The three leading Democratic presidential candidates in Iowa and two of the Republicans appeared on the Sunday TV political talk shows. Democrat John Edwards on "Face the Nation" on CBS struck out at his two chief rivals. "Senator Clinton defends the system in Washington," Edwards said. "…I also don’t think this…sort of academic theory that you can be nice to people…will ever work."

Democrat Hillary Clinton on ABC’s "The Week" brought up the experience issue again. "Voters are trying to weigh each and every one of us. What people know about me is that I’ve been vetted and I’ve been tested," Clinton said. "…I don’t think there’s much doubt that I’m ready to go the distance."

Democrat Barack Obama on NBC’s "Meet the Press" suggested he, too, had been tested. "Look, I have been written about. I have been scrubbed. I have been vetted over the last year," Obama said. "…The people of Iowa…at this point know what I stand for."

Republican Mike Huckabee told "Meet the Press" host Tim Russert on NBC that no one has a clue who will win the GOP race on Thursday. "People in Iowa have been bombarded…not only on commercials, but also the mail," Huckabee said. "…I don’t know what kind of effect it has."

And during an appearance on "FOX News Sunday" Republican Fred Thompson, again, responded to a question about whether he has the "fire in the belly" to be president. "I’ve said that I don’t like every aspect of the way that people have to campaign nowadays in terms of process taking precedence over substance, but I’m in the middle of a 50 town tour in the state of Iowa, working day and night," Thompson said. "I think that pretty much speaks for itself."

Polls released on Sunday showed the Republican race between Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee too close to call.  Polls show Democrats Obama, Clinton and Edwards knotted in a sort of three-way tie heading in the January 3rd Caucuses.

 

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