Washington Post: Democrats Leaving Nothing and No One to Chance in Iowa

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/10/AR2007111001215.html

By Chris Cillizza And Shailagh Murray
Sunday, November 11, 2007; Page A02

Like hamburgers and family rooms, the Iowa caucuses are a lot bigger than they used to be.

Let's look at the Democrats. Collectively this year, the six major 2008 candidates have opened more than 100 campaign offices and hired at least 800 aides, according to an unofficial tally by the Iowa Democratic Party. That's not counting volunteers. Airwaves are jammed with ads, mailboxes are full of fliers, and telephones are ringing off the hook. The big public events are nearing general-election scale. Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) and Barack Obama (Ill.) alone are expected to dump $15 million each into the state. "It's tremendous overkill -- let's just start with that," said John Norris, a veteran Iowa Democratic organizer who supports Obama.

A big chunk of the cash is aimed at expanding the pool of caucusgoers. Targets include independents, Republicans, women in Clinton's case, and for Obama, young voters. In late 2003, Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) wooed veterans, who were crucial to his upset victory the following January. If the race continues as a tight, three-way contest between Clinton, Obama and former senator John Edwards (N.C.), a few thousand new voters could prove decisive. But Norris is not sure the targeting is necessary. "They're so tuned in that I don't know if the extra effort is going to make the difference," he said.

And where does that leave Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (Conn.)? He's still polling, within the margin of error, around zero, and yet has 11 offices in Iowa with two more about to open. Some are staffed by a few young aides who set up events, attend community functions and recruit supporters. All Dodd needs now are some converts to put him into the game.

"It's phenomenal," Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) said of the scale this year. "I've never seen anything like it."

The Numbers Game

It seems as though every day, there is a new Iowa poll. Clinton's up! No, she's down! Romney is running away with the state! No, it's Huckabee on the move!

FULL story at link.