New Report: Obama Tops, Hillary Slipping In Iowa

The following piece is published on Iowa Independent as well as HuffPost's OffTheBus.

A lot can change in the course of a few weeks, which is evident both in the shifts in this week's power rankings and the continuing volatility of the presidential race in Iowa. Recent polls have varied a bit in their candidate rankings, but they all seem to agree on one point: the presidential race is far from settled.

Below, we seek to answer (for the fourth time) the question, "If the Democratic caucuses were held tonight, how would they result?" We based these rankings on impressions we received from activists, staff, and caucus-goers across the state and, at the most basic level, gut feelings and instincts. We hope only that our work provides one additional point of reference to readers who are interested in the perspective of Iowans who have watched the race unfold here for the past year.

If the Democratic caucuses were held tonight, here is how we think they would turn out.

Comments

[jbehlok]

I don't think I could listen to her cackel and dirty looks for 4 years. A women can be President and not go on the back of her husband-that it week!!!I think Obama is pointing out how the Clintons have made an Art of Lying and bending the truth. When Bill Clinton said he didn’t inhale and that answer we all knew was bull crap. Anyone who has spent time in a University knows they have tried things to expand their minds especially those who grew up in the 60’s. Clinton lied about his affairs, what does she feel about all of that? We don’t know but wonder about her truthiness (We have had enough of that with Bill and Bush). Bill was impeached for lying and she stands by him??? What does that say about her character?

I think Barack is using this as an example of his honesty, and he shows in his books how he time and again as a youth had to overcome much adversity and has prevailed. He shows you in the way he is leading his own adult life. That family unity is an important thing that is lacking in most young peoples lives, and why many turn to drugs. Drugs mask issues of hurt and he wants to address the needs of children to get them straight. I think it is wrong that you are trying to paint the Black man as the drug dealer but that is the medias tactic to keep a person down.

[Tellmethetruth]

People have choices:

Joe Biden = most experienced
Clinton
Obama

the choice is obvious - especially with Iran, Isreal, Pakistan, and Iraq back in the news, and Cheney still threatening WWIII.

www.joebiden.com

Let's get the amateurs off the stage.

[jonnie66]

All eyes are on Iowa/NH they really believe they are voting for Oprah! That will certainly change how the rest of the country views them from now on.

It’s a shame how Oprah and obama has divided the country on race! real classy Oprah! oprah supporters are afraid to research obama because then they will look foolish, its easy to jump on the anithillary band wagon, its all you will read or see from all these men owned and operated media and the ones oprah pays. Its called "INTIMADATION" We know these tricks ladies, look through history…ALL WOMAN RISE ABOVE
IT IS OUR TIME TOO, pay no attention to phoney tv talkshow host behind the curtain…

STEADMAN IS FOR CLINTON AS IS MYA ANGELO, what’s that tell you about oprahs support and why she supports obie the junkie

[SeanGardner]

According to Pew Center (http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=379) and this article (http://weblogs.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/blog/2007/12/winfrey_put_obamas_name_in_a_f.html), Oprah has Boosted Obama's Visibility. Here is a sample of what THE PEW CENTER wrote:

"Oprah Winfrey's well-publicized appearances with Barack Obama have raised Obama's visibility, especially among African Americans. Roughly a quarter of Americans (26%) say they have heard more about Obama recently than any other presidential candidate, up from just 10% in November. Meanwhile, though Hillary Clinton remains the most visible candidate overall, the proportion citing her as the candidate they have heard the most about fell from a high of 61% in November to 41% in the current poll.

"Far more African Americans cite Obama (51%) than Clinton (27%) as the candidate they have heard the most about recently. In November, these figures were roughly the reverse, with 50% naming Clinton and 15% Obama. Whites were also more likely to name Obama this month compared with last month, but the increase was not as great (23% this month up from 9% in November)."

[outnow]

A wise old man who worked as an atomic scientist told me that we need a younger person in the White House. A guy like Dick Cheney has no stake in the future of the planet. He cut his eye teeth on the spurious issue of executive authority. How Nixonian can you be!

I was around then, too, but I can to much different conclusions about what the biosphere really needs. It isn't more fossils or fossil fuel. It is time for the Cold Warriors of the last ice age - or Cold War - as they called it, to lay down their self-imposed White Man's burden, as kippler called it, and simply fade away.

It is too late in history for the American Empire to succeed. The neo-colonialism is being contested. Surprise! It is well past time for Americans to look themselves in the mirror and to see what we have become.

Even Bill Clinton looks old and tired. I have his autographed photograph here with the tarnished history ushered in by his neoliberal agenda. My wife who earned it by working for his campaign in days past suggested that we toss it out in the trash.

The society that Hillary envisions starts at the top with her rich friends that she has consistently sought. Robert Rubin - a man of the people? no! A wealthy banker selling out labor.

I hope Obama learns that "tort reform" is selling out, too. Obama has youth but needs the wisdom of not trusting anyone over say 40? It used to be 30. Edwards and Kucinich, maaybe Richardson. Not Hillary, please.