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 …

Domestic Issues Now Outweigh Iraq  —  DES MOINES — The Democratic and Republican presidential candidates are navigating a far different set of issues as they approach the Iowa caucuses on Thursday than when they first started campaigning here a year ago, and that is likely to change …

MCCain and Romney PUsh Poll Complaints  —  Attorney General Kelly A. Ayotte is requesting the public's assistance in identifying who employed Moore-Information of Portland, Oregon to conduct a poll in New Hampshire, in November 2007, which has been alleged to be a push-poll.

The Independents  —  John Judis and Ruy Teixeira take a look at the demographic and ideological characteristics of self-described independents and their potential role in the presidential election.  It's clear that the post-partisan rhetoric from Barack Obama that's annoyed a lot of bloggers …

Bush-bashing ‘Republican’ Henry Lowenstein, NYT's Favorite  —  The quickest way to get the liberal media to pay attention to you is to claim to be a Republican who hates Republicans.  It's an almost infallible public relations strategy that of late has worked well for “Republican” Monica Green.

One More on the Politico Hit Job  —  According to people who actually know, I'm told $1,878,138 has been raised since the debate on December 12 from 24,949 people, including $719,534 from 10,237 people.  For the week before, week of and week after Christmas, I think that's pretty good.

Seven Questions: Gen. David Petraeus on Winding down the Surge  —  By the end of July, 25 percent of American combat troops are due to withdraw from Iraq.  FP sat down with Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, to find out how he plans to draw down without leaving chaos behind.

Richelieu: Predictions  —  Your Cardinal has been busy converting the wicked in the bars and political back-rooms of icy Iowa, and offers a few final thoughts and predictions.  —  1.)  Obama is going to win and could do so by a strong margin.  Hillary and Edwards trail, with 60% chance Hillary comes in third.

For Marine's sendoff, his car is keyed  —  Marine Sgt. Michael McNulty — now on his way to Iraq for his second tour of duty in the war — took meticulous care of his car.  —  It is a black two-door BMW, an expensive ride for a young Marine from Chicago, but then, McNulty didn't exactly join …

Karl Rove  —  A principal architect of the disastrous presidency of George W. Bush, Karl Rove, 57, has charted a long course from the internship he landed with the Republican Party in Utah almost four decades ago.  Here, the president's former deputy chief of staff reflects on his fear of going broke …

Iowa predictions  —  Ok, I know I said the caucuses are too close to call.  But I just can't help myself.  So here are my predictions for tonight's battle in the heartland.  —  Republicans

Political Field Is Panned by Bloomberg  —  With unusually dismissive language, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg offered tart assessments of his potential presidential rivals at a news conference on Wednesday, suggesting they are offering meaningless bromides rather than serious answers to the problems confronting the country.

My Mitt Romney Problem (And Yours?)  —  Watch this ad:  —  “In the next ten years, we'll see more progress, more change, than the world has seen in the last ten centuries."  —  Mitt Romney is an immensely talented and accomplished figure.  In many ways, he looks like an ideal antidote to George W. Bush …

Flashman author George MacDonald Fraser dies aged 82 after cancer battle  —  George MacDonald Fraser, author of the hugely entertaining Flashman novels, has died aged 82.  —  Fraser - whose fans included P G Wodehouse and Kingsley Amis - died after a battle with cancer.

Romney to Huck's Camp: 'Don't Touch the Hair'  —  ABC News' Matt Stuart and Teddy Davis Report: Mitt Romney made a tongue-in-cheek plea Thursday for Ed Rollins, the Huckabee campaign chairman who recently said that he wanted to knock Romney's teeth out, to keep his hands off his well-quaffed hair.

Can Edwards Do It In Iowa?  —  The Mellencamp concert for John Edwards last night was a huge success for the campaign.  It was well attended (easily twice the size of the Huckabee “Huck'n'Chuck” rally the night before), the crowd was enthusiastic and responded to his message.