andrew jackson???

In Spite of the soaring rhetoric and promises from our Presidential Candidates this Nation faces it most perilous times since WWII. Most of the Candidates are refusing to recognize or address problems that in time will destroy this nation!

We have an arrogant, incompetent, illiterate, and inept fool in the White House, a demoralized and decimated military, plundered treasury, trashed world standing, trampled rule of Law and Constitution. While the nation is sinking under an tidal wave of Uneducated Illegal Aliens waving the Mexican flag, demanding their rights, while feasting at the trough of Public Welfare, as they Kill, Rob, and Rape thousands of American Citizens each year. .

We as a nation can survive fools in our White House. What we CANNOT survive is fools both in our Congress and white house like Bush, McCain, Hillary, Obama, Kennedy, Reid, etc. & now they want to be President! Each promising a new American, rebuilding the middle class and taking care of the poor. But what they refuse to acknowledge or recognize is no single Nation or people is rich enough to lift the 100,s of millions of poor out of poverty. In others words American & American taxpayers cannot bear the cost of becoming the welfare state for Mexico and Latin American. To attempt to do so will only reduce all Americans to poverty equaling what the uneducated invaders are fleeing from in their home countries. The poor and criminals pouring across our Borders have an average of an six grade education. Each person with less than a high education is a net cost of 20k per year for American taxpayers. This applies to American citizens as well as the millions of Illegal Aliens. So the displaced compassion endorsed by Edwards, Obama, McCain, Hillary etc. is deeply flawed. Failure to close our border or to give Amnesty to the 12 to 30 millions of Illegal Aliens in this country will in the long run, with the Chain Immigration result in adding 100 to 160 millions poor citizens to our welfare rolls. Their high school drop out rates exceed 50 percent with a high crime rate and a very high illegitimate birth rate, the very combination that keeps Mexico & Latin American a cesspool of poverty & misery!

Maybe the results is what the multinational companies and the rich dream of, a Nation full of poor docile labors like China, India, Mexico so the rich can live like the kings of old and the rest can live like the peons in Mexico that are pouring across our borders, but I do not believe it is the future most Americans aspire to for their children and grand children!

In all, my country, a potential benefactor and beacon for all the world - is headed right off a cliff and to an third world status!

If the Politicians with the Citizens support, decide they must do more for the worlds poor then they must find a way like an Marshall plan for Latin American. What they must not be allowed to do, though flawed logic or by criminal intent is to turn this Nation into a Cesspool of Crime, Corruption, Poverty, and Misery by continuing the open borders policy and Amnesty for the millions pouring across our borders.

In my view - and in the view of many educated thinking Americans - this has all come to pass because the Politicians, the elected and sworn stewards of this country, have allowed it to happen. Surely they should have known better...when they refused to abide by the Constitution against invasion or enforce our laws they disgraced their oath of office. One way this Nation can start to recover is for the lot of them to be gone from those hallowed halls of Congress and the White House, because most of them have become a house of party-bound prostitutes paid by the special interests, swirling and partying, amidst the rubble of their own malfeasance - taking this Nation right down with them.

As a proud and concerned American that proudly served my Country in time of War as did my Father, my two brothers and my son. I am appalled and very angry at what self severing, stupid/corrupt politicians have done to my country!

Talk about leadership? Hillary blew health care reform. That's the measure of her capacity to bring change.

Pat Paulsen for President.

I saw cbs morning show . they said obamma beat hillary and edwards . then talked about obamma and hillary and skipped talking about edwards. Then Harry said someyhing about Dodd and and Biden quiting even though they had a lot of experience, almost seeming amazed that it turned out that way. Then they went to a story about britneys drunken episode that was longer than anything I saw on Biden Dodd, or Edwards all year. They have their Repub corparate "acceptable candidates" that wont cause them any trouble. They kicked Kuccinich out of debates because he doesnt have enough following. How do you get following if they wont give you time to get accross your message.? Obbama and hillary were annointed from the get go as the acceptable democrats. The repub owned media doesnt want you to see different views. That should tell you who to vote for. They said Huck has blue collar apppeal. He went on Lenos show and crossed a picket line. hes no friend of labor.

I am an international reader who has been following the US elections with great interest. Quite frankly, I'm sick of Hillary supporters who assume that she is the only person capable of repairing US relations with the rest of the world. I, and many of my friends who live abroad, are just as excited as many US citizens about an American President who isn't a Bush or a Clinton. More importantly, the presence of an articulate, thoughtful, honest, inspirational leader with depths of integrity is what inspires us outside of the US to follow this election. We are just as excited about Obama as you are.

300 million Americans and we've narrowed down to Obama and Huckabee. Lord help us.

Tom-Tom's Beat

giving bill a soapbox to rationalize his failures for 4 or 8 yrs is unappealing
hilary lost me when her campaign started the same old slash and burn that we knew as "the clinton war room".
i know i don't want someone who is rattling on about giving us back the clinton yrs or continuing the bush yrs.
obama, huck, mccain, giuliani, edwards, all ok,................. romton, [my clever romney., clinton combo].......no way
have you guessed my demo? 68 wht. male hawaii

McCain, Heckabee, Hillary, Obama & the rest of the Democrats, plus Liberal Media and the rest of the open Border pro-illegal Aliens supporters professed & false compassion for Illegal Aliens is sicking. This Nation has 47 millions citizens without medical insurance, Million of our elderly chose between food and medicine every day. Millions of American children live in poverty with no chance at the American dream. Our vets. return from the war that came about by lies from Politicians without proper medical care or treatment. Yet they shower rewards on the Illegal Aliens, free medical, free schooling for their many children, no reward is too great or price to high for the American citizens to pay, for the ones that break our laws, invaded this country and demand their rights while waving the Mexican flag and Slaughtering, Raping and Robbing thousands of American Citizens each year.

The Corrupt Politicians and Liberal Media try to get the public to believe they are Compassion, & Wise for wanting open borders and amnesty. While American Citizens are racist & xenophobe if we request that our Constitution and Immigration laws be followed and enforced for all law breakers irregardless of race or nationally!

It is the money they get from business from supplying them slave labor with 20K worth of benefits paid each year by the tax payers and the Latino votes with the promise of millions more if we give them amnesty that they are really after.

If they really are Compassion and Caring there are Millions of American Citizens that have played by
the rules, payed their taxes, obeyed the laws, fought the wars and built this Nation that are in great need. The Politicians could use American Citizens to show their Compassion. But Compassion for American citizens or legal Immigrants does not get Money and Votes for our Corrupt lying Politicians.

All of you who cheer leading for Obama and think America is ready for a black president are just nuts. Hillary is the really deal who will win in November. All the buzz about the stupid Iowa will pass. Who cares about those peasants anyway? Rudy went directly to Florida. If I were a Republican, I would hope the dems send Obama, because anyone from Republican side will beat him in a general election.

A accurate background check would result in most of the Illegal Aliens in this country getting deported! Do not forget it should not only pertain to possible terrorist but to criminals. The most vicious gangs in American is Illegal Alien gangs like MS-13 that has started an ethic cleaning of Blacks in LA. Recent posting around the country calls for killing all blacks & gringos! Read the Manifesto of Al Raza (The Race)it is more racist org. existing in the USA they are very blunt in calling for the reconquesto of the American Southwest. In turn they also believe everything for the brown race and nothing for the rest. Not surprising La Raza is taxpayer supported. Guess most of Politicians cannot read or maybe they are just pandering to the Latino vote. Hillary has the ex VP of La Raza as an adviser on her payroll. Coming across the border more than once is an felony as is forged documents, welfare fraud.

KTRH, large radio station in Houston has had emails and phone calls today concerning Obama's "Christian" church. Like the old saying goes, be careful what you ask for. As Obama has enjoyed a free pass with MSM, now Republicans are wondering about the large turnout and how that might whip them in November '08. They always said they could beat Hillary, so they promoted Obama with his cocky, arrogant, inexperienced self. They chose to not disclose his pastor's ties to Louis Farakkhan, choose not to mention his "Black Values System" racist church agenda and their allegiance to Africa, with no mention of the United States. They choose not to disclose the murder of the church's long-standing choir director scandal on 12/23/07, story buried by MSM, Obama camp, and Chicago PD. This candidate who didn't reside in the United States during his formative years does not represent the average American and does not have the loyalty other candidates have had since birth. It is astonishing that states so far removed from the southside of Chicago, and populations - like New Hampshire and Iowa - that do not deal with urban ghetto and gangsta rap lifestyles played out every day will decide who leads the free world. New Hampshire, take a trip this weekend to the inner-city, and look at what you are handing to America - a story YOU don't have to live every day. Take off the rose-colored glasses, and honor your parents and grandparents. Do this for YOUR children. Camelot was the Kennedys - period and it's OVER. This is not "American Idol" and boy wonder is not ready for prime time. We don't need another novice. Don't betray your country.

Clinton.

Actually, My favorite would be Al Gore, but life that good would get boring eventually (not).

Gore would have been an amazingly good president. The average middle-class American would be more than $100k ahead of where they're going to be care of Bush/Cheney.

Obama's charm and honeymoon with the press may not have a very long "shelf life".

If he becomes the candidate, they and their Republican masters (cue organ music) will make mince meat of Obama (cue meat grinder).

Obama voted against the war and said it would be a great mistake. That alone makes him the best person for the job, as our greatest concern is that we carefully avoid future wars.

Leadership is largely about being really smart, and communicating effectively so that you can persuade people. Obama is a JFK quality speaker with proven good judgement: great President material. Who would you rather listen to give speeches for the next eight years, Obama or Clinton?

"People vote for who they like."

You are really not authorized to speak for me. Personally I think anyone who makes a choice for a national office on whether or not they like them is an idiot.

This election has dire consequences for us if we go the wrong way. Do a little research. Make your decision on what you think are the facts of the candidate. People that follow this method are why we are in trouble now. Nothing but actors and glamor boys. Not smart at all.

I'm a NH Dem, voting Obama. Here's what's interesting: over the past couple of months I've encountered an amazing variety of people saying they were going for him--not just the usual crowd, but people who you might not normally expect to vote for him. His base is very wide and enthusiastic. People just like him. I've been equally struck by how many Dems seem not to like HRC too much, often viscerally. If so many Dems don't care for her, what on earth would happen in a general election? I do believe that Obama will win NH, no matter what any polls say.

First of all, Edwards got the coverage he deserved. The guy has been camped in Iowa for three years, has every disgruntled former factory worker in his back pocket and he still didn't win. Yeah, he got second...by less than 1/2 percent. Besides, the Republicans would eat him alive. I vote democrat and even I think Edwards sounds socialist.

Second, to all you people waiving Ron Paul banners. For a second, look past the fact he wants to end the war in Iraq and look at his other issues like taxes. The guy is a nut case and the little guy would be screwed.

Thirdly, I like Clinton, I think she would be a great president. However, having Clinton on the ticket would be equivalent to having gay marraige or abortion on the ticket. It would bring out every Republican whether it was sub-zero weather.

Democrats, don't blow this election. The easiest way to win this election is to put Obama on the ticket and hope Republicans are too apathetic to bother leaving to go vote or are so scared of their own candidate that they vote for the democrat

Repubicans, if you don't choose McCain, you're f***ed.

personally, I just can't deal with anymore Clinton family drama.

I do wonder if readers like ssansom820 and svreader are for real. That is just disinterested readers and not on the Clinton payroll or volunteers their posts sound like canned talking points to me. Anyway to respond to those points: Clinton has six years in the Senate and no experience before that; at least none of her own in any elective office. The only reason we're talking about Hillary Clinton is who she's married to. Obama and Edwards on the other hand have gotten as far in this race as they have on their own. And this experience argument is laughable. How much experience did Lincoln have when he took over? Eisenhower had no experience in elected office. If we wanted a candidate with experience then Richardson is a much better choice than Clinton and so was Biden.
And by the way, if Obama's the Republican's choice then why does he poll better than Clinton against every Republican nominee? Her negatives are just too high; 47% of the population have already made up their mind to vote against her. She can't win and even if she did we'd have nothing more than the political cowardice and cynical calculation that characterized the first Clinton presidency. Maybe we should remember that and not just the fact that the economy was so rosy. Remember Rwanda anyone? How we not only didn't intervene (because that would have hurt Bill's poll numbers) but actually gummed up the works at the U.N. to keep other countries like France from intervening (because that would have made Bill look bad)? Or how about us helping China, the world's largest despotism, get into the WTO? Or abandoning Somalia, which still festers and could very well turn into the next Afghanistan some day? Or stabbing the very unions that worked so hard to put him in office by signing NAFTA? But the Clinton's have such a long track record of experience as they remind us; perhaps we should look at that too. Anyone know about Ricky Ray Rector? Mr. Clinton sent a man who was so profoundly mentally disabled that he saved most of his last meal for later to the death chamber. You know I can't see Edwards or Obama doing that (or Mike Huckabee for that matter). I suppose that just goes to show they're too soft to lead the country.

In the First Congressional District of Iowa Obama was first in all Counties but two which were carried by Edwards. Turnout in Black Hawk County (Waterloo Cedar Falls) was up by more than 250% from just under 5,000 in 2005 to around 11,700 this year. And the Obama numbers were more than the total for the entire county. Hillary can claim seven years of Senate experience in all honesty but can't admit mistakes such as her vote on Iraq as did Edwards. And a lot of us didn't think we were ready for the politics of Argentina. And a lot of us who were around in 68 can remember the best and the brightest followed by the election of Mr. Experience (Nixon). As Lincoln ( a one term Congressman and two time Senate race loser) before going to Washington said-- you can't fool all of the people all of the time and the Clintons learned this here in Iowa.

Obama Presidential contender of the Democrat Party's nomination, said.""The anti-immigrant law passed by Mayor Barletta in Pennsylvania was unconstitutional and unworkable -- and it underscores the need for comprehensive immigration reform so local communities do not continue to take matters into their own hands," Obama, a
He stated he believed the attempt to enact the law was a reaction to what he considered Congressional failure on the issue of immigration. And he made a pitch for what supporters have referred to as a comprehensive immigration reform. Amnesty for between 13 to 20 million illegal aliens
"Recently, the U.S. Senate failed the American people by blocking progress on immigration reform for the second time in two years," Obama said. "We cannot put this off any longer. The ongoing problems with our immigration system are dividing our country, and distracting us from the work we need to do in other important areas such as health care, education and jobs."
The comprehensive package Obama supported ran into a firestorm of controversy, with opponents calling it "amnesty." A similar proposal ran into similar problems last year and also failed. Just like Senator McCain, Hillary, Richardson and the majority of the Democratic party, they want taxpayers to support millions of lawbreakers. Most of the republicans are no better, except for a few who see unfettered waves of uneducated, cheap labor thrown into the American citizens workforce as a nightmare on the horizon. Edwards might have some mitigating ideals, where the majority are panderers to special interests and the globalist, open border, free market of people and goods. Taking Obama to the White House would be an economic disaster on working Americans, our language and our Constitution. Taxpayers cannot afford the draining of the federal treasury to police foreign wars, no can we pay another 2 trillion dollars to support low income workers with foodstamps, education, hospitalcare and the overpopulated prison system. Case in point, the great state of California is sinking into a welfare quicksand of $14.7 billion dollars! Arizona, Georgia, Oklahoma, Missouri and soon Kansas and perhaps Indiana have said "enough is Enough!"

I think rather that focusing just of Hillary, Obama, Edwards (I have my sympathy for you), I think we should really wonder why 170,000 or more who caucus provide such a powerful momentum to a presidential election. We preach, freedom, democracy, and human rights outside. By not being there to caucus, are not we all forgetting what we are exemplified for. However, the irony is that almost the same amounts of troops in foreign soil with billions of dollar fail to do what the same numbers of people in America have done - Preserve democracy! This could itself amaze foreigners because America needs less people to impose democracy abroad or beatify democracy at home.

It is very sad that democracy has so few caretakers in a country which time often is called the beauty of democracy.

Obama, Ron Paul, Obama, Ron Paul, repeat! I live in NH, I am registered independent. I will vote for Ron Paul in the primary to screw with the GOP and Obama in the real election. Both guys have the right approach to war: NO WARS! There are Obama and Ron Paul signs everywhere here, we see through the standard bs!

Will Obama win in NH. Doubtful no matter how hard the Frankenmedia promotes him. The strong Iowa left wing vocal Obamanuts were only able to muster less than 40% for him in Iowa. Hardly a ringing endorsement.

Yes, the Frankenmedia is hyping it as a wonder. The questions will be is Obama a one hit wonder. Even if he wins the homination he will not win the presidency in 2008. Obama would have a great hsot in 2012 or 2016 becuase the mess George Bush leaves behind will likely sink the next president to one term.

Wanna see America have a nervous breakdown, run someone like Obama against another untried candidate in the election. Probably the most volatile time in the worlds history could be coming, and we are thinking of electing basically new untried candidates. I have seen this already with Jimmy Carter, and the amount of damage he did not only to America, but to the entire world has yet to be really discussed. Please, don't repeat that mistake, we may not get another chance to right the mistake.

Republicans are pulling out all the stops to pull Hillary down.

Here's a challange to Obama-nuts.

Go one on one with Hillary and with Edwards on policy issues.

You can't because Obams's policy ideas are low quality rip-offs of the other candidates ones, and in each case, the changes he's made screw up the plans entirely.

Health care is a perfect example.
Hillary's plan works, Obama's doesn't.

Hillary's the best choice.

Edwards is the second best choice.

Obama is the Republicans choice.

Show us what you've got New Hampshire.

We're counting on you and we know we can.

"Live Free or Die !"

Barack Obama
for
President of the United States of America.

It's time to Rise and Shine again America.

If her majesty HRC was not Bill Clinton's wife would she become a US Senator? Would she be ever considered by her party as a presidential candidate?

There are exceptionally qualified women in this country and in the Congress. Take the US Senators Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein from California, for example. It is a shame the democratic leadership is so corrupt to support a women, who is the least qualified.

Iowa voters were able to see through her. The rest will too.

70% of her own party rejected her in IA...NH doesn't like arrogance or those feeling entitled to office.

She was the one who wanted this primary pile-up and now that may come back to haunt her.

She's the most divisive figure in American politics and the most beatable Dem this November.

Look no further than this very page to see how defensive the Clintonites are. Their candidate had the endorsement of Iowa's major newspaper, but when they found out from the media that Obama was winning, they said something was wrong. New Hampshire is next, which is also Obama's for the take. The Clinton spin: Let's say this is where it should have started in the first place; to hell with Iowa. What will they do after NH? They will tell us about more candidates who lost there, such us Jimmy Carter. Let's face it, people are just tired of the Clintons, and the more they keep on spinning and strategizing, the more they remind folks that it is really about winning with them, not about having a vision. Go back and look at the people who were standng behind Hillary; God, they look so old, so tired and so unhappy. Now compare that with Obama's supporters' youth and energy, optimism and inspiration. Look at their eyes, and you can just sense their joy. They know their candidate had come a long way. This is one heck of a county, and once in a while it blows you away like never before.

To the rest of the Democratic bigwigs that couldn't foresee Obama's viability, here's your lesson. With all the support, money, power and an election infrustructure, Hillary could not get the people to be excited about her. Heck, she can't seem to be excited about her. Time to move on with Obama, the only one who is bound to bring the best not only in his party but in the rest of the county as well, not to mention the rest of the world. We are witnessing a history in the making in this beautiful nation. I am glad to have been alive to see this. What a joy!

Russom

The problem for Clinton has always been that we know her. I don't mean that I dislike her, but she simply can't nimbly change personas, because we've all made our minds up as to who she is. Overwhelmingly, Democratic voters feel they COULD vote for her, but the only way for her to clinch the deal with the 70% who are not enthusiastic is to define the other candidates. She already failed to redefine Obama, and a message of "wait, wait, don't crown him" in New Hampshire is such a weak argument it should embarrass her, and Bill too.

Her only hope is that in tomorrow's debate, she nails Obama with some question that he can't answer to the satisfaction of some major constituency. (Well, or that Edwards can do so.) Sniping at the margins of his emerging coalition will not be enough.

The dynamics of the race as they stand are as you suggest -- the demographics of NH give Obama an extra 5-10%, his victory gives him an extra 5-10%, and only some dramatic event tomorrow can prevent him from sweeping the field.

I tell you the truth . Obama is the only candidate to beat the Republican machines in November . Forget the Inevitable nominee status awarded to clinton by the national media . The republicans had been hoping for her nomination , and i am sure they are scared to death with what is going on now .

Spectator2 - I STILL think John Edwards would make the very best President we could ask for and I think he would win the general election in a walk. The reality is, however, that Obama has the momentum and I do not think he can be stopped. Obama is my second choice. That isn't a bad thing, however, becasue he is vastly superior to anyone else running and will make a wonderful President, one very nearly as good aas John Edwards. I am 60 years old and honestly didn't think the country was ready to elect a black man as President. I am both amazed and pleased as can be to be proven wrong. I will vote for Obama in a heartbeat, campaign for him, do whatever it takes to see him elected President.

Obama carries the most dangerous message ever known to the world, Hope. Give us hope and we can change the world for the better. Give us hope and we can become better people. Hope is the message of the true radical, the true progressive. Experience is not needed. What is needed is a leader who says that we will not torture ever because it is wrong and we are better than that. End of discussions on this point. When asked what is more important US security or Human Rights this leader responds that they go hand in hand. This gives us hope that the world is inherently good and that people are inherently good. This allows us to become better people who are willing to love our neighbor. I love Barack Obama because he gives me hope for the United States of America and he gives me hope for the world.

Hopefully Hillary will win and Edwards come in second in New Hampshire.

Absolutely Amazing!

I am so proud of the progressive rationalists in the state of Iowa that endured the caucus system to fire the first shot at "politics as usual". We heard that shot from Iowa all the way up here in New Hampshire. New Hampshire will unleash its proud army of independent freethinkers on Tuesday and give Obama a resounding victory and start the sweep of the old and tired Clinton machine into the history books.

The large number of independents in NH will carry Obama to victory. Most independents cannot stand Hillary.

America is happy with this result.

We get a great candidate in Obama. And the evolution-denying pro-Iraq-War-lying combat-avoiding Red Bushies high on kool-aid get a lousy candidate in Huckabee.

Bring it on!

A lot of people hate Mrs. clinton wholeheartedly. It looks like Bill Clinton is one of them. Probably, his active particiaption in NH within this short while of time would shift Clinton's and Obama's places in the polls. It would be very logical even without his particiaption, but , according to Iowa experience, that is exactly what he is doing "campaigning" for her.

After giving a fair hearing to all the candidates, both Democrat and Republican, my support is with Senator Obama. Like most others, I'm looking for a intelligent, capable, experienced leader with strong judgment. I find all these things in Senator Obama - his legislative, professional, and personal history are rife with supporting examples. But what is most compelling to me is his call for national unity and excellence as a means of returning our country to a positions of global leadership, economic prosperity and good governance. His call to abandon the partisan battle lines our country has inherited from the baby boomers recognizes that we the american people have evolved in a manner that brings us closer to our founding ideals than we have been at any period during the Bush-Clinton Era of partisan warfare. I share his urgency - if we have 4-8 more years on the Bush-Clinton merry-go-round, we'll doing serious harm to the credibility of our political process, and to our reputation abroad.

How will Obama accomplish this? For details on specific programs see the Senator's intelligent and principled positions on healthcare, ethics reform in dc, social security, the Iraq War, and the war on terrorism. But the heart of his progam - what will make his leadership a sea-change - is a powerful and persistent insistence upon good governance. He shows us the long running-battles of the Bush-Clinton Era are destroying our ability to govern effectively. That impeachments and wars of choice have worn us away from the inside, and unless we seek common ground, we'll face even greater challenges in the future. E Pluribus Unum. Thats the heart of his platform. Obama doesnt just preach it. He embodies it.

I hope that the voters of New Hampshire recognize that Obama's experience shedding old baggage to get new results is exactly the kind of leadership we need in DC.

Obama for President in '08.

The voters in Iowa spoke loud and clearly that they want change, reconcilation, and hope and an end to the polarization and lying the Clintons are so famous for. The voters in New Hampshire will need to decide whether they want a candidate like Barack Obama who will bring the nation together to solve the problems we face and has an excellent first lady in his wife Michelle, a woman of intelligence, class, grace, and dignity, or whether they want to go back to the good old days of the Clintons and Monica, Travelgate, White Water, Vast Right Wing conspiracies, unending lying and polarization. I for one, a lifelong Democrat, choose Barack Obama, and thus choose change, reconciliation and hope.

Oh my goodness, most of you people are as bad as the press. Obama won a caucus, not a true election in a relatively small state; New Hampshire is equally as small. The press and many of you are doing the "Instant Read, Instant Gratification, Instant Over and done with". I'm sorry but the results of 200,000 voters in one midwest state -- doesn't tell us anything; even the results of NH doesn't. There are 48 other states who have to determine how they will vote -- and I guarantee the voters in big states like PA, CA, NY, FL have different priorities that the 200,000 or so in Iowa. I'm not sure how much momentum it gives Obama, even if he wins NH -- it won't be over. Give it a rest in predicting how it will turn out, and wait for the results of a few more states on super Tuesday.

Predicting otherwise is like on election night -- where Kentucky always closes their polls first and usually goes for a Republican -- really doesn't mean much until all the votes are cast and reported for all states.

Bill says of New Hampshire
"You're going to be given a chance to show your well known and deeply deserved independent judgment."
What happens if that deeply deserved independent judgement provides Obama or Edwards with a win. How will Bill spin it then?
I'm sorry, but again I must say Hillary blew it because she failed to reintroduce herself to the nation and the constant talk of the Clinton machine and her inevitability just fed into this sense of entitlement.
I also think that Hillary's belittling of Obama's experience has hurt her. Obama's legislative experience has value. Clearly he is not as experienced as Biden, Dodd or Richardson, but neither is Hillary and being first lady does not make you ready from day one.
Obama's resume is just as impressive as Hillary's, but I don't believe either one of them is ready for the presidency.
The best thing about all of this is the political establishment was clobbered last night and if that provides the wake call for them to know that the nation belongs to the people and not the priviledged few. Well I say ain't AMERICA grand!!! Good going IOWA!!!!!!!!!!!

Since it is football season I think it would be good to reflect on how great winning coaches are described... leaders that are great communicators that can connect with and inspire their players, leaders of flawlessly executing organizations ...sounds like what the Obama team pulled off in Iowa...while a so called "experienced" coach fumbled very badly...right out of the gate by the way

Ssansome78 and others. Let me tell you who H. Clinton really is, ann what he so names"experience is about. Clintons came to federal power just after the collapse of Soviet Union. People here have reasonas to be suspicious to Russians and Russia, but I-Jew with Russian background can say you that Russian, meanaverage of them are people with wide and generous souls. Summit was voluntarily. People of former Soviet Union wanted to have democracy, which means , at least two official parties system, and the government;s respect to lives of its own citizens. Howver. clintons, especially mrs. Clinton consedered the collapse of former Soviet Union as the sign that one party oppressive government's system and the complete disrespect to the lives of its subjects became the prerogative of American government after this summit. So, we obtained endless conversations of Mrs. Clinton that both major American parties are actually the same, and should be unified. Later these speeches were promoted by mrs. Bush, and his obvious support for, for example, Musharaff disctatorship. Much worse, however, was the freshly obtained disrespect of American government to the LIVES of their subjects. Therefore, we has Waco, oklahoma bombing and the seria of smaller event of the same nature under clintons, and, finally 9/11 under Bush! Damn, damn, this kind of experience! This nation should be more than disrespectful to let such person, as Hillary Clinton to become its leader! Obama in 2008. This so named "experience" is nothing else but blood of our fellow-citizens on hands od top government's officials!!!

Iowa made all of America feel good, be good,look good at home and abroad.
New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada should complete the makeover and level the electoral playing field skewed by the presence of the former President in the early states process.

Michigan and Florida will probably re- balance the scales for Hillary, that is if the former President, does not blow it any further. - untimeliness, anxiety war room tactics - this is a new generation looking for change. He isn't it.
It is truly dumbfounding that a former President would step into a glorious American moment. One that the better parts of 'his' administration helped create along with the groundbreaking appointments of Gorge W Bush at State.
Truly it is beyond belief, and a disservice to the thousands who helped 'his' administration survive and prosper for eight years thru go and bad. For him to try and trash Mr. Obama is just not right and ill serves his objective position.
New York's Senator must show and handle herself. That is what 'this' election is about.

AmyTony:

Huck beat Mitt 34% to 25%, basically the same margin as for Obama v. Edwards/Clinton. Perhaps you were referring to a subset of the delegates? Please clarify.

Why is there no constructive criticism of Obama (in contrast to, hmmm . . . , Clinton)? Obama's entire candidacy is premised on the fact that he is "above the fray" and that he is the "anti-politician" politician. But, in fact, he is as political as every other candidate (and there are myriad examples of this, such as his decision not to even vote on the recent Senate resolution on Iran). This, of course, doesn't disqualify him, but it means he shouldn't be viewed differently either. If Clinton fails to point this out, it will be to her detriment.

Obama didnt "CRUSH" Clinton. He beat her by just 8%. While Huckabee - someone who admittedly compares homosexuality to pedophilia - actually CRUSHED Romney by approximately 18%. The only one who was "CRUSHED" in the Iowa caucus was Mitt Romney. Jeez, from where I am looking, the race is neck and neck. Now, things may change if people keep referring to Clinton as the underdog and I hope she doesnt take that approach (although it seems like she is from this article). But I feel like it's practically a 3-way tie at this point. I dont understand why no one commenting is troubled at Huckabee's huge win. I couldn't sleep last night I was so scared for the country.

My Democratic friends, help me understand how Hillary wins the general election.

She leads national polls for the Democratic race but her negatives are OVER 50% across all voters!

Let's do the math. If 50% of the nation votes against Hillary no matter what, then all her opponent needs to do is pick up 3-4% on his own.

Throw a dart at the Republican nominee list and you have a winner.

70% voted not Clinton.........

Edwards was what he now campaigns against and Kucinich may have had a chance, if could have suppressed his love and belief of aliens.

Now Bill is scared. If Hillary does not win, she will have all the time to watch over him.

Don't count Hillary out just yet folks. She is STILL in this to the end and to win.

I have a HUGE problem with Obama as follows: #1 - Obama as a junior senator had the opportunity to PICK any mentor - he picked LIBERMANN while Libermann was in lock step with Bush. #2 - Ned Lemont ran against Libermann in Conn., Obama BACKED LIBERMANN over the democrat - the rest is history. #3 - When the Kyle-Libermann bill was up for vote OBAMA DISAPPEARED; no vote - we do not know to what extent Obama's loyality to Libermann is. When I ask Obama supporters these points their eyes get real big and I get I KNOOOOOOOW! What is this? Blind loyality for the sake of what? Are we again going to fall into a BUSH/LIBERMANN agenda? I DO NOT TRUST OBAMA or Hillary. I am a Kuchinich/Edwards supporter!

mibrooks: Since when are you an Obama supporter? What happened to your love for John Edwards?

Funny what 24 hours can do to a campaign. I've been struck by two changes. The first is that the Clintons, bless their hearts, have become part of the past and (maybe) not a part of the future. The other is that the Boren-Nunn-Hagel etc effort to find a middle of the road "non partisan" solution suddenly seems silly and quite egotistical -- Boren, on NPR this afternoon, sounded almost like a neo-con who knows better what the country needs than its citizens do. Maybe Iowa will have been responsible for revealing the arrogance of many politicians who, hoping they're inevitable, find themselves avoided as the campaign rolls along.

News to Democrats:

Unlike most of his supporters, Obama will not and can not end the war in Iraq according to his promises to voters. Foreign Policy is determined by facts on the ground, and realities that transcend domestic / electoral realities. (look how long it took Nixon to end the Vietnam War despite his promises)

In fact, Hillary has been more realistic and truthful regarding the situation in Iraq, which is ironic, because her detractors view her policies as untransparent not genuine.

I see a major blunder among Democrats taking hold. Ask this question, why has there only been 2 Democratic Presidents in the past 40 years? Answer: Wishy Washy Foreign Policies.

Carter, wore the mantle of change, and he espoused many of the same views as Obama. He only lasted one term! Bill Clinton is posthumously viewed as a poor Foreign Policy president, but this was after the Cold War, when the US was the sole superpower on the international stage. Clinton's theme "Its the economy stupid" was focused on shoring up US domestic policies.

This is no 1992! We have seen what happened to a Democratic President under Carter, where Foreign Policy was important, but Carter was weak on FP. Obama's "koom by Yah" idealistic approach to FP where everyone can get along ignores the harshness of the geopolitical realities the US faces today. Make no mistake, Republicans will drive this message home. Most Americans, including Democrats don't want to look or feel squeamish on National Security.

I know that I am in the minority, but whereas Obama does motivate me with his oratory, he does not adequately address the FP concerns that our country faces today. He claims he can reach accross the aisle, however, Hillary Clinton claims that too, and has a record to prove it. (Did you like her photo-op some years ago with.......NEWT GINGRICH).

Whereas it may be true that Clintons live by the sword and die by it, Hillary Clinton
would be a great president. She is unfairly stigmatized by pundits and critics as being too negative. Clinton, however, has run a classy and smut free campaign. The only bad mark was the cocaine reference, to which Hillary's campaign co-chair resigned, a personal apology was issued to Obama, and then Hillary met with the press to apologize to the public. According to a story in the Wall Stree Journal several weeks ago, Solis, Clinton's campaign manager was abosolutely "furious" when the cocaine statement was made. What more does a person have to do?

Its unfortunate that many of us spend more time on labels and appearances than actual substance. I want an experienced candidate like Hillary Clinton. Her positions on the Foreign Policy, Health Care, the Environment, and the economy, along with her experience to implement them, is change that I can believe in.

Clinton has been melting for a long while by now. She can't be the candidate for American youth would not support Clinton only because her 27 years old daughter is supporting her. She would officially finish her melting procedure when she would finally step down from this race. I hope that she would have enough common sense to do it after NH defeat. Experience of being on the top of American federal politics is under the circumstances worse than any rust and decay, and Clinton has nothing whatsoever to fight it with.

mibrooks, Obama's record on free trade is actually pretty mixed. Yes, he wants to amend NAFTA and voted against CAFTA, but he also voted for the Oman agreement. His public statements suggest more interest in ending tax breaks for companies moving jobs overseas; that's not necessarily anti-free trade. He's publicly adopted the staunchly free trader position of drastically reducing farm subsidies and has publicly said globalization is here to stay implying, i surmise, that we shouldn't fight it.

What some are calling "hype" and the "Obama bandwagon," I think is actually a renewed sense of faith and hope in a new generation of leaders that reflect the changing sentiments of the nation. I felt energized and excited just listening to Obama's speech in Iowa last night. Sure, it was just a speech (with a few bits of policy thoughts thrown in), but as earlier comments pointed out, Obama will not be running the country alone. He will be surrounded by smart folks who share the idea that this nation could be a better place.

I agree that I want to vote for someone who makes me proud to be an American. This is the first time in my life that I've thought, this is really someone I want to be my president.

Obama is so fascinating because he has a completely different set of experiences compared to anyone who has ever been in the White House. And it will be like a glass of ice cold water on a hot day when he is elected as the next president!

Its good that Hillary Clinton has experience. If any citizen in New Hampshire or the entire country needs someone with experience then they should look at Hillary's so called presidential experience:
1. The failure to respond to the genocide in Rwanda.
2. The failure to respond to the bombing of the USS Cole.
3. The failure to respond to the dragging of a body of a US Serviceman in the streets of Mogadishu.
4. The failure to disclose the source of over $500 million goven to the Clinton Library and Foundation.
5. The failure to disclose the single source of a $31 million gift to the Clinton Foundation.
5. The forgiveness of $48 million owed to the IRS by Marc Rich a fugitive to Europe.

If these are important experiences for being President of the United States, then we all should vote for that woman.

John the Old Paper Boy

The "Edwards story" is not a clear-cut second place finish. When you look at the actual final tally out of Iowa, Edwards and Clinton are separated by a mere .3 percent. His final delegate equivalent was 744, Clinton's 737. By any stretch of the imagination, that is razor thin. More like a tie for third, not an outright second place. Both Edwards and Clinton were decisively beaten by Obama by 8 percentage points or MORE. Obama is the story. Edwards sadly is an also-ran.

My prediction is that you will see Obama ignore Edwards to viscerate Hillary as delicately as a surgeon removes your appendix.

And despite the fact the media will annoint Obama the front-runner, he is still David to the Clinton machine Goliath. Until Hillary cries "I'm melting... I'm melting" and "ding-dong the witch is dead" starts playing everyone's iPod or iPhone, Obama is the underdog and we're cheering for him to win.

To me, the most interesting difference between Obama and Clinton is in their demeanor and energy. He truly looks enthused, desiring of the position and inspirational -- very Kennedyesque. He exudes the energy of a would-be President and generates a "rock star" excitement with crowds. She, despite her extensive experience and objective readiness to be President, does not come across as inspirational. Recently, she frankly does not look like she really even wants the job, as though some deep internal dread has developed over this entire process. That is not what people are looking for in a leader. I was for her, but now I'm for him 100%

Someone posted a question a bit ago about why we aren't discussing Mike Huckabee. Well.... Huckabee is an Evangelical Christian, so is Obama. Huckabee is opposed to globalization and free trade, so is Obama. Both are decent, honorable men who put the interests of the country first. Huckabee is basically a conservative version of Obama and, actually, when you get right down to it, Obama is the moderate and liberal Christian's candidate. That is precisely how a lot of Evangelicals voted in Iowa last night and precisely how they will vote in November.

To me, the most interesting difference between Obama and Clinton is in their demeanor and energy. He truly looks enthused, desiring of the position and inspirational -- very Kennedyesque. He exudes the energy of a would-be President and generates a "rock star" excitement with crowds. She, despite her extensive experience and objective readiness to be President, does not come across as inspirational. Recently, she frankly does not look like she really even wants the job, as though some deep internal dread has developed over this entire process. That is not what people are looking for in a leader. I was for her, but now I'm for him 100%

Seven years ago, Bush pitched the idea that he could bring our country together after eight years of bitter partisanship. It didn't turn out so well. Seems to still be a big problem.

So with all Hillary's "experience", how is it that she will unite our country? What is the change that she is "able to deliver"?

Help me out here, because I'm not seeing it.

And does anyone else find it disturbing that 1/3 of Americans will experience poverty over a ten year period, yet the Clinton campaign site offers no comprehensive anti-poverty plan (I admit I only gave a cursory glance) while the Obama site devotes an entire section to the issue?

This article does a good job in summary of the Iowa outcome. We all know from the BUSH administration that it's not what you know, it's WHO you know. So if you think OBAMA doesn't have enough experience, then, wait and see what he does when he get's in office. He has enough experience to pull together those that can help him make a change and that's what counts. So there's going to be alot of mud slinging within the next few days/months. As long as we can remain civilized, we will see change.

The vitriolic comments of HRC supporters trumpeting the experience argument seem flacid.

It is not that Hillary lacks accomplishment as First Lady. She did admirable work to help create SCHIP. However, Obama has built up a substantial accomplishments of his own. He was the driving force behind successful expansions of the EITC, IL's welfare reform, and several other major pieces of legislation, particularly on issues of civil rights.
Granted these are state-level successes, but they were done in a short time and in a bipartisan fashion. He's demonstrated bipartisanship on controversial issues in a short time instead of simple bipartisan rhetoric. I don't believe Hillary can credibly claim the same skill.

Roger Sherman, the man who successfully brokered the framing of the Constitution, said something to the effect that politics is the art of compromise. Dems will not have a filibuster proof majority in the Senate. More than anything right now we need someone capable of brokering much needed reform passed. Sen. Obama has demonstrated that ability. I don't believe Sen. Clinton has.

No matter what one's experience, the presidency of the United States promises a steep learning curve. What matters more than anything else is the ability to ask the probing question. Hillary is a very intelligent woman but Obama has demonstrated throughout his life nothing less than a stellar intellect. Too often we ignore such traits.

Sorry to be impolite, but most people know that around 40% of the voting population - mostly in the red states - are not ready to vote for a black president yet. This means Obama (or any other black candidate) will find it virtually impossible to win a national election.

Check back in 2016, things might have changed by then..
-Ash

I'm starting to wonder if this newspaper, and the tv media is part of this corporate takeover that EDWARDS speaks about. Since last night's caucus I've heard 90% about Obama / Clinton (that's 45% each) and 10% about EDWARDS, who came in second. What's EDWARDS saying? Are you guys trying to push him out?

Complaining about lack 'o Edwards coverage? Get over it people, he was a story FOUR YEARS AGO. There's no NEW STORY with Edwards. Just like there's no NEW DIRECTION with Edwards. He's just running on the LEFTOVER FUMES he gathered back in 2004. There will plenty of coverage on Edwards next week when he WITHDRAWLS his name after New Hampshire and Obama puts his name on the short-list of VP candidates (after Kucinich & Richardson).

jaybyrd1:

Iowa also got it "right" with Huckabee, correct?

My money is on Obama/Richardson for the Democratic ticket.

Just what is this "experience" factor, anyway? Presidents are surrounded by experienced advisors, including a Cabinet, congressional liaisons, and generals.It's not as if he is the Lone Ranger.Think OJT. Just what "experience" does HRC have? I fail to see that being the wife of a president gives one experience for the job.If experience is what one is looking for, then we can reelect Carter, Bush 1, or her old man. Otherwise, the field is equal as to "experience". A fresh face is needed, a new approach to the DC garbage, not some screeching shrill who panders to everyone to the left of her paranoid right wing conspirators. As Iowa goes, the country may not follow, but this time they were the first to get it right.

right on mibrooks.

It's his authenticity AND his intelligence and his idealism and his accomplishments in IL AND his going for inner-city public service instead of big (Rose) lawfirm, AND the positive, hopeful message of Obama that shines through, that makes the crowds so enthusiastic and large.

Sadly it just is no contest with Hillary anymore...(though Edwards still has chance at VP) It's her bad luck Obama decided to run the same year she did. No candidate in recent memory (except JFK, RFK, MLK) can touch him in public speaking.

She can drop the silly "Day One" argument (who cares? Just like when we're interviewing possible employees, we are willing to wait, make all kinds of allowances for the more exciting, likable, upstanding, smart yet humble, job candidates rather than going with someone just because they're available right away. This is a four year commitment minimum...what's a few days after what we've put up w/ GWB? we don't hire the wrong candidate just to get a few more "productive" days work in... plus there IS a transition period for Obama to staff up with plenty of "experienced" Washington hands--and he has the good judgment to sort them all out. Go Obama! I predict huge win, again in NH.

It's over for Hillary. Obama is going to win New Hampshire by a large margin.

The high tech industry is behind Obama and it shows in the amount of money they give to his campaign. A few months ago, only Dell Computers, among the top high tech firms, was not contributing the most to Obama.

The young generation are sick and tired of what "experience" in the Senate and in the White House has done over the last 20 years. Wheat has doubled in price, partly as an attempt to get back at oil producing nations. Ironically, almost a third of the price of oil is going into the pockets of Wall Street bankers, not Saudis, Nigerians, etc. At the same time, the quality of the bread you buy has decreased as the price has risen. The youth are paying 30% interest on creditcards. Who allowed and passed the legislation for the banks to charge these loan shark rates? It was the "experienced" elders, the babyboom and older. This is not only an American phenom. In Somalia, it is the youth going against the elders' antiquated division based on tribe and clan. In Kenya it is the same thing. I could mention others.......

The worse of America is now dying out, as relates to race. When Obama introduced his team in Iowa, all of them appeared to be in their 20's and teens. They were Black; they were White; they were male; and they were female.

The younger generation will elect America's first Black family into the White House. The old generation know about "Manifest Destiny" which crushed other people and cultures to make that destiny a reality. The OBAMA EXPRESS is now the new "Manifest Destiny" and all things about it is moral, not immoral wrapped in historical deceptions.

There is a revolution happening all across the country and Obama is seen as their hero and their generation's answer to fix an America whose image and economic situation is becoming seriously precarious.

Few Americans realize America and Britain has a lot to do with the troubles in the Horn of Africa. It will be refreshing to have a leader whose father was from that region, yet a mother who was a White American. Yes, most of America's and Western Europe's oil travels along the coast of the Horn of Africa. Another reason Obama would be good for America. Bush & Friends profits in the game of terrorism. They have to keep the bin Laden's alive in order to keep the military expansion and sell of weapons going. Look at how Wall Street investors prosper anytime the "terrorism" hype goes up.

Hillary nor Edwards will be able to derail the OBAMA EXPRESS. When Bill Clinton won the presidency the first time, he had the late Ron Brown managing his campaign. Had Mr. Brown not died a bit mysteriously in a plane crash, he likely would have run for the presidency. Hillary don't have a Ron Brown. The "Clinton Magic" was more than Bill. With regards to the Republicans, none of them stand a chance against Obama.

T. West
CART/AfriSynergy

How can people complain about Obama's experience, would you rather he spend 4 yrs getting corrupted by current politics, watching America fall even worst then it is now, before he could get a chance to make the difference we are all asking for now.

I thought Obama's victory was great but how come nothing about Huckabee? After all, unlike the former, the latter has been on a shoestring budget. Also, how about the media seeing a "moral victory" or somesuch in Iowa for Hillary and McCain? Wouldn't it have been better had they won? Finally, I was disappointed that in his speech Huckabee, who spoke first, failed to congratulate Obama. That would have caused a hugely popular reaction for both. (Of course, Obama would have had to reciprocate.)

In my opinion, the President of the United States of America does not need to have any day to day OPERATIONAL experience in running the country because the job is too big for one person to handle it. The President does need to have the smart to quickly grasp the vast complexities of the domestic and international issues, the moral certitude to respect human rights, the ability to inspire fellow Americans to unite for the common good, the courage to truly defend the Constitution of the nation and the vision to see beyond the immediate politcal storms for personal gains.

Day to day experiences in the White House, in the Senate or in any government positions do not eqaute to having the qualities above in the person. Past experiences in these capacities are quite helpful but not required for the job of POTUS.

If you agree with the simple crieria I put forth above, it is easy to see who amongst these considates should be the next POTUS.

Great inside-the-numbers analysis.

There isn't any question that Obama performed at the high end of expectations in Iowa -- what he did was an incredible achievement. To have those already good 2004 caucus turnout numbers effectively DOUBLED? That is quite a statement in and of itself -- especially given that the 2004 race was competitive too on the Democratic side -- and given that Bush was seen as vulnerable at the time. Obama and his team clearly brought their A-game -- hopefully they can continue to bring the heat.

Far too often former office holders continue to be addressed with the title of the office they once held, as in "Senator Edwards". Such titles belong to the current office holder only. This increasing common practice is more that just inappropriate, it smacks of life titles and other royalist pomp our founders carefully avoided, and we should as well.

johnycheng1 - The falling dollar and our ewconomic mess is DUE TO the free trade practices of the CLinton's. I know, I lost my engineering directly due to them. They are part owners of a firm that provides outsourcing and Indian guest workers for U.S. companies! Look, we have outsourced more than 50 million jobs just since 2000. Prior to that, under "Bill", we had outsourced 20 million! 90% of new engineering hires are Inidan guest workers, here on H1-B visas. As a part of her experience, Hillary went to India to **PROMOTE** more outsourcing and was called "The Senator From India" by an Indian politcian. Now, anyone with half a brain knows that outsourcing and globalization are the root cause of looming inflation, the falling dollar, our geunine high unemployment rate, the loss of living wage jobs, the collapse of