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- Wow, I'm out of touch for a few days and when I get back Obama is leading the polls in Iowa and possibly New Hampshire. I'm somewhat skeptical that the resurgence is due to the Clinton campaign's attacks as Ezra says because it's just too inside baseball. But could it just be that reporting on criticism of Clinton punctured her bubble of inevitability enough that the people who were backing her so they could be behind a winner switched candidates? On the other hand, the attacks clearly affected some people like this former Clinton precinct chair who is now starring in an Obama campaign video.
- Meanwhile, Obama may have wanted to be president in kindergarten, but at least some students in 40 percent of Iowa's high schools apparently want him to be president too. The campaign has organized an interesting network of high school groups to complement it's massive strength in colleges. Also remember that while not that many high schoolers can vote, they can probably get parents to do so.
- Clinton isn't the only one going negative. Obama, apparently concluding that many voters are trying to decide between him and John Edwards, has gone on the offensive. This seems to be the first time a candidate has addressed the debate over tactics for change that Matt Yglesias, Ezra, Paul Krugman, and many other bloggers have been musing over for the last few days.
- John Edwards's money problems worsened Friday after the FEC ruled that contributions through Act Blue don't count towards matching funds.
- On the plus side Edwards received the endorsement of Iowa's first lady (as John Kerry did in 2004).
- Meanwhile Chris Dodd is taking off time from his campaign to fillibuster the telecom immunity bill. Good for him.
- Over on the Republican side, things continue to be ... interesting. First up, Rudy Giuliani is apparently pulling resources (scroll down) out of New Hampshire.
- As Kate noted below, John McCain received an endorsement from Joe Liberman today.
- And it wouldn't be a December Lightning Round without another bit of Huckabamboozlement. Today it's Huckabee's claim that he has a theology degree (he doesn't) and that most of the signers of the declaration of independence were clergy (actually one of 56 was). Isn't lying kinda... unchristian?
- The other big Huckabee news is his odd Foreign Affairs article. It veers from admirable to absurd, but unfortunately the most pleasant parts are undermined by Huckabee's attempt to run away from them as fast as possible when criticized.
- Finally, Huckabee has hired as his new national campaign chairman a GOP operative best known for bragging about bribing black pastors to hold down turnout to get Christie Todd Whitman elected governor of New Jersey.
- The AP is enthusiastic about silly questions like "what's your most treasured possession" but they did get Fred Thompson to say "trophy wife" which is amazing in a horrible sort of way. Also both Bill Richardson and John McCain said baseballs signed by Ted Williams.
- And it wouldn't be a discussion of enthusiasm without Ron Paul. His supporters collected six million dollars for their candidate yesterday. Impressive. But is he better, stronger than he was before?
- Finally, YouTube goodies from the last few days include an anthropomorphic slice of pizza which raps for Ron Paul, a hilariously accurate case for Mike Huckabee, a hilariously over the top case for Mitt Romney (the only candidate who will prevent gay couples form buying the latest cool gadgets), and an attack ad against Jesus Christ. The last three are parodies and the product of the same brilliant man -- Lee Stranahan.
--Sam Boyd
