According to PEW Research 40% of Americans in a new survey say the media spends too much coverage to the 2008 presidential campaign. At the same time only 49% could name both winners of the Iowa Caucus.

Other interesting insights from the study:
- Americans over the age of 30 are more than twice as likely as those under 30 to know both winners in Iowa.
- More Republicans (45%) than Democrats (32%) say that the press is paying too much attention to the campaign.
- Republican voters were far more able to name Huckabee (61%) than were Democrats (45%) or independents (51%). Yet, reflecting Obama’s greater visibility, even among Republicans more could name Obama as the Democratic victor than Huckabee as the GOP winner (76% vs. 61%).

CNN is reporting that Gov. Bill Richardson, who placed fourth in the Iowa Caucus, is laying off staff.

“We had an extremely large staff in Iowa, and since we have moved onto New Hampshire we have had some layoffs,” Richardson’s presidential campaign spokesman Tom Reynolds told CNN Friday.

Citing strategic political reasons, Reynolds would not say how many campaign aides were let go. He did say that no senior campaign staffers have been asked to take pay cuts.

“We have the resources we need to be competitive in the early states,” Reynolds said.

Either the Obama campaign has some indication that things are indeed turning for him in New Hampshire beyond the expected bump an Iowa win will give them or Barack Obama is just feeling the high of a Caucus win because today he had this to say:

“If you give me the same chance Iowa did last night, I truly believe I will be the next president of the United States.” - Said to a Portsmouth, NH audience

Now a politician boasting of their own chances is nothing new but as Clinton & Edwards begin to hit him today and more than a few in the media probably look to start releasing a couple of not so flattering stories to help balance out the positive press onslaught he will receive, Obama might not want to go around raising his own expectations through the roof. If you look over that statement you have to consider the opposite. If the Senator doesn’t take New Hampshire, does that mean he might not be the next president?

Last night he boasted that there was no need to change any strategy as the one he had was working well. Though both statements might be true, depending on how you look at things, now is not the time to get arrogant but the time to ride this win into what will be a pretty ferocious fight. Before a nominee Obama can move onto a multi-month bare-knuckle fight against republicans, he has to face one against Democrats.

Not to be Mr. Cynical or Negative here but in another election year one could rest for a few days on the laurels of a win. In our condensed schedule that isn’t going to happen. Super Tuesday is just around the corner and Obama should be thinking about Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, California, Illinois, Tennessee etc.

MUST GET SLEEP Goodnight all

10:50 PM EST - 1732 Precincts Reporting

SENATOR BARACK OBAMA : 37.53%
SENATOR JOHN EDWARDS : 29.88%
SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON : 29.38%
GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON : 2.11%
SENATOR JOE BIDEN : 0.95%
UNCOMMITTED : 0.13%
SENATOR CHRIS DODD : 0.02%
PRECINCTS REPORTING: 1732 OF 1781
(PERCENTAGES ARE STATE DELEGATE EQUIVALENTS.)

10:17 PM EST - 1700 Precincts Reporting

SENATOR BARACK OBAMA : 37.39%
SENATOR JOHN EDWARDS : 29.95%
SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON : 29.47%
GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON : 2.12%
SENATOR JOE BIDEN : 0.92%
UNCOMMITTED : 0.12%
SENATOR CHRIS DODD : 0.02%
PRECINCTS REPORTING: 1700 OF 1781
(PERCENTAGES ARE STATE DELEGATE EQUIVALENTS.)

10:03 PM EST - Republicans - 72% Reporting

Mike Huckabee 28,762 34% 0
Mitt Romney 21,213 25% 0
Fred Thompson 11,522 14% 0
John McCain 11,281 13% 0
Ron Paul 8,549 10% 0
Rudy Giuliani 3,053 4% 0
Duncan Hunter 366 0% 0

9:59 PM EST - 1640 Precincts Reporting

SENATOR BARACK OBAMA : 37.15%
SENATOR JOHN EDWARDS : 30.00%
SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON : 29.61%
GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON : 2.14%
SENATOR JOE BIDEN : 0.95%
UNCOMMITTED : 0.13%
SENATOR CHRIS DODD : 0.03%
PRECINCTS REPORTING: 1640 OF 1781
(PERCENTAGES ARE STATE DELEGATE EQUIVALENTS.)

9:51 PM EST - 1600 Precincts Reporting

SENATOR BARACK OBAMA : 36.98%
SENATOR JOHN EDWARDS : 30.05%
SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON : 29.75%
GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON : 2.17%
SENATOR JOE BIDEN : 0.92%
UNCOMMITTED : 0.11%
SENATOR CHRIS DODD : 0.03%
PRECINCTS REPORTING: 1600 OF 1781
(PERCENTAGES ARE STATE DELEGATE EQUIVALENTS.)

Read the rest of this entry »

CNN has now declared Mike Huckabee the winner of the Iowa Caucus. Basing decision on entrance polls and hard evidence.

As I mentioned yesterday I was on the Shaun O Mac radio show last night to discuss politics and Iowa. You can listen to my appearance either using the player below or visiting the show site and listening to the 1/2/2008 11:00 PM show.

Thank you so Shaun for having me on.

Related Links
- LA Times helps support my thought that money might not be the deciding factor in Iowa

The Politico is reporting that barring a surprise showing today in Iowa former Senator Fred Thompson will drop out and give his support to Senator John McCain.

Iowa – Several Republican officials close to Fred Thompson’s presidential campaign said they expect the candidate will drop out of the race within days if he finishes poorly in Thursday’s Iowa caucus.

Thompson’s campaign, which last spring and summer was generating fevered anticipation in the media and with some Republican activists, has never ignited nationally, and there are no signs of a late spark happening here in Iowa, where even a third-place finish is far from assured.

However on two morning shows today Thompson denied the report:

CNN: Denied story about possibly dropping out, backing McCain. “I’ve never said that, I’ve never implied that, in public or in private.” Talked oil prices, CIA tapes. Repeated that having too much “personal ambition” is a danger for candidates.

Fox: Again denied story about dropping out, saying it was probably planted by rival campaign. “There is no such Thompson adviser. It is not something I have thought about or discussed with anybody.” Maintained he’s doing well in Iowa, said he didn’t get in the race late, others got in early. “We’ll see whether being in everyone’s face for two years and spending $100 million is necessary.”

Just wanted to let you all know that if all goes well I will be appearing on the Shaun O Mac radio program tonight at 11:05 PM Eastern or 8:05 PT.

“If you stand up for me for one night, I will stand up for you every day as president.”

Will run tonight throughout Iowa during evening news broadcasts.

If Dennis Kucinich supporters fail to reach 15% of the mass in precincts the Congressman is already letting them know who they should turn around and caucus for. The choice? Senator Barack Obama.

“This is obviously an ‘Iowa-only’ recommendation, as Sen. Obama and I are competing in the New Hampshire primary next Tuesday where I want to be the first choice of New Hampshire voters.”

“I hope Iowans will caucus for me as their first choice this Thursday, because of my singular positions on the war, on health care, and trade. This is an opportunity for people to stand up for themselves. But in those caucus locations where my support doesn’t reach the necessary threshold, I strongly encourage all of my supporters to make Barack Obama their second choice. Sen. Obama and I have one thing in common.”

In 2004 Kucinich asked his followers to caucus for John Edwards as their second choice.