Ticket To Ride
WE HEAR:
"Not much" -- Politico's Jonathan Martin, asked how much Fred Thompson's endorsement would help John McCain in NH (MSNBC).
It turns out that Mike Huckabee's "now infamous attack ad against" Mitt Romney -- which Huckabee vowed not to air -- "actually ran three times in Iowa on New Year's Eve" ("The Trail").
"It's been my observation based on decades of experience (and having lived in Kansas) that Midwesterners often keep their coats on at such events -- and so every person takes up about a 7-foot radius when their puffy down coats are factored in" -- NBC's Brian Williams, on attending political events in IA ("Daily Nightly").
"Remember, it's Florida that saved this country for the Republican Party in 2000. ... Judith and I are both very happy to be here to show you how important this Florida primary is for us" -- Rudy Giuliani, in Hialeah, FL, showing just how much the IA caucuses mean to him (NBC/National Journal).
Voters in Des Moines cast "ballots" in person last night for the Nat'l Beer Wholesalers Assn poll of which candidate they would most like to have a beer with. So far, Barack Obama "is winning the beer vote overall" with 13%, followed closely by Giuliani at 12%. McCain and Ron Paul are tied at 10%, followed by John Edwards and Thompson at 8% ("The Sleuth").
Obama strategist David Axelrod said today that he "can't help but be optimistic about tonight's results." He "described the energy bubbling at the Iowa headquarters as 'incredible,' but refused to predict exactly where his candidate will finish tonight" ("Huffington Post").
In non-IA news, NH Senate GOP leader Ted Gatsas endorsed McCain, "saying he was best prepared to protect the U.S. from terrorist attacks" ("The Trail").
TIL DEATH DO US PART:
Chris Dodd told FNC's Wallace today: "I think there are three -- maybe four -- tickets out of Iowa and if we don't get one of those three or four, at least in my case, I'll be heading back (home) to Hartford tomorrow morning. And if I get one of those four tickets, I have a plane waiting to take me to Manchester, N.H. tonight" ("On Politics").
"Politics is like sports -- you have a pre-season, you have a post-season -- except in one way -- there's the no regular season. You start losing now -- you're out" -- CNN's John King ("Situation Room").
"There's going to be a half dozen hearses coming out of Des Moines tonight" -- Pat Buchanan, being morbid (MSNBC).