The Obama folks say they’re expecting a turnout of 207k, which would be at the highest end of expectations.
I think 2004 was around 120k and that was considered a high turnout caucus.
I guess people may have various reasons why they don’t want Barack Obama to win the nomination. But there’s one reason that wins out. If he wins it’ll be years before Chris Matthews shuts up about Obama being a man of Third World.
Late Update: Gitlin similarly wonders what Matthews is smokin’.
I usually think of Gov. Romney being able to manage a phony, plastic smile and toss off a few lame jokes through even the most trying moment. But the interview he just did on Fox saying how cool it was that he was coming in second really challenged the Mittster’s greatness.
Just out from David Corn …
The United States military could stay in Iraq for “maybe a hundred years” and that “would be fine with me,” John McCain told two hundred or so people at a town hall meeting in Derry, New Hampshire, on Thursday evening. Toward the end of this session, which was being held shortly before the Iowa caucuses were to start, McCain was confronted by Dave Tiffany, who calls himself a “full-time antiwar activist.” In a heated exchange, Tiffany told McCain that he had looked at McCain’s campaign website and had found no indication of how long McCain was willing to keep U.S. troops in Iraq. Arguing that George W. Bush’s escalation of troops has led to a decline in U.S. casualties, McCain noted that the United States still maintains troops in South Korea and Japan. He said he had no objection to U.S. soldiers staying in Iraq for decades, “as long as Americans are not being injured, harmed or killed.”
Seems Ron Paul has pretty much smoked Rudy in Iowa. With about 2/3 reporting, Paul’s got about 10% and Rudy’s bringing up the rear with a healthy 4%.
Will Fox let him debate?
Like I said, I wasn’t sure Mitt Romney’s animatronic speaking style could be thrown by anything. But telling Fox News listeners earlier this evening how rockin’ it was coming in second challenged even the Mittster …
A reader just told us McCain claimed ‘victory’ with his 4th place showing? Did you see it?