Today’s installment of campaign-related news items that wouldn’t generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers:<\/p>\n
* The latest Mason-Dixon poll<\/a> in Iowa shows Edwards taking the Democratic lead, though the race is effectively a three-way tie: Edwards 24%, Clinton 23%, and Obama 22%. Brad Coker, who conducted the poll, said the race “is about as close as it can get.”<\/p>\n * As for Republicans, the same Mason-Dixon poll<\/a> also showed the race in Iowa tightening significantly. Romney, who had been trailing, now leads with 27%, followed by Huckabee at 23%, Thompson at 14%, and McCain at 13%. Giuliani, who was third in Iowa earlier this year, is now tied with Ron Paul at 5%. Coker said, “Romney has rebounded and the Huckabee bubble may have burst.”<\/p>\n * The first in a series of Reuters\/C\u2013SPAN\/Zogby polls offered different results<\/a> from Iowa to chew on. This poll shows Clinton ahead with 31%, followed by Obama with 27%, and Edwards with 24%. Among Republicans, Huckabee leads with 29%, followed by Romney with 28%, and McCain with 11%.<\/p>\n * With his support slipping badly, Huckabee dropped the nice-guy routine a bit over the weekend, and went after Romney<\/a>: “I’ve been very clear about it. Mitt Romney is running a very desperate and, frankly, a dishonest campaign.”<\/p>\n * John Edwards has backpedaled a little bit<\/a> on his flat ban on lobbyists working in his White House. Now, Edwards believes lobbyists can work for him, so long as it’s after a five-year waiting period.<\/p>\n * After a few weeks of speculation, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R) will name Rep. Roger Wicker<\/a> (R) as the new senator from the state, filling the vacancy left by Trent Lott’s unexpected retirement. * Speaking of Obama, if he comes up short in 2008, he may not run again<\/a>. “My wife and I were talking the other day. And she said ‘We’re not doing this again’. And those of you who met her know she doesn’t mince words,” Obama said. “She meant that in eight years, I’m not sure we’ll be the same people we are now.”<\/p>\n * The competition is fierce — for Iowa’s airwaves<\/a>: “ABC News reports that Obama, like Clinton, is blocking out large TV slots on the eve of the caucus, but also that both of them are finding it a bit hard to book time that evening. Indeed, a media-buying source active in Iowa tells me that one of the key stations in the state, Des Moines CBS affiliate KCCI, told Clinton’s campaign they can’t place her two-minute spot, though of course these things are fluid.”<\/p>\n * To save time, the Clinton campaign is limiting, and in some cases eliminating, audience questions from campaign events in Iowa. The Edwards campaign responded by announcing its “Ask John<\/a>” program.<\/p>\n * Another GOP dirty trick in South Carolina — this time, it’s a phony greeting card<\/a> purporting to be from Mitt Romney featuring controversial passages from the Book of Mormon. “It is sad and unfortunate that this kind of deception and trickery has been employed,” said a Romney spokesman.<\/p>\n * Don’t look now, but Paul Krugman’s concerns about Obama’s healthcare plan may be waning<\/a>, thanks to Obama’s comments during his Meet the Press appearance on penalties on those who fail to sign up for health insurance.<\/p>\n * NYT<\/a>: “Mitt Romney got a surprise endorsement on Saturday from the Rev. Morris Hurd, chairman of the Iowa Christian Alliance, a prominent conservative Christian group in the state, as he introduced the former Massachusetts governor at a rally tonight.”<\/p>\n * A possible Achilles’ heel for McCain in New Hampshire — the state’s independent voters, who can participate in either primary, seem to be leaning towards Obama<\/a>.<\/p>\n * Bill Clinton won’t sit in on<\/a> national security briefings if his wife wins the presidency.<\/p>\n
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\n* If crowd-size alone over the last week dictates the outcome of the Iowa caucuses, Obama’s in good shape<\/a>. (Of course, crowd-size isn’t the most reliable indicator.)<\/p>\n