Top Searches & News - Search result http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22488107/

<html xmlns:tvservices="http://www.msnbc.com"><head><title>Taking Iowa Democrats' pulse on caucus day - Decision '08- msnbc.com</title><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/css/html40.css" /><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/default.ashx/id/21589549" /><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/default.ashx/id/21731378" /><script type="text/javascript" src="/js/std.js"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/id/23149822"></script><script type="text/javascript">gEnabled=false;</script><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"><meta http-equiv="pics-label" content="(pics-1.1 "http://www.icra.org/ratingsv02.html" l gen true for "http://www.msnbc.msn.com" r (nz 1vz 1lz 1oz 1cz 1) "http://www.rsac.org/ratingsv01.html" l gen true for "http://www.msnbc.msn.com" r (l 0n 0s 0v 0))"><meta name="description" content="Iowans vote Thursday night, so let’s check the political pulse of Democrats we’ve interviewed this year, a strictly unscientific sample of Iowa Democrats are saying as the hour approaches for the presidential caucuses."><meta name="Search.Document" content="story"><meta name="Search.Title" content="Taking Iowa Democrats' pulse on caucus day"><meta name="Search.Image" content="/msnbc/Components/Photos/070916/070916_couple_hmed_5p.jpg"><meta name="Search.Byline" content="Tom Curry"><meta name="Search.Source" content="msnbc.com"><meta name="Search.Updated" content="Thu, 03 Jan 2008 18:11:19 GMT"><meta name="Search.Section" content="Decision '08"><meta name="Search.ImageSource" content="Tom Curry, msnbc.com"><script type="text/javascript">var collarity_appid="msnbc";var collarity_kw="";var collarity_tags=""; </script><script type="text/javascript" src="http://service.collarity.com/cust/msnbc/ucs.js"></script><link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="MSNBC - Top Stories" href="http://rss.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032091/device/rss/rss.xml"><link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="MSNBC - Most Viewed" href="http://rss.msnbc.msn.com/id/3058960/displaymode/1026/eventType/1/rss/rss.xml"><script language="javascript" type="text/javascript">this.nm_bo = function (o) { //newsmenu delay if (nm_Enter) { window.clearTimeout(nm_Enter); nm_Enter = 0; } // Get initiating button if (o) { o2 = o.relatedTarget; o = o.target; } else { o = window.event.srcElement; o2 = window.event.toElement; } // Force to our object; ignore if internal o = nm_ne(o, 'onmouseout'); o2 = nm_ne(o2, 'onmouseout'); if (o == o2) return; // Turn off active color nm_mo(o);}this.nm_mo = function (o) { //newsmenu delay if (nm_Enter) { window.clearTimeout(nm_Enter); nm_Enter = 0; } // Check if we opened a menu if ((nm_nNew == 1) && (nm_nD)) { // Just opened the menu, so set the new menu protection timeout nm_nNew = 2; nm_tNew = window.setTimeout('nm_mt();', 250); // Remember to turn off highlight later document.getElementById('nm_c' + nm_nD).nm_aOff = new Array(o); } else { // Turn off the highlight style for this item if (nm_sx(o.className) == 'H') { o.className = o.className.slice(0, -1); if (o.firstChild.className) { o.firstChild.className = o.firstChild.className.slice(0, -1); } } } // Clear deferred arguments nm_aDef = 0; // Set dismiss timer nm_tDis = window.setTimeout('nm_mx(0,0)', 500);}</script><link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/ArtAndPhoto-Fronts/SITEWIDE/apple-touch-icon.png"/><script type="text/javascript">var mp={};mp.marketplaceMenuItem='161';mp.marketplaceParams='2065,43' ;</script><script type="text/javascript" name="cleanprintloader" src="http://cache-01.cleanprint.net/cp/ccg?divId=2556"></script></head><body><script type="text/javascript" src="http://Ads1.msn.com/library/dap.js"></script><script type="text/javascript" language="javascript" src="/id/30848600"></script><script language="javascript" src="/id/23877172"></script> <script>LoadPopunder('');</script><style># {display:none;}</style><a href="#skipnav" style="display:none;visibility:hidden">Skip navigation</a><script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">s_account="msnbcom";if (typeof(readCookie)==="function" && readCookie("o.sv2") === "true"){s_account = "msnbcom,msnbcstorytest";} </script><script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/js/s_code.js"></script><script>pd_top('Story','html40','22488107','Taking Iowa Democrats\' pulse on caucus day','Iowans vote Thursday night, so let’s check the political pulse of Democrats we’ve interviewed this year, a strictly unscientific sample of Iowa Democrats are saying as the hour approaches for the presidential caucuses.','Politics','Decision \'08 archive','','1','2','13:11, 03/01/08','Tom Curry','hmedium','','','18970411','69718','', '1',0, {AdBanner:{AdGroup:'NBCPOA',AdSizeCode:'1390',Width:'728',Height:'90'},AdBannerFront:{AdGroup:'NBCPOA',AdSizeCode:'1390',Width:'728',Height:'90'},AdSponsor:{},AdOverThePage:{}} ,'MSNBC','true','msnbc.com','','');pd_me.ads = {'adShowcaseJson':{'adCallString':'&PG=NBCPOB&AP=1089','adWidth':'300','adHeight':'250'}};var rrList=['ShGb8fNQqUzEhT%2f2m053cw%3d%3d','%2fXkqU%2bHGfNAvlnSnQUngwA%3d%3d','G2YhTjhyywbpkS8s6C4Law%3d%3d','2%2bWpmpaH5jvlSenDGJwQlg%3d%3d','hcrQf%2fWnRyPKK7Gy3fBZRQ%3d%3d','LRyjfESH1yni24YWqeKSQg%3d%3d','rlr70bIGmD2un41zYYF%2bsA%3d%3d','uILkMCpZnb5czUiqA1SBeA%3d%3d','vWDynWsvgCXbnF2uW%2fJMFg%3d%3d','5f91TkRlsRDlibawi%2fDrxQ%3d%3d'];pd_rr('pWujlUvX4wU6UeDFvwvkYHjJbpftDYDx%2bEvYU42CEtnI6kV4sKbg4tS1qQGfpFcr','cWTem3HDWCbR8JPqH8Wgdw%3d%3d','long','7f333340-ad1e-4978-9b5d-f92512fa6938','rr%253f%253f%253f%253f%253fV%253f%253f%253fjrf%29*o%253fY%253f%29J','-654475496',2.5,81);pd_om('msnbcom','100');</script><script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript"></script><script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><a href="http://www.omniture.com" title="Web Analytics"><imgsrc="http://msnbcom.112.2O7.net/b/ss/msnbcom/1/H.15.1--NS/0"height="1" width="1" border="0" alt="" /></a></noscript><img src="http://c.msn.com/c.gif?NC=1255&NA=1154&PS=69718&PI=7329&DI=305&TP=http%3a%2f%2fmsnbc.msn.com%2fid%2f22488107%2f" width="0" height="0" border="0" alt="" /><div id="nm_c1" class="nmX"> </div><div id="nm_c2" class="nmX"> </div><div id="nm_c3" class="nmX"> </div><div id="nm_c4" class="nmX"> </div><script type="text/javascript">function msnbcQuantcast(){var lb = ""; try{ lb+=(s_msn != "undefined" && s_msn.channel != "undefined" && typeof(s_msn.channel)=="string" && s_msn.channel.length > 0) ? "Channel." + s_msn.channel:""; } catch(e){ //do nothing }return lb;}_qoptions={qacct:"p-654c8BbbBI1Es",labels:msnbcQuantcast()};</script><script src="http://edge.quantserve.com/quant.js" type="text/javascript"></script><div id="AdBanner_S"><table width="779" height="105" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="adbar" id="AdBanner_F1"><tr><td align="center" valign="top"><script type="text/javascript">dap('&PG=NBCPOA&AP=1390','728','90');</script></td></tr></table><script>HideAdFrame('AdBanner');</script></div><div id="header"><div id="hdr-content"><div id="msnbc-logo"><a href="/"><img src="http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/CSS/img/spacer.gif" alt="msnbc.com home" height="73" width="285"></a></div><div id="nav-top"><div id="msn"><ul><li class="search"><fieldset id="searchset"><input type="text" id="q" name="q" size="30" maxlength="215" tabindex="1" class="sw_qbox" onkeypress="CheckEnterPressed(event,1)"><input type="button" name="search" value="" class="sw_qbtn" onclick="DoSearch(0)"><input type="hidden" name="id" value="11881780" id="id"></fieldset></li><li class="link"><a href="http://www.msn.com" rel="nofollow">MSN Home</a>   |  </li><li class="link"><a href="http://hotmail.msn.com" rel="nofollow">Mail</a></li><li class="more"><a href="javascript:toggleMSNMore()">More</a><div id="msnMore" class="blockClosed"><ul class="linkedimglinklist"><li><a href="http://mail.live.com"><img width="25" height="20" src="http://col.stb.s-msn.com/i/96/5146F629B72E6A89B01B5FF61E30B8.gif" alt="">Hotmail</a></li><li><a href="http://download.live.com/?sku=messenger"><img width="25" height="20" src="http://col.stb.s-msn.com/i/96/5146F629B72E6A89B01B5FF61E30B8.gif" alt="">Messenger</a></li><li><a href="http://my.msn.com"><img width="25" height="20" src="http://col.stb.s-msn.com/i/96/5146F629B72E6A89B01B5FF61E30B8.gif" alt="">My MSN</a></li><li><a href="http://www.ie8optimized.com?form=M7HPGN&publ=MSNHPTOP4&crea=TEXT_M7HPGN_OIE8_DownloadIE8_TopNavIE8_1x1"><img width="25" height="20" src="http://col.stb.s-msn.com/i/96/5146F629B72E6A89B01B5FF61E30B8.gif" alt="">Download IE8</a></li></ul><ul class="linklist"><li><a href="http://www.bing.com/travel/?cid=msn_navigation&FORM=MSNNAV">Airfares & Travel</a></li><li><a href="http://autos.msn.com/default.aspx">Autos</a></li><li><a href="http://msn.careerbuilder.com?siteid=cbmsn_home&sc_cmp1=JS_MSN_Home">Careers & Jobs</a></li><li><a href="http://msn.delish.com/">Cooking</a></li><li><a href="http://dating.msn.com/index.aspx?TrackingID=516163&BannerID=543351">Dating & Personals</a></li></ul><ul class="linklist"><li><a href="http://entertainment.msn.com/">Entertainment</a></li><li><a href="http://games.msn.com">Games</a></li><li><a href="http://health.msn.com">Health & Fitness</a></li><li><a href="http://astrocenter.astrology.msn.com">Horoscopes</a></li><li><a href="http://lifestyle.msn.com/">Lifestyle</a></li></ul><ul class="linklist"><li><a href="http://local.msn.com/news.aspx">Local</a></li><li><a href="http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?wip=2&v=2&rtp=~&FORM=MSNNAV">Maps & Directions</a></li><li><a href="http://moneycentral.msn.com/home.asp">Money</a></li><li><a href="http://movies.msn.com/">Movies</a></li><li><a href="http://music.msn.com">Music</a></li></ul><ul class="linklist"><li><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/">News</a></li><li><a href="http://realestate.msn.com">Real Estate/Rentals</a></li><li><a href="http://www.bing.com/shopping?FORM=SHOPH2">Shopping</a></li><li><a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/">Sports</a></li><li><a href="http://tv.msn.com">TV</a></li></ul><ul class="linklist"><li><a href="http://local.msn.com/weather.aspx">Weather</a></li><li><a href="http://msn.whitepages.com/">White Pages</a></li><li><a href="http://www.wonderwall.com/">Wonderwall</a></li><li><a href="http://yellowpages.msn.com">Yellow Pages</a></li><li><a href="http://specials.msn.com/alphabet.aspx">MSN Directory</a></li></ul></div></li><li class="link"><a href="https://login.live.com/ppsecure/secure.srf?lc=1033&id=41762&ru=http%3a%2f%2fwww.msnbc.msn.com%2f%3fid%3d22488107%26&tw=1800&fs=1&kv=1&ct=1268602857&ems=1&seclog=10&ver=2.1.6000.1&rn=1BhG1R0F&tpf=f50993711da2834a8d2550a004b6eb47">Sign In</a></li><li class="msn_logo"><a href="http://www.msn.com"><span>msn.com</span></a></li></ul><script type="text/javascript" src="/id/28644474/?COMP_AGENCY.js"></script> <script src="/id/31947396/?Squishy-AdTracking.31947396.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div><div id="nbc" class="horiz-menu"><ul> <li class="item1">featuring</li> <li class="item2" id="nmb" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032632" nm_suf="http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="Today Show"><a href="http://today.msnbc.msn.com">TODAY</a></li> <li class="item3" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032618" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="Nightly News"><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/ns/nightly_news">Nightly News</a></li> <li class="item4" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032599" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="Dateline NBC"><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032600/ns/dateline_nbc">Dateline</a></li> <li class="item5" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032607" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="Meet the Press"><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/ns/meet_the_press">Meet the Press</a></li> <li class="item6" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3096433" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="msnbc tv"><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3096434/ns/msnbc_tv">msnbc tv</a></li> <li class="item7" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032112" nm_suf="http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="NBC Sports"><a href="http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/3032113/ns/sports">NBC Sports</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div><div id="bantop"><div class="container"><div id="AD_skybox"><span class="ad_label">advertisement</span><style>#AD_skybox {display:none;}</style></div><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/" class="btn-home" title="Return to the msnbc.com homepage"> </a><ul class="breadcrumbs"><li class="item1"><a href="/id/3032553/ns/politics">Politics</a></li><li class="item2"><a href="/id/18970417/ns/politics-decision_08">Decision '08 archive</a></li></ul></div><div id="bantopBadge"><style type="text/css">#bantopBadge { display:none; }</style><script type="text/javascript" src="/id/23297925"></script><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/default.ashx/id/35695357" /><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/default.ashx/id/35695369" /><div id='mkt-badge' class="marketbadge front"><div id="mkt-quote"></div></div><script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8">if( window.location.href.indexOf('/ns/business') > 5){ if(window.location.href.indexOf('/ns/business-consumer_news') > 5){ $('#bantopBadge').show(); }else if(window.location.href.indexOf('3032072') > 5 ){ //is business front $('body').addClass('business-front'); $('#bantopBadge').show(); }else{ $('body').addClass('business-sub'); $('#bantopBadge').show(); } if ( window.location.href.indexOf('/id/35442827') > 5 ){ $('#mkt-badge').hide(); }}</script><script type="text/javascript" src="/id/35263643"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="/id/35695330"></script><script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8">if(window.location.href.indexOf('/ns/business-consumer_news') > 5 || window.location.href.indexOf('/ns/business-answer_desk') > 5){ $('#mkt-badge').hide(); $(document).ready(function(){ if(window.location.href.indexOf('/ns/business-answer_desk') > 5) { $('#badgeContainer').addClass('answer_desk'); } });}$(document).ready(function(){ if ( window.location.href.indexOf('/ns/business') < 5 ){ $('#bantopBadge').show(); $('#mkt-badge').hide(); if ( $('#AdSponsor_SF').is(':visible')){ $('#AdSponsor_SF').addClass('ad_alone'); } }})</script><div id="AdSponsor_SF"><table><td width="77" align="right" id="AdSponsor_F1"><span></span></td><td width="123" id="AdSponsor_F2"><style>#AdSponsor_SF {display:none;}</style></td></table></div></div></div></div><div id="story"><div class="container"><div id="nav-left"><div id="newsMAIN"><table class="nmTS" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td class="nmIP">Categories</td></tr><tr><td class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032524" nm_suf="" CM_sf="" CM="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="U.S. news"><a class="nmLS" href="/id/3032525/ns/us_news">U.S. news</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032506" nm_suf="" CM_sf="" CM="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="World news"><a class="nmLS" href="/id/3032507/ns/world_news">World news</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032071" nm_suf="" CM_sf="" CM="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="Business"><a class="nmLS" href="/id/3032072/ns/business">Business</a></td></tr><tr><td><table class="nmTB" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td class="nmIBD" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032552" nm_suf="" CM_sf="Ex" CM="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="Politics"><a class="nmLBD" href="/id/3032553/ns/politics">Politics</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="21491043" nm_suf="" CM_sf="Ex" CM="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nxf" cn="The White House"><a class="nmLB" href="/id/21672863/ns/politics-white_house">The White House</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="21491571" nm_suf="" CM_sf="Ex" CM="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nxf" cn="Capitol Hill"><a class="nmLB" href="/id/21672985/ns/politics-capitol_hill">Capitol Hill</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="35188058" nm_suf="" CM_sf="Ex" CM="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nxf" cn="Decision 2010"><a class="nmLB" href="/id/35188067/ns/politics-decision_2010">Decision 2010</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="28180066" nm_suf="" CM_sf="Ex" CM="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nxf" cn="More politics"><a class="nmLB" href="/id/28180063/ns/politics-more_politics">More politics</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="35150530" nm_suf="" CM_sf="Ex" CM="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nxf" cn=" Newsvine politics question bo"><a class="nmLB" href="/id/35440778/ns/politics"> Newsvine politics question boards</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="22672632" nm_suf="" CM_sf="Ex" CM="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nxf" cn="Howard Fineman"><a class="nmLB" href="/id/22672630/ns/politics-howard_fineman">Howard Fineman</a></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032112" nm_suf="http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/" CM_sf="" CM="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="Sports"><a class="nmLS" href="http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/3032113/ns/sports">Sports</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032083" nm_suf="" CM_sf="" CM="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="Entertainment"><a class="nmLS" href="/id/3032084/ns/entertainment">Entertainment</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3088327" nm_suf="" CM_sf="" CM="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="Health"><a class="nmLS" href="/id/3032076/ns/health">Health</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032117" nm_suf="" CM_sf="" CM="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="Tech & science"><a class="nmLS" href="/id/3032118/ns/technology_and_science">Tech & science</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032122" nm_suf="" CM_sf="" CM="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="Travel"><a class="nmLS" href="/id/3032123/ns/travel">Travel</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3104486" nm_suf="" CM_sf="" CM="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="Local news"><a class="nmLS" href="/id/3948437">Local news</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032127" nm_suf="" CM_sf="" CM="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="Weather"><a class="nmLS" href="/id/3032128/ns/weather">Weather</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIP">Browse</td></tr><tr><td class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="29303610" nm_suf="" CM_sf="" CM="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="Video"><a class="nmLS" href="/id/8004316/ns/video">Video</a></td></tr><tr><td class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="21760355" nm_suf="" CM_sf="" CM="NewsMenuL1" pn="newsmenu" ct="nm0" cn="Photos"><a class="nmLS" href="/id/4999736/ns/multimedia">Photos</a></td></tr></table><script type="text/javascript">nm_tDef = '1';nm_fSet = 'useropt';</script><script type="text/javascript"> nm_init('/id/', ''); Omni.NewsMenu.ProjectName = 'newsmenu'; Omni.NewsMenu.Top = 'nm0'; Omni.NewsMenu.FirstHeadline = 'n1h'; Omni.NewsMenu.FirstFront = 'n1f'; Omni.NewsMenu.SecondHeadline = 'nm2'; Omni.NewsMenu.ExpandFront = 'nxf'; Omni.NewsMenu.ExpandHeadline = 'nxh'; </script><div id="flyouttogglerow"><a id="togglebutton" class="toggle">Disable Fly-out</a><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6901603"><img alt="What are flyouts?" src="http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/Art/exclamation.jpg" id="exclBtn"></a><script type="text/javascript">nm_st();</script></div><ul id="marketplace" class="nav-menu"><li class="label">Marketplace</li><li><script type="text/javascript">dap("&PG=NBCML4&AP=1402",1,1)</script></li><li><script type="text/javascript">dap("&PG=NBCML5&AP=1402",1,1)</script></li><li><script type="text/javascript">dap("&PG=NBCML1&AP=1402",1,1)</script></li><li id="pg-menu" class="noshow"></li><li id="pg-featured" class="noshow"></li></ul></div></div><div id="content" class="w649 fL"><h1>Taking Iowa Democrats' pulse on caucus day</h1><h2>With caucuses only hours away, we check in on those we interviewed </h2><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"><tr><td valign="bottom" width="1%" style="padding:25 0 0 15;"><a id="linkImgRelatedPhotos"><img src="http://msnbcmedia3.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070916/070916_couple_hmed_5p.hmedium.jpg" border="0" style="border:1px solid #000000;" vspace="0" hspace="0"></a></td><td valign="bottom" width="99%"><div class="caption" style="padding:25 10 0 15;">Levi Van Oort, right, seen here with his wife Jen at the Iowa Democrats' Steak Fry last September, was an Obama fan then and will caucus for him Thursday night.</div><div style="clear:both"></div></td></tr><tr><td><div class="credit aR">Tom Curry, msnbc.com</div></td><td></td></tr></table><div class="p12"><div class="WCCol w300 fR clrR"><div style="padding-bottom:20px"><script>getCSS("3053751")</script><div style="width:300;" class="box_3053751 sitewrapperbox cbx" ct="cbx" cn="Cartoons" pn=""><script></script><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_3053751"><tr><td width="*" nowrap class="boxHC_3053751"><div class="hauto textSmallBold"> Cartoons</div></td></tr></table><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_3053751"><tr valign="top"><td class="boxBI_3053751"><p class="textMed"><a href="/id/15444066/ns/politics-political_cartoons/" target="_blank">The week in political cartoons</a></p></td><td height="100%"><img src="http://msnbcmedia4.msn.com/j/msnbc/Sections/Business/z_PERSONAL FOLDERS/AlOlson/iowa.thumb.jpg" border="0" style="border:1px solid #000000;" vspace="0" hspace="0"></td></tr></table></div></div><div pcid="0" style="padding-bottom:20px;"><span CM="AutoBox"><script>getCSS("3088867")</script><div style="width:300;" class="box_3088867 cbx cbx-auto" ct="abx" cn="Video: Decision '08" pn=""><script></script><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_3088867"><tr><td width="1%" class="boxHI_3088867"><img src="http://msnbcmedia2.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/ColorBoxes/Styles/img/video_icon_v2.gif" border="0" height="14" width="28" vspace="0" hspace="0"></td><td width="*" nowrap class="boxHC_3088867"><div class="hauto textSmallBold">Video: Decision '08 </div></td><td width="80%" class="boxH2C_3088867"><div class="textSmall"> </div></td></tr></table><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_3088867"><tr valign="top"><td><div style="float:left;margin-right:1px;text-align:right;"><a href="/id/25887219/vp/27562507#27562507"><a alt="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25887219/#27562507" href="/id/25887219/ns/politics-turning_points/#27562507"><img src="http://msnbcmedia4.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Video/__NEW/a_tp_2008_brokaw.thumb.jpg" border="0" style="border:1px solid #000000;" vspace="0" hspace="0"></a></a></div><div><div class="textHang" style="padding:5px;"><span class="textMed"><b><a href="/id/25887219/vp/27562507#27562507">Turning Point: 2008</a></b></span><br><span class="textMed">Nov. 5: NBC's Tom Brokaw recaps the historic election of America's first black president. Produced by msnbc.com's Kevin Flynn.</span></div></div><hr size="1" width="95%" align="center" color="#cccccc" style="clear:all"></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td class="boxBI_3088867"><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="javascript:vPlayer('27548114','97b18948-3281-4d1d-8088-7119143cc2e9')">Looking back at the historic race</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="javascript:vPlayer('27545448','4b4c1c05-bd9e-4aa9-a418-34be9480efdd')">NBC calls an Obama win</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="javascript:vPlayer('27546437','ac2860a3-121c-43fc-8661-178229fe8161')">'Change has come to America'</a></span></div></td></tr></table></div></span></div><div pcid="0" style="padding-bottom:20px;"><script>getCSS("3053751")</script><div style="width:300;" class="box_3053751 cbx" ct="cbx" cn="Decision '08 Election Night video" pn=""><script></script><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_3053751"><tr><td width="*" nowrap class="boxHC_3053751"><div class="hauto textSmallBold"> Decision '08 Election Night video</div></td></tr></table><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_3053751"><tr valign="top"><td><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="left" style="padding-right:18px;padding-bottom:5px;"><tr><td><img src="http://msnbcmedia3.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photo/_new/msn-080910-obamamccain-6a.thumb.jpg" border="0" style="border:1px solid #000000;" vspace="0" hspace="0"></td></tr></table><div class="boxBI_3053751"><p class="textMed"><a href="javascript:vPlayer('27546437','ac2860a3-121c-43fc-8661-178229fe8161')">Barack Obama victory speech</a></p><p class="textMed"><a href="javascript:vPlayer('27545964','292c49bf-6d93-440a-8e80-3063e7173bd6')">John McCain concession speech</a></p></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div pcid="0" style="padding-bottom:20px;"><script>getCSS("3553566")</script><span CM="CB" class="cbx cbx-multi"><div class="box_3553566" style="width:300;overflow:hidden;" ct="mtc" cn="The candidates in pictures" pn=""><script></script><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_3553566"><tr><td width="*" nowrap class="boxHC_3553566"><div class="hauto textSmallBold"> The candidates in pictures</div></td></tr></table><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_3553566"><tr valign="top"><td style="padding:10px;"><a href="javascript:SSOpen('27471988/ns/politics-picture_stories','0');"><a href="javascript:SSOpen('27471988/ns/politics-picture_stories','0');" xmlns:fn="http://www.w3.org/2005/02/xpath-functions"><img src="http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Slideshows/_production/ss-081031-finalpush/ss-081104-finalpush-tease.thumb.jpg" border="0" style="border:1px solid #000000;" vspace="0" hspace="0" title="U.S. Republican presidential nominee Senator McCain points into the crowd at an airport campaign rally in Roswell" alt="U.S. Republican presidential nominee Senator McCain points into the crowd at an airport campaign rally in Roswell"></a></a><div class="credit" style="text-align:right;">Reuters</div></td><td class="boxBI_3553566"><div class="textHang"><div><span class="textMed"><b><a href="javascript:SSOpen('27471988/ns/politics-picture_stories','0');">Final push</a></b><br>Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain make their final appeals to voters.</span></div></div></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td style="padding:10px;"><a href="javascript:SSOpen('16791389/ns/politics-picture_stories','0');"><a href="javascript:SSOpen('16791389/ns/politics-picture_stories','0');" xmlns:fn="http://www.w3.org/2005/02/xpath-functions"><img src="http://msnbcmedia4.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Slideshows/_production/ss-070124-mccain-remake/ss-070124-mccain-tease2.thumb.jpg" border="0" style="border:1px solid #000000;" vspace="0" hspace="0" title="Image: President Richard Nixon greets John McCain after he returned from Vietnam." alt="Image: President Richard Nixon greets John McCain after he returned from Vietnam."></a></a><div class="credit" style="text-align:right;">AP file</div></td><td class="boxBI_3553566"><div class="textHang"><div><span class="textMed"><b><a href="javascript:SSOpen('16791389/ns/politics-picture_stories','0');">John McCain</a></b><br>The Republican presidential candidates' life has revolved around the public need.</span></div></div></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td style="padding:10px;"><a href="javascript:SSOpen('16456639/ns/politics-picture_stories','0');"><a href="javascript:SSOpen('16456639/ns/politics-picture_stories','0');" xmlns:fn="http://www.w3.org/2005/02/xpath-functions"><img src="http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Slideshows/_production/ss_070103_obama/ss-070103-obama-tease2.thumb.jpg" border="0" style="border:1px solid #000000;" vspace="0" hspace="0" title="Barak "Barry" Obama" alt="Barak "Barry" Obama"></a></a><div class="credit" style="text-align:right;">Punahoe Schools via AP</div></td><td class="boxBI_3553566"><div class="textHang"><div><span class="textMed"><b><a href="javascript:SSOpen('16456639/ns/politics-picture_stories','0');">The life of Barack Obama</a></b><br>The path of the president-elect, from childhood to party leader</span></div></div></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td style="padding:10px;"><a href="javascript:SSOpen2('32085408/ns/politics-picture_stories',null,null,null);"><a href="javascript:SSOpen2('32085408/ns/politics-picture_stories',null,null,null);" xmlns:fn="http://www.w3.org/2005/02/xpath-functions"><img src="http://msnbcmedia3.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Slideshows/_production/ss-080829-palin/ss-090707-palin-update-tease.thumb.jpg" border="0" style="border:1px solid #000000;" vspace="0" hspace="0" title="Image: Sarah Palin " alt="Image: Sarah Palin "></a></a><div class="credit" style="text-align:right;">The Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman via AP</div></td><td class="boxBI_3553566"><div class="textHang"><div><span class="textMed"><b><a href="javascript:SSOpen2('32085408/ns/politics-picture_stories',null,null,null);">Sarah Palin</a></b><br>The fast-track governor's rise from Alaska beauty queen to governor to John McCain’s running mate.</span></div></div></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td style="padding:10px;"><a href="javascript:SSOpen('26276165/ns/politics-picture_stories','0');"><a href="javascript:SSOpen('26276165/ns/politics-picture_stories','0');" xmlns:fn="http://www.w3.org/2005/02/xpath-functions"><img src="http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Slideshows/_production/ss-080818-biden/ss-080818-biden-update-tease.thumb.jpg" border="0" style="border:1px solid #000000;" vspace="0" hspace="0"></a></a><div class="credit" style="text-align:right;">AP file</div></td><td class="boxBI_3553566"><div class="textHang"><div><span class="textMed"><b><a href="javascript:SSOpen('26276165/ns/politics-picture_stories','0');">Joseph Biden</a></b><br>The senator's legacy of public service and life filled with second chances.</span></div></div></td></tr></table></div></span></div></div><div class="CCol w160 fR clrR"><div style="padding-bottom:20px;"><span CM="AutoBox"><script>getCSS("3088867")</script><div style="width:300;" class="box_3088867 cbx cbx-auto" ct="abx" cn="Presidential candidates" pn=""><script></script><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_3088867"><tr><td width="1%" class="boxHI_3088867"><img src="http://msnbcmedia2.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/ColorBoxes/Styles/img/video_icon_v2.gif" border="0" height="14" width="28" vspace="0" hspace="0"></td><td width="*" nowrap class="boxHC_3088867"><div class="hauto textSmallBold">Presidential candidates</div></td></tr></table><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_3088867"><tr valign="top"><td><div style="float:right;margin-left:10px;text-align:right;"><a href="javascript:vPlayer('22485452','7a472691-b052-43a2-8ef9-062d8d8c1e4c')"><img src="http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Video/080103/tdy_gregory_romney_080103.thumb.jpg" border="0" style="border:1px solid #000000;" vspace="0" hspace="0"></a><div class="credit">TODAY</div></div><div><div class="textHang" style="padding:5px;"><span class="textMed"><b><a href="javascript:vPlayer('22485452','7a472691-b052-43a2-8ef9-062d8d8c1e4c')">Mitt Romney discusses Iowa vote</a></b></span><br><span class="textMed">Jan. 3: Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney talks with NBC's David Gregory about his chances in the Iowa caucuses.</span></div></div><hr size="1" width="95%" align="center" color="#cccccc" style="clear:all"></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td class="boxBI_3088867"><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="javascript:vPlayer('22485474','c33de80e-d44a-4ca8-b1a0-bc31f98a3e90')">Sen. Obama discusses Iowa vote</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="javascript:vPlayer('22485274','37877575-ee13-47b4-b44a-25fb14f802cd')">Sen. and Mrs. Edwards in Iowa</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="javascript:vPlayer('22473521','24b8a816-fe0b-4a2c-8754-70dce58ddb3e')">Huckabee: Poll shows us in first place</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="javascript:vPlayer('22487808','12027985-c8a6-4c40-94c4-428af026742d')">Thompson: 'I think I can do better'</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="javascript:vPlayer('22475326','d278169f-4334-43c3-a764-d06e85fda134')">Clinton: 'I will wage a winning campaign'</a></span></div></td></tr></table></div></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:20px;"><div pcid="0" style="padding-bottom:20px;"><script language="javascript" type="text/javascript"> var fl = new flashObj2(); fl.flashFile ="http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/MSNBC/Components/Interactives/_swf/Politics/Election2008/StoryPageWidget/d08StoryPageMapWidget.swf"; fl.flashVars = ""; fl.bgcolor = "#FFFFFF"; fl.altImgWB3 = "<img id=\'alt-image\' src=\'http://msnbcmedia1.msn.com/i/MSNBC/Components/Interactives/_swf/Politics/Election2008/StoryPageWidget/StoryPageWgtAlt.jpg\' border=\'0\' vspace=\'0\' hspace=\'0\' />"; fl.url = "http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/"; fl.width = "300"; fl.height = "285"; fl.ID = "fl27525978"; fl.play = "true"; fl.loop = "true"; fl.quality = "Best"; fl.scale = "noborder"; fl.salign = "tl"; fl.mode = "opaque"; fl.cabVersion = "9,0,0,0"; fl.flashVer = "9"; fl.defaultType = ""; fl.htm = ""; fl.downloadLink = "top"; fl.webTV = "true"; fl.deviceFont = "false"; fl.instrumented = "false"; fl.seamlessTabbing = ""; try { fl.write(); } catch(e) { document.write(writeFlashComponent2(fl)); }</script></div><div pcid="0" style="padding-bottom:20px;"><script>getCSS("27522847")</script><div style="width:300;" class="box_27522847 cbx" ct="cbx" cn="27541930" pn=""><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_27522847"><tr valign="top"><td class="boxBI_27522847"><table width="100%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="5"> <tbody> <tr valign="top"> <td width="33%" style="font-size: 11px;"> <a href="/id/23887017">President</a> </td> <td width="33%" style="font-size: 11px;"> <a href="/id/23908648">House</a> </td> <td width="33%" style="font-size: 11px;"> <a href="/id/26349526">State results</a> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="33%" style="font-size: 11px;"> <a href="/id/23908644">Senate</a> </td> <td width="33%" style="font-size: 11px;"> <a href="/id/23908645">Governor</a> </td> <td width="33%" style="font-size:11px;"><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27540321">Exit Polls</a></td> </tr> </tbody></table></td><td height="100%"></td></tr></table></div></div><div pcid="0" style="padding-bottom:20px;"><script>getCSS("27522847")</script><div style="width:300;" class="box_27522847 cbx" ct="cbx" cn="Interactive" pn=""><script></script><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_27522847"><tr><td width="*" nowrap class="boxHC_27522847"><div class="hauto textSmallBold"> Interactive</div></td></tr></table><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_27522847"><tr valign="top"><td class="boxBI_27522847"><div class="textHang mgbtm"><span class="textMed"><b><a href="/id/27400251/ns/politics-decision_08/" id="gted" CE="Link-12">Top races</a></b></span></div><div style="margin-left:9px;"><p class="textMed"><br>Explore our guide to Senate, House and gubernatorial races around the country.</p></div></td><td height="100%"><a href="/id/27400251/ns/politics-decision_08/" id="gted" CE="Link-11"><img src="http://msnbcmedia1.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/TEASES/POLITICS/CastOfCharacters/RacesToWatch/tz-RacesToWatch-left.thumb.jpg" border="0" style="border:1px solid #000000;" vspace="0" hspace="0" class="remove-border"></a></td></tr></table></div></div><div pcid="0" style="padding-bottom:20px;"><span CM="AutoBox"><script>getCSS("27522847")</script><div style="width:300;" class="box_27522847 cbx cbx-auto" ct="abx" cn="Video" pn=""><script></script><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_27522847"><tr><td width="*" nowrap class="boxHC_27522847"><div class="hauto textSmallBold"> Video</div></td></tr></table><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_27522847"><tr valign="top"><td class="boxBI_27522847"><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="javascript:vPlayer('35836273','d860c39f-acd7-4482-b3e5-15072e9d9866')">Daily Rundown: March 12</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="javascript:vPlayer('35835279','0728345b-4f60-40ff-998f-524b0a02d3da')">Approval ratings fall for many in Congress</a></span></div></td><td height="100%"><div style="width:100;text-align:right;"><a href="javascript:vPlayer('35836273','d860c39f-acd7-4482-b3e5-15072e9d9866')"><img src="http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Video/__NEW/n_rundown_fullshow_100312.thumb.jpg" border="0" style="border:1px solid #000000;" vspace="0" hspace="0"></a></div></td></tr></table></div></span></div><div pcid="0" style="padding-bottom:20px;"><span CM="AutoBox"><script>getCSS("27522847")</script><div style="width:300;" class="box_27522847 cbx cbx-auto" ct="abx" cn="Slide shows" pn=""><script></script><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_27522847"><tr><td width="*" nowrap class="boxHC_27522847"><div class="hauto textSmallBold"> Slide shows</div></td></tr></table><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_27522847"><tr valign="top"><td><div style="float:right;margin-left:10px;text-align:right;"><a href="javascript:SSOpen('27552666','0');"><img src="http://msnbcmedia4.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Slideshows/_production/ss-081105-worldreax/ss-081105-worldreax-tease.thumb.jpg" border="0" style="border:1px solid #000000;" vspace="0" hspace="0"></a><div class="credit">AP</div></div><div><div class="textHang" style="padding:5px;"><span class="textMed"><b><a href="javascript:SSOpen('27552666','0');">World reacts to Obama’s victory</a></b></span><br><span class="textMed">From the U.S. president-elect’s ancestral homes in Kenya and Ireland to his namesake town in Japan, election fever grips the globe.</span></div></div><hr size="1" width="95%" align="center" color="#cccccc" style="clear:all"></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td class="boxBI_27522847"><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="javascript:SSOpen('27544514','0');">Parties and prayers</a></span></div></td></tr></table></div></span></div><div pcid="0" style="padding-bottom:20px;"><script>getCSS("27522847")</script><div style="width:300;" class="box_27522847 cbx" ct="cbx" cn="Special coverage" pn=""><script></script><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_27522847"><tr><td width="*" nowrap class="boxHC_27522847"><div class="hauto textSmallBold"> Special coverage</div></td></tr></table><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_27522847"><tr valign="top"><td class="boxBI_27522847"><div class="textHang"><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="textMed"><a href="http://onthescene.msnbc.com/witnessing_history">Witnessing history</a> </span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="textMed"><a href="http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/">First Read</a></span></div></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div pcid="0" style="padding-bottom:20px;"><script>getCSS("27533524")</script><div style="width:300;" class="box_27533524 cbx" ct="cbx" cn="Discuss on Newsvine" pn=""><script></script><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_27533524"><tr><td width="1%" class="boxHI_27533524"><img src="http://msnbcmedia1.msn.com/i/MSNBC/Components/CSS/img/icons/icon-newsvine-trans_02.gif" border="0" height="22" width="24" vspace="0" hspace="0"></td><td width="*" nowrap class="boxHC_27533524"><div class="hauto textSmallBold">Discuss on Newsvine</div></td></tr></table><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_27533524"><tr valign="top"><td class="boxBI_27533524"><div class="textHang"><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="textMed"><u><a href="http://www.polls.newsvine.com/_question/2008/11/05/2076608-what-should-be-barack-obamas-first-priority-as-president"><u>What should be Obama's first priority?</u></a></u></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="textMed"><a href="http://snotrag-dave.newsvine.com/_news/2008/11/05/2074852-obama-defeats-mccain-why-am-i-sad">Obama defeats McCain: Why am I sad?</a></span></div></div></td><td height="100%"></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div pcid="0" style="padding-bottom:20px;"><SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript">var tcdacmd="dt";</SCRIPT><SCRIPT SRC="http://an.tacoda.net/an/13015/slf.js" LANGUAGE="JavaScript"></SCRIPT></div></div><div class="mR165"><div><div class="textMedBlackBold">By Tom Curry</div><div class="textMedBlack">National affairs writer</div><div class="textMedBlack">msnbc.com</div><div class="textTimestamp"><span id="udtD">updated <span class="time">1:11 p.m. ET </span><span class="date">Jan. 3, 2008</span></span><script language="javascript"> function UpdateTimeStamp(pdt) { var n = document.getElementById("udtD"); if(pdt != '' && n && window.DateTime) { var dt = new DateTime(); pdt = dt.T2D(pdt); if(dt.GetTZ(pdt)) {n.innerHTML = dt.D2S(pdt,((''.toLowerCase()=='false')?false:true));} } } UpdateTimeStamp('633349806798370000');</script></div></div><p class="textBodyBlack"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" align="left" style="padding:5 15 0 0;"><tr><td><script>getCSS("3027626")</script><div style="width:102;" class="box_3027626 sitewrapperbox"><script></script><table width="102" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_3027626"><tr><td width="1%" class="boxHI_3027626"><img src="http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/ColorBoxes/Styles/img/byline_msnbcDotCom.gif" border="0" height="20" width="100" vspace="0" hspace="0"></td><td width="*" nowrap class="boxHC_3027626"><div class="hauto textSmallBold"></div></td></tr></table><table width="102" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_3027626"><tr valign="top"><td><img src="http://msnbcmedia1.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Bylines/mugs/MSNBC Interactive/msnbc_curry_tom3.thumb.jpg" border="0" style="border:1px solid #666666;" vspace="0" hspace="0"></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td class="boxBI_3027626"><div class="textMed"><b>Tom Curry</b></div><div class="credit">National affairs writer</div><hr size="1" width="85%" color="#cccccc" align="center"><div><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/id/10913645/">Profile</a></span></div><div><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><script language="javascript">document.write('<a href="mailto:'+'Tomcurry'+'@'+'feedback.msnbc.com">')</script>E-mail<script language="javascript">document.write('</a>');</script></span></div></td></tr></table><table width="102" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxF_3027626"><tr><td class="boxFI_3027626"><div class="textSmall"></div></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table>DES MOINES, Iowa - Iowans vote Thursday night, so let’s check the political pulse of Democrats we’ve interviewed this year. </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>Some of these Iowa Democrats I’ve known for several years, such as Mason City attorney Tim Lapointe; others, like Levi Van Oort, from Clarence, Iowa, I’ve met at campaign events over the past few months.</p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>Democrats in Iowa, like Democrats elsewhere, figure their party’s presidential nominee has a better than even chance of winning the White House in November. </p><div class="aC" id="AdShowcase_F1"><div class="textSmallGrey w320"><a href="#storyContinued">Story continues below ↓</a><hr noshade size="1">advertisement | <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26613008/">your ad here</a><div style="padding:0 10 10 10;"><script type="text/javascript">dap('&PG=NBCPOB&AP=1089','300','250');</script></div><hr noshade size="1"></div></div><a name="storyContinued" id="AdShowcase_F2"></a><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>Since they’re the surrogates for Democrats in other states, Iowa Democrats don’t want to get this decision wrong — as they did in 2004 by giving John Kerry a victory in the caucuses here and launching him on his way to the nomination.</p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>In one of her final campaign stops Wednesday, Sen. <a href="/id/16123860/ns/politics-decision_08/">Hillary Clinton</a> appealed to Iowans to act as trustees for “those who don’t even live in Iowa. They’re going to be turning on their TV sets Thursday night to see what you decide.”</p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>Lapointe, who was the Cerro Gordo County Democratic chairman from 1998 to 2004 and an ardent Howard Dean supporter four years ago, said, “Hillary Clinton strikes me as more presidential” than her rivals. “That is a main reason I am supporting her.” </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span><b><strong>Obama: 'too glib'<br></strong></b>“Obama seems a bit too glib and he seems to say the same things over and over, without adding anything to the substance of his position, like a rock star singing the same great songs over and over again,” said Lapointe. He has seen both Clinton and <a href="/id/16438329/ns/politics-decision_08/">Barack Obama</a> three times.</p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>As for 2004 vice presidential nominee <a href="/id/16269181/ns/politics-decision_08/">John Edwards</a>, Lapointe said, “I love his new message, but there is still that undefinable quality about him which I will always see as second or third place.” He has seen Edwards on the campaign trail “at least four times in the last four years.”</p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>Lapointe regrets that Delaware Sen. <a href="/id/16901522/ns/politics-decision_08/">Joe Biden</a> — a sentimental favorite of many in Iowa —“didn't gain any momentum early.” </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>He calls Biden “perhaps the brightest of the bunch” and adds that “he has found a recent (within the last six months) ability to curtail his rambling — something <a href="/id/16927335/ns/politics-decision_08/">Chris Dodd</a> hasn't figured out yet.” </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>New Mexico Gov. <a href="/id/17153391/ns/politics-decision_08/">Bill Richardson</a> “will be great as Hillary's VP, but not ready for top spot,” Lapointe said, He has seen Biden twice and Richardson once.</p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span><b><strong>A Ron Paul Democrat <br></strong></b>Robbie Porter-Risdal, a Democrat from Sioux City, was undecided and shopping for a candidate when we first interviewed her last September at a Biden campaign event.</p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>Porter-Risdal was a staunch Howard Dean supporter in the 2004 caucuses. </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="1%" align="right" style="padding:5 0 0 15;"><tr><td><img src="http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070920/070920_dem1_vmed_4p.small.jpg" border="0" style="border:1px solid #000000;" align="Right" vspace="0" hspace="0"></td></tr><tr><td><div class="credit" style="text-align:right;margin-bottom:5px;"></div><div class="credit">Robbie Porter-Risdal, a Howard Dean backer in 2004, is supporting Republican Ron Paul this year</div><hr noshade size="1" color="#C0C0C0"></td></tr></table>But she has decided to support Republican Dr. <a href="/id/17153378/ns/politics-decision_08/">Ron Paul</a>. “He is the only one talking about the North American Superhighway” to speed traffic between Mexico, the United States, and Canada. </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>“I asked Edwards about it Sunday night at an event in Sioux City, and he said he didn’t believe in it, but that was pretty much all he said,” Porter-Risdal explained.</p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>She has seen every contender in person and has seen Paul twice. In addition to the North American Superhighway, she is also concerned about a plan for further integration of the North American economies and “the Amero, the money they’re going to bring in to try to replace U.S. currency.”</p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>She said she found Edwards at his Sunday event “real; there was no false bravado” and “I absolutely adored his wife,” but she can’t support him because “my conscience won’t let me do it.”</p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>She said her Democratic friends are frustrated by her decision to back Paul. “All my Democratic friends are saying, ‘Oh, come on….’ But I have to go with my conscience.”</p><div class="t1 f70 c666 p7"><span CM="PageNavBot"><a class="b" id="gted" CE="2" href="/id/22488107/ns/politics-decision_08/page/2/"> CONTINUED : Solid for Edwards in Osceola</a><hr size="1"><div class="fL pS">1 | <a class="b" id="gted" CE="2" href="/id/22488107/ns/politics-decision_08/page/2/">2</a> | <a class="b" id="gted" CE="2" href="/id/22488107/ns/politics-decision_08/page/2/">Next ></a></div></span></div><br><div id="stryTools" class=""><ul><li class="discuss"><a href="http://www.newsvine.com" title="Discuss this article on Newsvine" onclick="
 javascript:seedNewsvine('Taking Iowa Democrats\' pulse on caucus day','Iowans vote Thursday night, so let’s check the political pulse of Democrats we’ve interviewed this year, a strictly unscientific sample of Iowa Democrats are saying as the hour approaches for the presidential caucuses.','');
 return false;">Discuss Story </a> <em>On Newsvine</em></li><li class="rate"><b> Rate Story:<br><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7468311/">View popular</a></b><em class="hl">Low</em><span class="hl" id="URplace"></span><em class="hl">High</em><br><em class="avg"><span id="userRatingTotal"></span><script>WriteRatings();</script></em></li><li class="email"><a href="javascript:emThis('22488107')" title="Email this story">Email</a></li><li class="im" id="imThis"><a href="javascript:IMThis('22488107','/ns/politics-decision_08/')" title="Send this story with MSN Messenger">Instant Message</a></li><li class="print"><a href="javascript:printThis('22488107')" title="Print this story">Print</a></li></ul></div><img width="100%" height="0"><div class="cbx cbx-next" style="padding-top:20px"><script>getCSS("3053751")</script><div style="width:100%;" class="box_3053751"><script></script><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_3053751"><tr><td width="*" nowrap class="boxHC_3053751"><div class="hauto textSmallBold"> MORE FROM </div></td><td width="80%" class="boxH2C_3053751"><div class="textSmall"> </div></td></tr></table><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_3053751"><tr valign="top"><td><div style="width:100%;background-color:#ffffff;height:100%;"><div style="padding:10px;width:16%;height:100%;float:left;"><span ID="StoryNextButton" CM="StoryNextButton"><a id="gted" CE="" onmouseover="swapImage('next_links','/images/buttons/next/buttonNextOver.gif')" onmouseout="swapImage('next_links','/images/buttons/next/buttonNext.gif')" onmousedown="swapImage('next_links','/images/buttons/next/buttonNextDown.gif')" href="/id/18970417/"><img src="/images/buttons/next/buttonNext.gif" border="0" width="53" height="19" id="next_links"></a></span></div><div id="nextText" class="w75p textMedBlackBold fL p11"> Section Front</div></div></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td class="boxBI_3053751"><span CM="StoryNextLink"><div id="nxtStry1" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/id/29012117/ns/today_books-today_book_news/" id="gted" CE="1">Obama campaign head gets big book deal</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry2" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/id/28623270/ns/politics-decision_08/" id="gted" CE="2">Officials turn down Franken request</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry3" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/id/28542733/ns/entertainment-arts_books_more/" id="gted" CE="3">Joe the Plumber to become war correspondent</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry4" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/id/28435298/ns/politics-capitol_hill/" id="gted" CE="4">Franken lead at 49 with absentees left to count</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry5" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/id/28366524/ns/politics-decision_08/" id="gted" CE="5">Minn. Senate winner won't be known in 2008</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry6" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/12/22/1723167.aspx">First Read: 'Twas the seventh week of recount...</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry7" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/id/28312760/ns/politics-decision_08/" id="gted" CE="7">Franken opens first lead in Minn. Senate race</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry8" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/id/28313509/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/" id="gted" CE="8">Mom of Palin daughter's boyfriend arrested</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry9" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/id/28284449/ns/politics/" id="gted" CE="9">Minn. court weighs rejected absentee ballots</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry10" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/id/28252951/ns/politics-decision_08/" id="gted" CE="10">Minnesota panel reviews disputed ballots</a></span></div></div></span><div style="width:100%;height:16;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/id/18970417/"> Section Front</a></span></div></div><span class="textSmall"> </span><div><span class="headlineList2">Add <span class="b"></span> headlines to your news reader:</span></div><span class="textSmall"> </span><div style="float:left;"><script>MSNBC.RSS.showBtns("18970411","","3000001");</script></div></td></tr></table><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxF_3053751"><tr><td class="boxFI_3053751"><div class="textSmall"></div></td></tr></table></div><script>nextStory("/id/29012117/ns/today_books-today_book_news/^Obama campaign head gets big book deal|/id/28623270/ns/politics-decision_08/^Officials turn down Franken request|/id/28542733/ns/entertainment-arts_books_more/^Joe the Plumber to become war correspondent|/id/28435298/ns/politics-capitol_hill/^Franken lead at 49 with absentees left to count|/id/28366524/ns/politics-decision_08/^Minn. Senate winner won't be known in 2008|http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/12/22/1723167.aspx^First Read: 'Twas the seventh week of recount...|/id/28312760/ns/politics-decision_08/^Franken opens first lead in Minn. Senate race|/id/28313509/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/^Mom of Palin daughter's boyfriend arrested|/id/28284449/ns/politics/^Minn. court weighs rejected absentee ballots|/id/28252951/ns/politics-decision_08/^Minnesota panel reviews disputed ballots|");</script></div><div id="bbb" class="clr fL w464 dpn"><div id="bb3" class="fL w225 p15"><span CM=""><script>getCSS("3182775")</script><div style="width:100%;" class="box_3182775 cbx cbx-auto" ct="abx" cn="Top msnbc.com stories" pn=""><script></script><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_3182775"><tr><td width="*" nowrap class="boxHC_3182775"><div class="hauto textSmallBold"> Top msnbc.com stories</div></td></tr></table><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_3182775"><tr valign="top"><td class="boxBI_3182775"><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="/id/35862300/ns/politics-health_care_reform/">Health care bill heads for make-or-break week</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="/id/35861424/ns/world_news-haiti_earthquake/">Haitian orphans find lifeline at Tenn. church</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="/id/35860863/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia/">Taliban: Kandahar bombings a 'warning' </a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="/id/35857447/ns/world_news-washington_post/">Marines going rogue or leading the fight?</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="/id/35854329/ns/weather/">Floods follow Northeast wind, rain storm</a></span></div></td></tr></table></div></span></div><div id="bb4" class="fR w225 p15"><span CM=""><script>getCSS("3182775")</script><div style="width:100%;" class="box_3182775 cbx cbx-auto" ct="abx" cn="MSN highlights" pn=""><script></script><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_3182775"><tr><td width="*" nowrap class="boxHC_3182775"><div class="hauto textSmallBold"> MSN highlights</div></td></tr></table><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_3182775"><tr valign="top"><td class="boxBI_3182775"><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-2186-Job-Info-and-Trends-Todays-20-Fastest-Growing-Occupations/?SiteId=cbmsn42186&sc_extcmp=JS_2186_advice&ocid=xnetr3-1">Today's 20 fastest-growing occupations</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="http://music.msn.com/mom-pop-culture/taylor-swift-music-for-the-whole-family/story/feature/?ocid=xnetr3-2">Why Taylor Swift is a good role model</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="http://www.good.is/post/backyard-bunnies-are-the-new-urban-chickens/?ocid=xnetr3-3">Is rabbit the new chicken?</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="http://health.msn.com/health-topics/sleep-disorders/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100255700&ocid=xnetr3-4">Daylight savings: Not a bright time for all</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="headlineList2"><a href="http://www.tourmsn.com?ocid=xnetr3-5&form=M7XCGN&publ=XSEARCH&crea=TXT_M7XCGN_msn14_preview_crosschntxt01">Take a tour of MSN's upcoming new look</a></span></div></td></tr></table></div></span></div></div><div class="w460 clr"> <div style="font-family : Verdana, Arial, Geneva, Helvetica, sans-serif;padding-top:15px;"> <script language="javascript" src="http://context3.kanoodle.com/cgi-bin/context.cgi?id=78053631&db=context&query=*general_network&cgroup=4618&format=table&numresults=5&width=470&bordercolor=339933&fillcolor=FFFFFF&title=1&signup=1&newtarget=1&fontsize=10px&linkcolor=339933&titlecolor=339933&fontsize=11&textcolor=666666"></script></div> </div></div></div><div id="substory"></div></div><div id="Dcolumn"><div id="dcol-sponsored"><p class="dcol-hed">Sponsored links</p> <div> <script language="javascript" src="http://context3.kanoodle.com/cgi-bin/context.cgi?id=78053631&db=context&query=*general_network:premium&cgroup=d_usnews&format=standard&numresults=5&linkcolor=339933&titlecolor=339933&fontsize=11&textcolor=666666"></script> </div></div><div id="dcol-skyscraper"><style>#dcol-skyscraper {display:none;}</style></div><div id="dcol-resourceguide"><p class="dcol-hed">Resource guide</p> <div id="AdBrokerButton1_F1"><script type="text/javascript">dap('&PG=NBCRS4&AP=1025','120','30');</script><p><script type="text/javascript">dap('&PG=NBCRD4&AP=1402',1,1)</script><p></div><div id="AdBrokerButton5_F1"><script type="text/javascript">dap('&PG=NBCRS5&AP=1025','120','30');</script><p><script type="text/javascript">dap("&PG=NBCRD5&AP=1402",1,1)</script><p></div><div id="AdBrokerButton2_F1"><script type="text/javascript">dap('&PG=NBCRS1&AP=1025','120','30');</script><p><script type="text/javascript">dap('&PG=NBCRD1&AP=1402',1,1)</script><p></div><div id="AdSmallShowcase_S"><style>#AdSmallShowcase_S {display:none;}</style></div></div></div></div></div><div id="bottomGradientIE" class="gradOff"></div><div id="footer"><div class="container"><div class="logo"><a href="/" title="msnbc.com home"><img src="http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/CSS/img/spacer.gif" alt="" height="75" width="140"></a></div><div class="links"><div class="listheader">Featuring</div><ul><li><a href="http://today.msnbc.msn.com/">TODAY</a></li><li><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/ns/nightly_news/">Nightly News</a></li><li><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032600/ns/dateline_nbc">Dateline</a></li><li><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/ns/meet_the_press_online_at_msnbc">Meet the Press</a></li><li><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3096434/ns/msnbc_tv">msnbc tv</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsweek.com">Newsweek</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsvine.com">Newsvine</a></li><li><a href="http://www.everyblock.com">EveryBlock</a></li></ul><div class="listheader">Categories</div><ul><li><a href="/">Top stories</a></li><li><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3098358/ns/local_news-local_news">Local news</a></li><li><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032525/ns/us_news">U.S.</a></li><li><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507/ns/world_news">World</a></li><li><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032553/ns/politics">Politics</a></li><li><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072/ns/business">Business</a></li><li><a href="http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/3032113/ns/sports">Sports</a></li><li><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032084/ns/entertainment">Entertainment</a></li><li><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032076/ns/health">Health</a><br /></li><li><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032118/ns/technology_and_science">Tech & science</a></li><li><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032123/ns/travel">Travel</a></li><li><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032128/ns/weather">Weather</a></li></ul></div><div class="divider"></div><div class="buttons"><div class="button btn-1"><a href="/id/16192026/"> </a></div><div class="link"><a href="/id/16192026/">msnbc.com on your phone</a></div><div class="button btn-7"><a href="http://www.alerts.msnbc.com/"> </a></div><div class="link"><a href="http://www.alerts.msnbc.com/">Sign up for e-mail & SMS alerts</a></div><br clear="all" /><div class="button btn-3"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/msnbc/"> </a></div><div class="link"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/msnbc/">msnbc.com on Facebook</a></div><div class="button btn-6"><a href="/id/5216556/"> </a></div><div class="link"><a href="/id/5216556/">Subscribe to our RSS feeds</a></div><br clear="all" /><div class="button btn-5"><a href="/id/29164160/"> </a></div><div class="link"><a href="/id/29164160/">msnbc.com on Twitter</a></div><div class="button btn-2"><a href="/id/8132577/"> </a></div><div class="link"><a href="/id/8132577/">Subscribe to our podcasts</a></div><br clear="all" /><div class="button btn-4"><a href="/id/23781733/"> </a></div><div class="link"><a href="/id/23781733/">More NewsTools from msnbc.com</a></div><br clear="all" /></div></div></div><div id="msnfooter"><div class="container"><ul><li>© 2010 msnbc.com</li></ul><ul id="leftlinks"><li><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21697053/welcome/">About us</a></li><li><a href="/id/10285339/">Contact</a></li><li><a href="/html/msnbc/HtmlSitemap0.html">Site map</a></li><li><a href="/id/27365695/">Jobs</a></li> <li><a href="/id/32556806/">Stock data</a></li><li><a href="/id/3303540/">Terms & conditions</a></li></ul><ul id="rightlinks"><li><a href="http://g.msn.com/AIPRIV/en-us">About our ads</a></li><li><a href="http://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/default.mspx">MSN Privacy</a></li><li><a href="http://advertising.microsoft.com/home/home">Advertise</a></li><li><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3303511/">Help</a></li></ul></div></div><div id="bottomGradient" class="gradOff"></div><script type="text/javascript">dap('&PG=&AP=','','');</script></body></html>