Huckabee, Obama Win Iowa Caucuses

Edwards Second, Clinton Third Among Dems; Romney Second For GOP

(CBS/AP)  Sen. Barack Obama, bidding to become the nation's first black president, swept his way to victory in the Iowa caucuses Thursday night over Sen. Hillary Clinton and a high-powered Democratic field. Mike Huckabee rode a wave of support from evangelical Christians to win the opening round among Republicans in the 2008 campaign for the White House.

Obama, a first-term, 46-year-old senator from Illinois, told a raucous victory rally his triumph showed that in "big cities and small towns, you came together to say, 'We are one nation, we are one people and our time for change has come.'" (Obama video)

Nearly complete returns showed the first-term lawmaker gaining 37 percent support. Former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina came in second, barely nudging Clinton, the former first lady, to a close third.

Click here for complete Iowa results.

Huckabee, a preacher-turned-politician, handily defeated Mitt Romney despite being outspent by tens of millions of dollars and deciding in the campaign's final days to scrap television commercials that would have assailed the former Massachusetts governor.

"A new day is needed in American politics, just like a new day is needed in American government," the former Arkansas governor told cheering supporters. "It starts here but it doesn't end here. It goes all the way through the other states and ends at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue." (Huckabee video)

Huckabee's triumph was more robust than Obama's. Nearly complete returns showed Huckabee with 34 percent support, compared with 25 percent for Romney. Former Sen. Fred Thompson and Sen. John McCain battled for third place, while Texas Rep. Ron Paul wound up fifth and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani sixth.

Huckabee's win was partly fueled by Republican caucus attendees' concern with values. Just under half of attendees chose "shares my values" as the candidate characteristic that mattered most to them in deciding their support - compared to a third who wanted a candidate who says what he believes, and 14 percent who sought a candidate with experience. Among those who wanted a candidate that shared their values, nearly half supported Huckabee. (Read more on why Huckabee won)

"Huckabee's victory rocks an already unpredictable GOP race," said CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs. "As the race heads to the New Hampshire primary just five days from now, it's not at all certain Huckabee has the time to capitalize on his momentum, but McCain has surged there in recent weeks, setting up a three-way battle that could be a must-win for Romney." (Read more analysis from Ververs)

With the New Hampshire primary only five days distant, Clinton and Edwards vowed to fight on in the race for the Democratic nomination.

Clinton called Obama to congratulate him, aides said. Her campaign manager, Patti Solis Doyle, vowed, "This race begins tonight and ends when Democrats throughout America have their say. Our campaign was built for a marathon and we have the resources to run a national race in the weeks ahead." (Clinton video)

"We have always planned to run a national campaign," the former first lady told supporters at a noisy rally attended by her husband and their daughter, Chelsea. "I am so ready for the rest of this campaign, and I am so ready to lead." (Read more on Clinton)

Edwards told The Associated Press he would fight on in New Hampshire. He said he would distinguish himself from Obama by arguing that he is the candidate who can deliver the change that voters have shown they want. "I'm going to fight for that change," he said by telephone from his hotel room in Iowa. "I've fought for it my entire life. I have a long history of fighting powerful interests and winning." (Edwards video)

Not everyone was keeping the fight alive. Democratic Sens. Chris Dodd and Joe Biden abandoned their presidential bids Thursday night. (Read more on Dodd, Biden)

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said he would campaign in New Hampshire despite finishing in fourth place with a minuscule 2 percent support.

According to a CBS News entrance poll of Democratic caucus-goers, Obama's victory in the Iowa caucuses was driven by his support from a new political generation.

Well over half of those attending the Democratic presidential caucuses - 57 percent - were attending their first caucus ever, and their choice for the nomination was Obama, with 41 percent support. Clinton received only 29 percent of first-time votes, and Edwards trailed with 18 percent. (Among those who attended a caucus previously, Edwards - an Iowa caucus veteran from 2004 - won with 30 percent of the vote.) (Read more on why Obama won)

[hwy71so]

Well, its on...

[piercetheval]

Gee, Huckabee crossed a picket line after he said he was in favor of labor. That does''nt sound like any Repugnatcan I''ve ever heard of.

[piercetheval]

Madam President. Get over it, Get used to it. Then get on with your lives. Put down your coke-spoons and your crack-pipes and sober up, get real.

[jgn69]

Presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee crossed a picket line recently and by doing so slapped the American worker across the face. With good paying American jobs going overseas at an alarming rate, do we really want a leader who%u2019ll cross a picket line? When a worker is struggling for fair wages and benefits it is reprehensible for anyone to cross a picket line. In a field of candidates, please don%u2019t vote for someone who has contempt for the American worker. Support anyone but Huckabee.

[element51]

GladI''mNotOJ...You are right in what you said in your post. But, you will never get through to guys like tuckerndfw. You might as well argue with your dog. If you look at right wing radio, Rush, Hannity, Savage, ect. you will see that they spin everything so that they are right no matter what the facts show. By telling outright lies and half truths they muddy up the water so truth becomes twisted and distorted. I believe that in the next election the American people are going to open their eyes and elect the person who can get the job done. The true issues are getting some attention now and although we are a little slow sometimes, we will eventually get it right.

[buddhabman]

OBAMA 08

[salty1954]

The closer the vote in Iowa, the more meaningless the vote is.

As an independent voter, I say, vote for John McCain.

Bush/Clinton = opposite sides of the same coin - do not let them fool you. They''re cut from the same cloth.

[macusweil]

As an independent voter, I say, vote for Ron Paul.

Congressman Ron Paul stands the best chance to win the presidency since his views make the most sense to the most voters. He''s not middle of the road, right wing or left wing or any of that nonsense.

Ron Paul has a clear message: Let''s hold our government accountable, stop the free spending habits of both parties and bring our troops home & out of harm''s way as quick as we possibly can.

McCain has been a part of the Republican free spending majority for too long. He has lost sight of any sort of fiscal responsibility. John''s rah rah pro-war foreign policy will bankrupt the treasury.

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by tuckerndfw at 12:25 PM : Jan 03, 2008

Sir, those are just your opinions that have no basis in fact whatsoever.

Even here, in the seat of the republican party in Texas there are people coming out in droves to support Hillary.

Most of them are independents who are scared to death of the evangelical republican candidates, and can''t find it in themselves to vote for Guiliani who is obviously a crook.

What this all comes down to is YOUR opinion, just like mine is.

I think she will make a very good president, not because she''s a woman, although that too is a good thing, but because she has the fighting spirit, and the push power to get things done. Which she has done all her adult life!

[nyckate]

wow - lot of negativity here boy.

I''m for Edwards - he''s the epitome of the American Dream - he''s smart, bright, intelligent - he knows what its like to be an ordinary American middle class person working their tail off to get ahead.

I also think he has what it takes to reach across the great Bush Divide and make the country a little more united - anyone have a problem with Middle America uniting up no matter what color or religion??

[nyckate]

RowdyTexan2

Other than being married to Bill, and having the Bill-machine behind her what exactly has she been fighting for or against?

I voted for Bill twice and would have voted for him again if I could - I also voted for Hillary here in NY - but cannot vote for her for President - her fellow NY Senator Schumer has been doing the heavy lifting for her in the senate, bill''s been doing the heavy lifting for her presidency and she''s fighting just to get people to like her and trust her.

That''s not the ''fighting spirit'' we need. Sorry - but it just isn''t. I do not think that as a country we need one more minute of the Bush/Clinton era type ''fights''. It''s over - Bill was great president - Hillary won''t be - she just doesn''t have it.

[nyckate]

macusweil

I don''t know - he''s for getting rid of income tax and as much as I''d love to not pay it I also know that it is what pays for things like schools, defense, medicade, etc. -- and so if it were up to him too many would do without too much - states like Texas and Mississippi would pay nothing for schools or things like Meals on Wheels for seniors - I fear that elderly people or those who lost jobs who had no family would end up living by the edge of the river in a tent - he seems to want to go back and start over - meaning back to wild west days - its too strange, too unsupported and just doesn''t make sense,

[nyckate]

tuckerndfw

Let''s get this straight once and for all -- the only ones bothered so much by *** are those who are still in the closet - us straight people don''t give a ***.

So either get off the gay thing or come out of the closet once and for all.

[jedi08]

Hillary Clinton is unelectable with a 50 percent negative ratting. She will reenergize the republicans and give the white house to them again. Obama would win any heads up match up against any of the republicans, plus he is honest.

Stop the CLinton BUsh dictatorship!!

[nottellin1]

Let''''s get this straight once and for all -- the only ones bothered so much by *** are those who are still in the closet - us straight people don''''t give a ***.

So either get off the gay thing or come out of the closet once and for all.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by nyckate at 02:39 PM : Jan 03, 2008

This is my favorite type of comment on these boards, where one boor thinks they speak for all the members of a paticular group. In this case, speaking for *** & straights. Excuse me, but I can speak for myself and anyone who wants to stay in the closet may do so, anyone who wants to come out, go for it. Geez, it''s amasing to me how you all got into *** & closets on a story about Whitehouse hopefuls. Oh right, its Nyckate, that explains a lot.

[gunownerdan]

The Clintons are members of the CFR(Council on Foreign Relations) just like Bush, Cheney, Obama, Giuliani, Huckabee, Edwards, Romney, Biden, McCain, Richardson, and Thompson to name a few.
The CFR has hijacked the foreign policy of both parties and their main goal is to destroy American sovereignty and our constitution leading to the formation of a North American Union with Canada and Mexico.
Dr. Ron Paul is the only pro-liberty and pro-constitution candidate.

[nyckate]

nottellin1

uhhh gee -- did you happen to read the guy''s post I was responding to??? HEL-LO??? Read it and then comment. sheesh. talk about boorish.

[nyckate]

ilikecats1

I think most people will agree that the American system of medical care is broken - it is profit driven not care-driven and many small business persons cannot afford to pay it and more and more large corporations don''t want to either. I didn''t agree with Hillary''s plan - but it is clear that we need to fix it -- and we sure need to go back and undo that deal George did with teh pharmaceutical companies that allow them to set the price the US government reimburses them.

[omega39-2009]

How about some more Whitewater, Travelgate, Cattlegate, Indonesiagate -- dishonesty run rampant! That''''''''s what we need now -- Vote for Hillary!!!

Posted by earthlives

there won''t be anymore scandals. from now on all subpoenas will be ignored, testimony when given will be un-sworn, in private, and with no written record. It''s all part of those "new" executive powers.

[weezee4bill]

I am in Iowa, will caucus tonight.

Does the rest of America know there are more than 3 Dems running?
My sister in Oregon did not know that, because of the medias prefference for THE "TOP 3".

I have heard them all for over a year and the "top 3"
do not have the PROVEN EXPERIENCE #4 Dem Gov. Bill Richardson. www.billrichardsonforpresident.com.
He is the only candidate from WEST OF THE MISSIPPI river. He can win in the West. If Kerry/Edwards won the West there would not have been another Bush in the White house.

Think about it.

Tonight I will CAUCUS FOR BILL RICHARDSON FOR PRESIDENT

[denn034]

My money is on Huckabee and Obama winning, though Romney and Clinton will win nationally in the end.

[nyckate]

WEEZEE4BILL - I read that Richardson already did a deal with Clinton - if he doesn''t get the 15% he''s shifting his voters to go for Hillary. Will you - go for Hillary that is?

[gunownerdan]

The Clintons members of the CFR(Council on Foreign Relations) just like Bush, Cheney, Obama, Giuliani, Huckabee, Edwards, Romney, Biden, McCain, Richardson, and Thompson to name a few.
The CFR has hijacked the foreign policy of both parties and their main goal is to destroy American sovereignty and our constitution leading to the formation of a North American Union with Canada and Mexico.
Dr. Ron Paul is not a member of the CFR and he is the only pro-liberty and pro-constitution candidate.

[vastr-wcon]

.
Anyone with a brain and IQ greater than their shoe size realizes that the corn-farmer caucuses are a complete perversion of democracy. The maple-sap-sucker "first" primary is no better. It is best for Americans that believe in the one-person-one-vote concept of democracy to ignore these charades - which are only means for these loser states to get money and misguided attention - do their own homework on the candidates and then do their best to make up their own minds.

.

[marcodele]

Huckabee will win. He''s the only republican endorsed by Jesus.

[denn034]

"The Clintons members of the CFR(Council on Foreign Relations) just like Bush, Cheney, Obama, Giuliani, Huckabee, Edwards, Romney, Biden, McCain, Richardson, and Thompson to name a few.
The CFR has hijacked the foreign policy of both parties and their main goal is to destroy American sovereignty and our constitution leading to the formation of a North American Union with Canada and Mexico.
Dr. Ron Paul is not a member of the CFR and he is the only pro-liberty and pro-constitution candidate."
Posted by gunownerdan

Read Richard Abane''s Militia''s book for a critique of the conspiratorial worldview. Pat Robertson''s conspiratorial New World Order book never directly mentioned Skull and Bones which, along with Abane''s book, makes me hesitant to accept that conspiratorial nonsense.

[denn034]

Huckabee will win. He''''s the only republican endorsed by Jesus.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by marcodele

Not even Huckabee would claim Jesus'' endorsement.

[weezee4bill]

No to HRC, Do Not want attack adds of the 90''s.
Obama, ummmmmmmmmmm, na! I think Richardson will pull the 15% in my precinct. We''ll aee in about 3 more hours. Whatever the outcome tonight, Richardson is in until at least Feb. 5th.
Bill Richardson has the best resume, for sure!
He can win with your support.
Please visit www.BILLRICHARDSONFORPRESIDENT.COM,
You will see what I mean.

[searingtruth]

I mean honestly, who cares?

There were only two Americans running for office this year, Dodd and Kucinich, and they had all the chance of a Jewish candidate "winning" the dictatorship of NAZI Germany.

Both parties have enthusiastically enabled fascist America''s secret prisons, illegal kidnapping of anonymous American and foreign citizens, their indefinite incarceration without charge or representation within them, and their institutionalized torture and murder. And the illegal universal surveillance of the American people without warrant, and preemptive war in Iraq that has killed hundreds of thousands of civilians and killed and maimed tens of thousands of our own children.

Yep, this year on election day I''m going to take a walk to my polling station as I always do, but this time instead of going in I''m just going to stand outside and watch.

And wonder how such a great nation, with such grand people, could have been so easily swayed and subdued by the simplest, and most oft repeated, of evil.
ST


"When Nancy Pelosi said ''impeachment is off the table'' she was invoking the Fifth Amendment."
SearingTruth

"And so together we shared the fate of all the failed democracies before us, joining those pitiful beings who had held the light of freedom in one hand, and put it out with the other."
SearingTruth

"I do not prefer one form of tyranny over another."
SearingTruth

"We became evil to fight evil, assuring its victory."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

[apolloknowsa]

McCain endorses Mitt Romney:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QA7JTDjG-Po

[merlgrey]

Posted by marcodele: Huckabee will win. He''''s the only republican endorsed by Jesus.

this the guy you are talking about?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4oTWy20Vh0

[cs4466]

Hillary 2008! WOOHOO! (Iowa bumpkins notwithstanding)

[weezee4bill]

Richardson is a great candidate, he would have a chance if people would compare what he has DONE with his life, his resume, compare that to HRC, Obama or Edwards.PROVEN EXPERIENCE. It is the media steering your thinking.
I guess having all of them around for over a year was
no so bad after all. I have heard them over & over & over. I drew my conclusion pretty quickly & none of them has said/shown me anything to change my mind. First of all they YELL TOO MUCH.
In 1 day I got 5 mailings from HRC, 3 from Obama & 2 from Edwards. If they checked the poll list they could have saved a lot of $$$$$$. Please visit
www.billrichardsonforpresident.com

[sgtrds]

Not even Huckabee would claim Jesus'''' endorsement.

Posted by denn034 at 05:12 PM : Jan 03, 2008

Not in so many words, but his Christmas commercial screamed "Jesus loves me best" from the top of it lungs.

[searingtruth]

"The terrorists are coming the terrorists are coming! Surrender your freedom and humanity and I will save you!
Any old dictator, any old time."
SearingTruth


"I writhed in anguish for years. Always knowing pain was coming, but never knowing what I should attempt to say next, or how I should appear so that my American torturers would believe me.

The problem was that I was innocent."
SearingTruth


"Dictators usually surround themselves with at least the minimal trappings of democracy, most often a powerless and amoral parliament or congress to rubber stamp their every crime."
SearingTruth


"Cruelty and brutality are evidence of evil, not strength."
SearingTruth


A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

[ozonmojo]

By all accounts Iowa is not a representative American state.It reportedly has some peculiarities in choosing the candidates.Above all,the decision of the Iowa voters may not weigh so much with the voters in the rest of the 49 states. So,will somebody please tell me why all this insufferable nuisance about the Iowa caucuses?

[g02342000]

Edwards / Biden is the best ticket for all America, anything less will be as bad as keeping Bush in office forever. America deserves honest men of integrity that will fight for all Americans. Edwards is a true patriot that can make America great, he has the substinance, determination, and will to fight greed, corruption and end the outsourcing of our jobs, His economic, education, health and welfare policies are now being copied by all the candidates. Edwards spoke out months and even years before the others. America needs to think about why are the "Washington Greed, Corruption, Large Corporations and Media" trying to make this a two candidate Democratic race? Edwards is the only one able to win the Presidency from the democratic side, and any republican that is nominated will beat Clinton and/or Obama. Elect someone that cares about America and will make it great for all, John Edwards.

[searingtruth]

"Edwards / Biden is the best ticket for all America, ..."
g02342000


Right.

And notice they never dare mention The Constitution of the United States of America, or the restoration of it. In fact, I rarely hear the now reviled "Constitution of the United States of America" or "civil liberties" phrases tossed around anymore by Democratic or Republican politicians, or their supporters.

That''s because no Democrat or Republican has any intention of ever restoring The Bill of Rights or any other part of our once revered Constitution, because they have been enthusiastically complicit in the destruction of it.
ST


"They proclaimed that only our children counted, when in truth they were the first to pay."
SearingTruth

"It is an old tale. Catastrophe assaults the senses of a free nation. Fear, a tyrant%u2019s only ally, is seized. Democracy, a despot%u2019s greatest foe, is assaulted. The people, liberties only defense, are subdued. All in accomplice of those sworn, upon death, to protect them."
SearingTruth

"A whisper of horror.
That''s all we could hear."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com

[p-syrus]

WEEZEE4BILL - I read that Richardson already did a deal with Clinton - if he doesn''''t get the 15% he''''s shifting his voters to go for Hillary. Will you - go for Hillary that is?

Posted by nyckate

Doubtful there is a "deal" in place. It is likely that Gov. Richardson would support Hillary in the event of his early withdrawal. Fine by me.

The "Gov" would be my first choice but Hillary is a perfectly acceptable runner-up.

This isn''t a "popularity contest". This is to determine who is to be the Chief Executive of the single most powerful nation on Earth. No time for "Amateur Hour" as the last several years have amply demonstrated.

Hillary would be a fine choice as president and would bring in many people from the LAST COMPETENT presidential administration with her as well as many NEW FACES. Sounds like a near "dream team" to me.

Neither Edwards nor Obama have anything to offer except the "gift of gab". They are both far too inexperienced to warrant serious consideration as president.

I''ll take intelligence, knowledge & hard-work over charm, charisma, & a glib tongue anyday. :-)

[hobbes1831]

magic underwear, people. magic underwear.

[jack3213]

I fully agree with those who think that this Caucus of sorts is nothing more than a charade, that the hoopla means very little and the most viable candidate does not have to appeal to less than the population of one state to see if they are electable. What nonsense! GUILIANI will WIN.

[jetranger7]

OK- I''ve decided- I''m voting for the Gilligan and the Skipper , and Mary Ann and Ginger, and the Professor too -- for a 3-hour tour- a 3 hour tour,,,,

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by jack3213 at 07:45 PM : Jan 03, 2008

Yes, somehow the republicans always manage to favor the CROOKS! And yes, I suspect Guiliani will pro''bly get the nomination.

[trillion1]

I wouldn''t vote for any of these clowns.

[usakousagi]

...I wanna vote for the person least likely to get us in a war with China, anyone know who that is?

[hobbes1831]

don''t vote!!!!!!!!!

speak loudly by ingoring the crapfest of a political process we have.

[hobbes1831]

let me anticipate all of the responses like "we have a great country" and "if you don''t like it, get out."

yes, we do have a great country. freedom is good. that DOES NOT mean our political process is good. how much money do we spend on campaigns? how many years in a row do candidates proclaim THEY will be the one to fix all of our problems? it NEVER happens. wise up!!!!

[idlepugilist]

dougandslug loves to wallow in delusions of conservative superiority by virtue of not being able to understand why other people may not think like him.
In the meantime, let''s watch the returns

[achtung-]

Huckabee''s wife looks like a man.

[neoconnie]

It''s about time this country launched a Christian fundamentalist revolution to do battle with the Mulsim fundamentalist revolution. It is time to face the facts and get this confrontation over with!

Congratulations Preacher Huckabee!