Thompson may drop out, back McCain  —  DES MOINES, Iowa - Several Republican officials close to Fred Thompson's presidential campaign said they expect the candidate will drop out of the race within days if he finishes poorly in Thursday's Iowa caucus.  —  Thompson's campaign …

Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby Daily Tracking Poll: Obama Moves Into Lead Followed by Edwards; Huckabee Lead Widens  —  Clinton, Romney dip as Ron Paul gains  —  UTICA, New York - Democrat Barack Obama continued his upward momentum through the evening before the Iowa caucuses, capturing the lead ahead …

Team Fred Strongly Denies...  Good morning from Des Moines.  I just got off the phone with Rich Galen, a top adviser to Fred Thompson, and it would be an understament to say that he is strongly denying the Politico story reporting that Thompson “will drop out of the race within days if he finishes poorly in Thursday's caucus.”

Get your post-caucus spin now  —  With this guide, you can analyze any result — before the Iowans gather  —  DES MOINES, Iowa - In a matter of hours, following the results of the Iowa caucuses, a contest will begin.  It will take place among the slew of national media trying to determine exactly what happened.

Independents plan to caucus with Dems  —  Thousands more Iowa independent voters are expected to turn out for Democrat presidential candidates than Republicans at today's Iowa caucuses.  —  Iowa independents are expected to follow the lead set by their national peers in 2006.

Caucus: Clinton Revises Turnout Model Up  —  ** Hillary Clinton's team has revised its turnout model.  The same senior campaign source who projected a turnout of 140,000 voters is now predicting that 150,000 voters will show, and says that, according to the turnout model the campaign is employing …

Caucuses 101: Mastering rules could lead to victory  —  (CNN) — The arcane rules governing Thursday's Iowa Democratic caucuses will test even the most organized campaign, but mastery of the process could launch a candidate on a path to the White House.  —  Most Americans are familiar …

Candidates Offer Final Messages to Iowa Voters  —  DES MOINES — With an eye on the weather forecast and faith in their organizations, the presidential candidates wound down their Iowa caucus campaigns on Thursday and sought to manage their expectations as they nervously awaited a verdict …

Thompson: Poor finish in Iowa won't end campaign  —  GOP presidential hopeful Fred Thompson said in an in-studio interview with KCCI-TV in Des Moines that there is no truth to rumors that his campaign will fold before New Hampshire if he doesn't have a strong showing in Iowa.