TPM Reader KA on the Mittman …

You haven’t explored Mitt’s campaigning for change in Washington. If I’m not wrong, Mitt fully supports Bush and the rest of the Republicans. I’ve never heard him utter a bad word about any of them. What exactly does he want to change? Does he mean Congress? Sure the Dems have it (barely) but they’ve only been in “power” for a year. The Republicans had Congress and the Oval Office for six years. What specifically does Mitt not like about Washington? Who does he think is to blame? Maybe it’s just campaign sloganing but I’m surprised no one has put it to Willard.

From TPM Reader AO:

As encouraging as CS‘s report was, I’m afraid my own experience at the polls wasn’t as positive. I live in a smallish border town & voted around 11 this morning. I’m glad to say there was a line, comprised mostly of older folks & “soccer moms.” I was the only person I saw who actually took a DEM ballot. (!) & from the looks of it, the many Republicans in my fair town seem split between — ARGH — Ron Paul, John McCain & Huckabee. Despite lots of Mitt signs littering the town, there didn’t seem to be much Mitting going on at the polling place.

Perhaps it was just the time of day or something but on the whole, I’m surprised. I had thought that there were many more democrats in this town (we have a lot of folks who move here from MA because NH is a much cheaper place to live mostly due to no state income tax).

There were a fair number of people who were also registering to vote, btw, but from a distance it was impossible to tell what party (if any) they were choosing.

Finally, from very brief exchanges with my fellow voters, it looks as if most of them were voting not for a candidate’s total platform but just for one specific thing — a “strong military” to combat “terror” or a “return” to “good Christian values” and so forth. *sigh*

Democracy in action.

James Carville tells TPM Election Central he’s not going to work for Hillary, as Fox News reported.

From Tom Edsall:

A panicked and cash-short Clinton campaign is seriously considering giving up on the Nevada caucuses and on the South Carolina primary in order to regroup and to save resources for the massive 19-state mega-primary on February 5.

At the same time, some top independent expenditure groups supporting Clinton have been exploring the creation of an anti-Obama “527 committee” that would take unlimited contributions from a few of Clinton’s super-rich backers and from a handful of unions to finance television ads and direct mail designed to tarnish the Illinois Senator’s image.

The Clinton campaign has raised over $100 million, but has “only” $15 to $20 million left. It faces donor reluctance to give more in the face of the Iowa defeat and the prospect of a second loss in New Hampshire today. Even worse, the campaign fears defections among those fundraisers who want to be with a winner and who might be easily persuaded to support Barack Obama.

As New Hampshire goes to the polls, a reminder of the guy they’re looking to replace, from Agence France-Presse:

Lights in the Old City of Jerusalem will be turned off before dawn this week so visiting US President George W. Bush can get a better view of the sun rising over its ancient walls.

Bush, who arrives in the Middle East on Wednesday for a visit lasting more than a week, had made a request to watch the sun rise over the Old City from his suite at the King David Hotel, a municipal spokesman said on Tuesday.

To make the scene more dramatic, the authorities have decided to turn off the lights illuminating the limestone walls before dawn on Thursday and Friday, the spokesman told reporters.

Security for the President’s visit is reportedly costing Israel $25,000 an hour.

The graf that really jumped out at me from that Tom Edsall piece at Huffpo was this one …

At the same time, some top independent expenditure groups supporting Clinton have been exploring the creation of an anti-Obama “527 committee” that would take unlimited contributions from a few of Clinton’s super-rich backers and from a handful of unions to finance television ads and direct mail designed to tarnish the Illinois Senator’s image.

If Obama wins big tonight, as the polls suggest, I think the Dems will quickly move to a major gut check on this question. And I don’t think it will be an easy one.

I don’t expect and I don’t think anyone should expect Hillary Clinton to roll over and play dead just because Barack Obama has won two state contests granting only a tiny fraction of the number of delegates needed to secure the nomination. But just how much are they going to tarnish him? And on what issues?

It really is a tough nut because Hillary has millions of supporters around the country, many of whom have contributed money, volunteered time and all the rest. Is it just too bad for them and now they have to get behind Obama? That’s too much to ask and certainly an unrealistic expectation. There’s really no way for Hillary to continue contesting the nomination without in some sense convincing voters Obama isn’t all he’s cracked up to be — that he lacks experience or is wrong on the issues or whatever.

But as I said, how much are they going to tarnish him? Do they bloody the guy who at that point is the probable nominee for an outside chance at a comeback?

It’s a tough question. And I suspect there will be very divided opinions from readers. But Hillary’s future, the general election, the Clinton legacy and a lot else will be in the balance.

Today’s the big day. Here’s my roundup of what to expect tonight and what it might mean …

Watch this episode on Blip.

AFSCME President Gerald McEntee just put out a statement denying reports that AFSCME is one of the groups that might be considering funding an anti-Obama 527 group …

“We’re not about the business of swift-boating any Democratic candidate. We will not be party to any kind of effort of this type. Our campaign is about promoting Hillary Clinton – not tearing down any other candidate. Our number one priority is having the strongest Democratic candidate to take back the White House in November.

And as I was writing this post, we got this statement from Ellen Moran of Emily’s List, which was also flagged in the Huffpo piece …

“This report is incorrect. We are absolutely not setting up a 527 to engage in the presidential primary. We have a proven mode of engagement in elections via our WOMEN VOTE! program and we are proud of the work WOMEN VOTE! has done for more than a decade to engage and mobilize women voters to help elect Democrats up and down the ballot.”

Just to be clear, I’m not vouching for one side or another here. I just wanted to share what we’re hearing from the groups in question.

Late Update: Greg Sargent has more background on the politics behind the scenes.

Whatever happens tonight, there’s going to be a lot of elation and a lot of bitter disappointment. The only question is who gets what. So I think it’s always good to start the night with some good news that can bring us all together.

As you know, Rudy Giuliani premises his whole campaign on a late-primary strategy. Basically ignore the first, high-profile, small state contests, and focus on the mega-states on Feb.5th, where the real delegate count is.

The key state for Rudy, the pivot, is Florida at the end of January. A big state a week before the big night where Rudy has invested tons of time and resources. The plan is he comes in first there and sets the stage for his boffo break out on Feb. 5th.

Alas, the latest poll shows Rudy now down in fourth place.

As long as we’re waiting for the numbers, some more Rudy fun. From ABC …

Though former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has generally attributed his poor showing in New Hampshire to a campaign strategy that focuses on larger, delegate-rich states holding later contests, statistics compiled by ABC News indicate that he was clearly competing to win in the Granite State as hard — if not harder — than many of his rivals.

Statistics compiled by ABC News Political Unit and ABC News’ team of off-air reporters indicate that Giuliani held more events in this first-in-the-nation primary state than any other Republican except for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in neighboring Massachusetts. He also spent more on TV ads than anyone except for Romney and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.