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| Iowa set for final campaign push | Iowa set for final campaign push |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| US presidential hopefuls are holding their final full day of campaigning before the nominating contest begins in earnest with the Iowa caucuses. | US presidential hopefuls are holding their final full day of campaigning before the nominating contest begins in earnest with the Iowa caucuses. |
| Caucuses are simultaneous meetings held across the state at which voters decide which candidate they will back. | Caucuses are simultaneous meetings held across the state at which voters decide which candidate they will back. |
| Polls suggest a three-way battle between Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards for the Democrats. | Polls suggest a three-way battle between Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards for the Democrats. |
| Surveys suggest the Republican battle is likely to be won by either Mike Huckabee or Mitt Romney. | Surveys suggest the Republican battle is likely to be won by either Mike Huckabee or Mitt Romney. |
| See the latest survey results | |
| On Thursday evening, Iowans will gather at more than 1,780 locations across the state to choose delegates, the start of a selection process that will culminate in the Democratic and Republican national nominating conventions next summer. | On Thursday evening, Iowans will gather at more than 1,780 locations across the state to choose delegates, the start of a selection process that will culminate in the Democratic and Republican national nominating conventions next summer. |
| Given the tightness of the races, rivals have been chasing the last wavering voters in a bid to take Iowa, and so give their campaigns crucial momentum. | Given the tightness of the races, rivals have been chasing the last wavering voters in a bid to take Iowa, and so give their campaigns crucial momentum. |
| KEY DATES 3 Jan: Iowa caucuses8 Jan: New Hampshire primary15 Jan: Michigan primary19 Jan: Nevada caucuses; South Carolina primary (Rep)26 Jan: South Carolina primary (Dem)29 Jan: Florida primary5 Feb: some 20 states including California, New York, New Jersey Iowa state profileQ&A: Primaries and caucuses What is a caucus? | KEY DATES 3 Jan: Iowa caucuses8 Jan: New Hampshire primary15 Jan: Michigan primary19 Jan: Nevada caucuses; South Carolina primary (Rep)26 Jan: South Carolina primary (Dem)29 Jan: Florida primary5 Feb: some 20 states including California, New York, New Jersey Iowa state profileQ&A: Primaries and caucuses What is a caucus? |
| Senator Hillary Clinton is to make her final argument to Iowa voters with a primetime television advertisement in which she says America is at a crossroads and she alone has the experience to take charge from the start. | Senator Hillary Clinton is to make her final argument to Iowa voters with a primetime television advertisement in which she says America is at a crossroads and she alone has the experience to take charge from the start. |
| "After all the town meetings, the pie and coffee, it all comes down to this: Who is ready to be president and ready to start solving the big challenges we face on day one?" | "After all the town meetings, the pie and coffee, it all comes down to this: Who is ready to be president and ready to start solving the big challenges we face on day one?" |
| Her main rival, Senator Obama, who is also scheduled to air a television advertisement on Wednesday evening, has promised "something very, very special" at Thursday's caucuses. | Her main rival, Senator Obama, who is also scheduled to air a television advertisement on Wednesday evening, has promised "something very, very special" at Thursday's caucuses. |
| John Edwards has a full-page newspaper advert featuring a testimonial from a laid-off industrial worker, who also appears in a television commercial to back him. | John Edwards has a full-page newspaper advert featuring a testimonial from a laid-off industrial worker, who also appears in a television commercial to back him. |
| The latest Reuters/C-Span/Zogby poll released on Wednesday indicates a deadlock on 28 points between Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama, with Mr Edwards only just behind on 26 points. | The latest Reuters/C-Span/Zogby poll released on Wednesday indicates a deadlock on 28 points between Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama, with Mr Edwards only just behind on 26 points. |
| Momentum | Momentum |
| The race for the Republican spot is also looking too close to call, with former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee pitted against Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts. | The race for the Republican spot is also looking too close to call, with former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee pitted against Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts. |
| All the candidates are hoping their campaign takes off in Iowa | All the candidates are hoping their campaign takes off in Iowa |
| Mr Huckabee urged his supporters to get out and encourage others to back him. | Mr Huckabee urged his supporters to get out and encourage others to back him. |
| "Don't go alone. Take people with you," he said. "Do whatever you've got to do to get people to the caucus who are going to vote for me." | "Don't go alone. Take people with you," he said. "Do whatever you've got to do to get people to the caucus who are going to vote for me." |
| A recorded interview with Mr Huckabee is due to be broadcast on Jay Leno's Tonight Show on Wednesday evening. | A recorded interview with Mr Huckabee is due to be broadcast on Jay Leno's Tonight Show on Wednesday evening. |
| Mitt Romney has also been scouring Iowa to drum up support. | Mitt Romney has also been scouring Iowa to drum up support. |
| The Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary on 8 January are regarded as key for building up momentum in the state-by-state process of selecting presidential nominees. | The Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary on 8 January are regarded as key for building up momentum in the state-by-state process of selecting presidential nominees. |
| Candidates who do poorly tend to drop out of the race. | Candidates who do poorly tend to drop out of the race. |
| Polls from New Hampshire have indicated that the Republican race is between Mr Romney and Senator John McCain, while for the Democrats Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama lead the field. | Polls from New Hampshire have indicated that the Republican race is between Mr Romney and Senator John McCain, while for the Democrats Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama lead the field. |
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