Gov. Beasley On Caucus Night

Edwards: 'Things Are Moving in My Direction'

DES MOINES, IOWA — Former U.S. Sen. John Edwards pushed himself though the final hours before Thursday night's caucuses in Iowa, racing across the state to make one last pitch to voters as the 2008 presidential nomination process begins.
He told WRAL's David Crabtree Thursday that "things are moving in my direction."
"I've been through it, and I've got a much better feel, and I know that we've got a great shot at this," he said.
During a 36-hour "Marathon for the Middle Class," Edwards made 15 stops to reiterate his campaign themes, re-energize supporters and pick up as many undecided voters as possible.
"We have an epic fight in front of us, an epic fight for the future of this country," Edwards said. "This is not going to come easily."
In Ames, he spoke about taxes and health care coverage. In Davenport, he promised to end the war in Iraq. In Des Moines, he encouraged voters to create their own legacy.
"There's so much at stake in this election," he said. "I don't need a poll to tell me we're moving, we're moving every single day, and we're moving in the right direction in this campaign."
Polls indicate Edwards is in a tight race in Iowa with New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.
No other Democratic candidate has invested as much time in Iowa as Edwards, and many observers have said he needs to capture the state to gain needed momentum to carry his campaign across the country. He is a distant third behind Clinton in national polls.
"I'm the only (Democratic) candidate who's won in a red (Republican) state," he told a crowd in a diner, citing his election in North Carolina a decade ago. "I grew up in small-town, rural America, which means I can go every place in this country and campaign and compete."
Elizabeth Edwards campaigned with her husband, pushing all talk about her battle with cancer to the side to use her intelligence and wit to win over voters.
"[Elizabeth] feels terrific. She's been with me non-stop. She did the 36 hours and went through it beautifully. She's been terrific," Edwards said.
Pop singer John Mellencamp also appeared with Edwards at a Wednesday night concert.

December North Carolina Governor Polls

December 2007 (Rasmussen)

Rasmussen Reports conducted a survey of 500 likely General Election voters on December 19, 2007. This poll pitted Republican Mayor Pat McCrory against Democrats Lt. Governor Beverly Perdue, and State Treasurer Richard H. Moore in hypothetical general election match-ups. [1]

* Pat McCrory - 42%
* Beverly Perdue - 39%

* Pat McCrory - 42%
* Richard Moore - 39%

[edit] December 2007 (PPP)

[edit] Republicans

Public Policy Polling surveyed 612 likely Republican primary voters on December 3, 2007. Those polled were asked their preference among the 3 announced candidates, and then their preference among the 3 announced candidates plus potential candidate Mayor Patrick McCrory. [2]

Not including McCrory:

* Fred Smith - 25%
* Bill Graham - 17%
* Bob Orr - 6%
* Undecided - 52%

Including McCrory:

* Fred Smith - 20%
* Bill Graham - 14%
* Patrick McCrory - 14%
* Bob Orr - 4%
* Undecided - 47%

[edit] Democrats

Public Policy Polling surveyed 676 likely Democratic primary voters on December 3, 2007.[3]

* Beverly Perdue - 41%
* Richard Moore - 32%
* Undecided - 27%

Huckabee packs them in and puts on a show

By Sam Youngman
January 01, 2008

DES MOINES – Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) put on a show here Tuesday night, and, in what could be a good sign for his campaign, he had a huge crowd to perform for.

Huckabee played bass guitar with a local band and he surprised many by pulling MSNBC host and former Rep. Joe Scarborough (R-Fla.) on stage to play along.

Huckabee said there were an estimated 2,000 attendees at the Val Air Ballroom, where the former governor was joined by his wife and Chuck Norris. Huckabee supporters said before the event they were thrilled by the crowd size given the near-zero temperatures outside.

Norris announced that he and his wife will host a virtual barbeque fundraiser for Huckabee on Jan. 20, with a goal of raising $10 million. Huckabee faces a series of crucial test before then, beginning with the Iowa caucuses Thursday night.

The former governor and the rest of the candidates spent the day campaigning hard across the state, pushing for last minute support and pleading with audiences to show up and caucus.

“I would consider it the highest honor of my life if you would give me the opportunity not to rule, but to serve,” Huckabee said.

Most polls continue to show Huckabee leading former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney among Republicans in Iowa.

In a small departure from most of Huckabee’s campaign events, his wife, Janet, took the stage to address the crowd and introduce the band.

“I can’t wait to be your first lady because I think it is going to be too cool, and we are going to have too much fun,” Janet Huckabee said.

The crowd was enthused throughout the event, applauding the former governor just as much if not more than Norris.

Huckabee ran through much of his platform, pledging to reshape the “ridiculous” tax code, fight for life and the traditional definition of marriage and make the country’s armed forces stronger.

“We will be a strong nation that will apologize to no one for our strength,” he said.

As he often does, the former governor drew big laughs from the crowd when he told them to tell their neighbors who might caucus for one of his rivals that they do not want to miss the Orange Bowl, which is being played the same night as the caucuses.
“Shovel your snow into their driveway,” Huckabee joked. “Let the air out of their tires, disconnect their battery cable.”