For many days, most of the candidates from both the Republican and Democratic parties have gone back and forth stopping in Iowa trying to push their messages. The caucuses in Iowa are simultaneous meetings that will be held on January 3 at 1,784 locations statewide.
Both parties have dispatched political activists to attend the political meetings taking place in Iowa. According to a poll by Reuters, C-Span, and Zogby released over the weekend, Hillary Clinton had received a light lead. Both Barack Obama and John Edwards are fighting for second place.
Mrs. Clinton plans to spend New Year’s Eve with Bill at a late-night rally. Mr. Obama is crossing the state to attend a total of five rallies.
Mr. Edwards has been gaining momentum in Iowa according to the polls. He has sent out hundreds of volunteers on a state-wide canvass.
Those same polls show a tight contest between Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas and Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts. Arizona senator John McCain has held tightly in third place. Rudy Giuliani is deemed to be way behind.
By a poll created by McClatchy-MSNBC, John Edwards has a single percentage point lead over Hillary Clinton. At the same time, it shows that Mitt Romney is ahead of Mike Huckabee.
“I believe that this campaign will be bunched up, I think the history of Iowa shows that a lot of people live to fight another day,” Hillary said to ABC news. She said that placing third in Iowa will not spell disaster for the primary elections on January 8.
Mike Huckabee used this as an opportunity to attack Mitt Romney.
“Mitt Romney is running a very desperate and, frankly, a dishonest campaign,” Huckabee had said in an interview on NBC.
Obama acknowledged the criticism about his lack of experience in Washington on Sunday morning’s Meet the Press.
“That may have some effect, but ultimately I’m putting my faith in the people of Iowa and the people of America that they want something better,” Obama said in his closing message.
What happens in Iowa and New Hampshire will make or break candidates.