O Happy Day! Obama The Winner in Iowa
January 4, 2008-- Barack Obama has taken the lead tonight at the Iowa Caucuses. He is the winner with 91% of the precincts reporting, the Senator from Illinois has 35% of the votes with Edwards and Hillary Clinton close behind at 30%. The Obama campaign credits the large turnout of supporters for the win.
John Edwards is claiming second place and is happy with the outcome here in Iowa. He says it's a good showing here and it puts him in a good position to win the nomination.
Iowa seems to have delivered a blow to the Clinton campaign. Finishing third here isn't dampening her spirits. Saying this is a great night for Democrats. Clinton told supporters, "The turnout in Iowa says that Americans are ready for a change."
Chris Dodd, another candidate with a disappointing showing here in Iowa, has called it quits. The long time senator has dropped out of the race.
Even in the final hours of campaigning before the Iowa Caucuses, there's been no let-up in the push for support. The front runners in the Democratic race are anxiously awaiting the results of their many hours spent courting Iowans.
For Barack Obama, that meant a tour of the food court at the Kaleidoscope Mall. The visit nearly brought lunch to a standstill, when some restaurant workers came out from behind the counter for a handshake.
Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton made just one campaign stop today, at the Latin King restaurant in Des Moines. Bill Clinton, daughter Chelsea, and her mother Dorothy Rodham were also there...
John Edwards started caucus day at 8:30 this morning, with a rally at the Steelworkers Union Hall in Des Moines. The event follows a 36-hour campaign blitz across the state. Edwards is hoping to finish one better than he did in 2004.
New Mexico governor Bill Richardson didn't have any campaign stops today. But, he did several television and radio interviews this morning. He and volunteers called undecided voters and talked one-on-one. "I feel a surge here. I feel momentum. I feel at the last minute, undecided voters are looking for experience," said Richardson from the Polk County Convention Complex Thursday morning.
Senator Joe Biden spent his final day of campaigning in the eastern part of the state. Biden began the day in Waterloo, then traveled to Dubuque and Davenport. Biden returned to Des Moines this afternoon and is attending a caucus night rally with friends and campaign staffers at the Science Center of Iowa at 9:00 p.m.
