Good Morn' Des Moines!

It's like Christmas all over again here in Des Moines, Iowa. There is a huge rush of last minute "caucus shopping," as candidates try to get high turn outs. Words like "viability," "polling" and "prediction" pepper every conversation. There is so much media here in Des Moines and all over the state that it is becoming the story in some places. The floor of Exhibition Hall at the Polk County Event Center is roughly the size of a football field and reporters from all the major networks have desk or tier or floor space. All around me they are speaking different languages--behind my space is the Jiji Times, I helped a Spanish blogger upload her pictures yesterday, I watched a live shot in French. The Iowa caucus is getting more attention today than most general elections in years past.

The numbers are incredible to think about, especially for a city known for its small town feel. Over 1,700 precinct sites all over the state, two caucuses, Democrat and republican for each precinct. Approximately $200 per expected caucus supporter spent by Romney, Clinton and Obama. $17 million straight out of Romney's personal wealth. One Iowa mom told me that she got 17 prerecorded telephone calls just yesterday alone. 36 hours spent on Iowa highways and byways by John Edwards. And yet only about 7 to 10 percent of the state's population will go out tonight and caucus- between 120,000 and 150,000 Democrats, 80,000 and 90,000 Republicans. (Though it should be noted that Independents can show up to either one and anyone is allowed to change their registration on caucus night.) And three is a magic number for either John McCain, Fred Thompson or Ron Paul. Since the 1970s no candidate has been nominated for their party that finished lower than third. McCain is ahead in most polls but Thompson and Paul have a fighting chance.

And of course one is a number that is the more important here in Iowa. Iowa is getting gall this attention because it is number one. Because we have been waiting since last February or earlier in the case of some candidates, we can’t wait for them to take their first test against voters. Iowans are the SAT of who gets to go to the big show. And they are proud of that. As much as they will be happy when the national media storms Des Moines airport Friday morning and heads to New Hampshire, they are glad to be the center of attention today, defending their primacy and the tradition of the caucus.

The candidates are working full schedules. They will be doing rallies and volunteer appreciation events and of course, caucus preparedness all day. They are expected to drop by sure-to-win precinct caucuses for their respective sides and then around 10:00 p.m., 14 hours from now those counts will start to roll in. If any candidate emerges triumphant it will be "a significant victory" or a "boost to New Hampshire" but if, for example, in the Democrats there is a close result with no overwhelming leader,the message will be that Iowa is just a stop on the road to Super Tuesday.

Pictures from Iowa

Check out more Iowa photos on Flickr!

Statements--It's WaterLOO

I am reading/watching up on the final pre-caucus statements by the candidates. Fred Thompson posted at 17-minute video on YouTube. It's a little too "fireside chat" and a little to dry for anyone but the staunches Fred fans to want to watch all the way through. Huckabee is leveling three Ds against Romney calling him "desperate, dishonorable and dishonest," showing that the weirdly humorous Huck can throw an Edwards-like punch too.

Speaking of Edwards, much is being made over his quick response phone call to Pakistan President Pervez Musharif last Thursday. Though it appears from a run down of his recent rally Q&A that all he wants to do now is talk about Pakistan. Guiliani is saying a lot by what he is not saying in Iowa on caucus night. All but abandoning the caucus Rudy announced that he was going to be in Florida on January 3rd.

Clinton supporters, particularly Gov. Ted Strickland of Ohio are feeling a little green over the superstar status of Iowa. Strickland told the Columbus Dispatch that Iowa's primacy "makes no sense." Clinton's campaign backed her away from those remarks. The Ron Paul camp is talking with its wallet as the Wall Street Journal reports $19 million in the war chest in the last quarter alone.

I witnessed a small but enthusiastic statement on my way to downtown this morning on the corner of Ingersoll and Martin Luther King as a seven or eight Chris Dodd supporters hopped around with their signs in the cold. Another statement I have been able to witness personally was a Richardson campaign rally yesterday. The governor said, in a rather honest assessment of his campaign that he was within striking distance of the top three.

McCain's latest video is a response to Romney's attacks on his immigration policy. In less than 30 seconds he lays down a bland message about border security and says, "I'll always be straight with you." Biden is looking for a "ticket out of Iowa" in order to get more press coverage.

Here's a great explanation on the polls, the most buzz worthy of which will come out tomorrow morning in the Des Moines Register.