Most of the presidential candidates you’ve been seeing and hearing in the ads will be here in Iowa tonight. Democrat Chris Dodd plans to be at "Happy’s Place" — an establishment in Dubuque that sells food and adult beverages for toasting in the New Year. Democrat Hillary Clinton and her husband are hosting a party in downtown Des Moines and plan to ring in the New Year in full public view. Democrat John Edwards will spend tonight in Des Moines with his wife and family — in private, not in public according to the campaign.
This afternoon during a campaign stop in Spencer, Edwards remained focused on his core message. "It doesn’t change anything to trade a crowd of corporate Republicans for corporate Democrats," Edwards said.
During a 90-minute campaign stop today in Perry, Democrat Barack Obama laid out his case. "I’ve been hearing some other candidates speak almost scornfully about this idea of hope. They make it out as if somehow it means that your head’s in the clouds," Obama said. "They say, ‘Oh Obama, he’s talking about hope again. He’s so idealistic. He’s a hope monger.’" Obama winds up his campaign day tonight with a rally on the Iowa State University campus.
Republican candidate Mitt Romney plans to drop by the alcohol-free, family-friendly celebration planned in Hy-Vee Hall in downtown Des Moines tonight. During a campaign stop earlier today in Dubuque, Romney promised as president he’d have a new way of doing things in Washington. "We’ve finally got to pull all the partisanship and the bickering and the score-setting behind and the credit-seeking behind and to finally deal with the challenges we have," Romney said.
Republican candidate Mike Huckabee got a hair cut this afternoon and will be stopping by the Wakonda Club in Des Moines to meet with supporters early in the evening.