Ok...give us your one big story to come out of Iowa...

[SaveElmer]

And I know I am opening it up here to a slew of Hillary in 4th place posts...

But anyway....mine is "Biden places a strong 4th with 15% of the vote"

[BeyondGeography]

1. Clapping for Tinkerbelle much?

Obama...Obama...Obama.

[saltpoint]

2. It's still a volatile race out there in the cold fields of Iowa.

I think that's the only reliable take.

You've got the Biden story right -- that's a major elevation in rankings for him and he appears on a discernibly upward swing.

For the Pukes, I support the Huckabee people are elated. Now they have to begin worrying if he's peaked too soon. Willrd still has a few bucks stashed away for a raining day.

[SaveElmer]

3. Yeah he is viewed as the frontrunner now...

Pressure is on...

I think the whole Huckabee boomlet benefits McCain

[saltpoint]

5. You are the second keen observer of the scene to say that, SaveElmer --

-- about Huck's rise benefiting McCain.

It makes me realize how odd this cycle is compared with last. There were surprises in 2004, surely, but the Puke field this time is so wide open that almost anything can happen. I look at Tancredo's numbers, for example, and am kind of horrified that someone like him is that popular. It's not popular enough to win nomination, but it's popular enough to affect the outcome of who does, and what planks go in for immigration, etc.

You know the story.

With the Republicans tearing the flesh off each other's bones, I like the playing field conditions after our Denver convention.

Still too early to say, but I like the blue team's odds for 08.

[Bitwit1234]

4. They had an ice storm

[petersjo02]

6. My nephew and his wife are expecting next June n/t

[Steely_Dan]

7. Biden Surprises All!

Finishes 3rd with 18%.

-P

[zulchzulu]

8. Having been in Iowa recently a few times, I can tell Obama's campaign is doing very well

I'll be there the next few weekends leading up to the caucus. It's going to be a lot of fun on the evening of January 3rd!

[SaveElmer]

9. Hillary and Obama Duke it out in New Hampshire...Edwards down and the count is 8...

And Biden gets a boost witha strong 4th...

[BeyondGeography]

11. BidenTime has ZERO presence in the Feb. 5 states

Fourth place in Iowa will only mean something if he somehow takes New Hampshire and, even then, do you see him mattering in South Carolina?

[SaveElmer]

12. If he does well in New Hampshire...all bets are off...

With national news coverage...if it is positive...can work wonders....

By SC Edwards will either be gone or a none factor...if New Hampshire, SC, and Nevada significantly weakens either Obama or Hillary...Biden could be in a position to swoop in and make it a 2 person race...unlikely I agree...but not out of the realm of possibiity...

[BeyondGeography]

14. It'll be Hilly v. Obama on Feb. 5

with real suspense included.

[Colobo]

10. O-BA-MA!

[jefferson_dem]

13. Obama in first, Edwards third...and will soon be forced to "temporarily suspend" campaign.

We will have a two-person race heading into NH: Hillary and Obama.

Biden surprises with solid fourth. Dodd, Richardson are done. DK hangs around in his trypical gadfly fashion.

[asdjrocky]

15. Lot's of good stories, and lot's of BIG stories.

Depends on your angle which is your favorite right now.

This in mine:

From Rasmussen
Considering the margin of error, there is a statistical 3-way tie for first.

Iowa Caucus - Democrats

Hillary Clinton - 27%
Barack Obama - 25%
John Edwards - 24%
Bill Richardson - 10%
Joe Biden - 4%
Other - 2%
Undecided - 8%

Iowa Caucus - Democrats (Second Choice Polling)

John Edwards - 28%
Barack Obama - 18%
Hillary Clinton - 16%
Bill Richardson - 15%
Recived numbers from Reno HQ on 11/29.

To me the real story here is the money spent, and the results gained.

Obama 3.1 mil (Aprox)*
Hillary 1.6 mil (Aprox)*
Edwards 0.6 mil (Aprox)*

*Aprox. because I have not looked at the numbers in a few days. Feel free, but those numbers are pretty close. You don't get those numbers in votes, by spending a fraction of your opponents, without having some substance behind you message. That's just what I think.

Money raised:
90 mil for Hillary
80 mil for Obama
30 mil for Edwards

Any way you look at it it's a lot of money. But again, he's doing so much more, with so much less. Man, I know how to make the most of my money, and I can appreciate a candidate that can do the same.