×
- The Hillary Clinton campaign is apparently convinced that the big problem for her right now is that people can't imagine playing a game of Yahtzee with her ... or something. The need to "humanize" the candidate is the motivation behind her campaign stops with her mother and other "soft" campaign appeals. I for one, would actually prefer to vote for a pitiless cyborg governing machine but somehow I imagine I'm in the minority.
- Marc Ambinder sings the praises of Clinton's secret magic field guru who she hasn't yet sent to Iowa. I heard he once endorsed a man just to watch him die.
- Clinton courts the endorsement of Al Sharpton, who remains coy.
- Barack Obama must be thanking his lucky stars for Bob Kerrey who referred to Obama's education in a "secular madrassa" (which is makes about as much sense as secular seminary) yesterday. It continues the theme of nasty attacks against him and makes him that much more the victim. See Tom Schaller's take below.
- Ken Burns, a New Hampshire resident, endorses Obama, using the now familiar argument that he was turned off by Clinton's attacks. Can a nine-part documentary about Obama's life be far behind?
- Mitt Romney goes after Mike Huckabee in South Carolina.
- Jeri Thompson gets in a nasty jab at Huckabee who apparently reminds her of Jimmy Carter (the horror!) because of his "compassion" and after all "everyone feels that way, especially at Christmas time." Ouch.
- John McCain (and Joe Lieberman) apparently have fewer independents to appeal to in New Hampshire then they used to.
- Finally, news organizations are planning an Iowa caucus entrance poll which may distort the impact of the caucuses in various unpredictable ways. More work for blogs like this!
--Sam Boyd
