Is Obama a Plan B for Richardson Voters?  —  Barack Obama's drive to win tonight's Iowa caucuses is getting a boost from two of his putative rivals.  After earlier winning the support of Dennis Kucinich, Obama's campaign has reached an agreement with Bill Richardson for the second-choice votes …

Huckabee's Attack Ad Runs After All  —  His attack ad appears on three Iowa stations.  We find it somewhat misleading.  Another ad makes misleading claims about tax cuts.  —  The ad Huckabee said he decided not to run has now appeared at least three times in Iowa anyway.

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.

My caveats about Iowa  —  In this calm before the storm, as we gird ourselves for the first measurements of actual citizen sentiment in the '08 campaign, let us pause briefly to contemplate the state that remains secure in its status as first in pork, first in corn, and first in the presidential sweepstakes.

NBC Highlights ‘Life-Long Republican’ Caucusing for Obama, But...  On Wednesday's NBC Nightly News, Andrea Mitchell showcased “a lifelong Republican, who twice voted for George Bush, now canvassing for Obama” as a “precinct captain” in Iowa.  In an interview two months ago, however …

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 …

COMING FLUFFTACULAR  —  I flagged this in today's TPMtv episode and posted a reader email on it yesterday, but if I had my choice, John McCain would not be the candidate I'd want the Democratic candidate to face in November.  He's got lots of liabilities, on a whole number of fronts.

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.

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 …

Harman Warned against Destroying Tapes in 2003  —  The CIA's initial defense for destroying the videotapes showing interrogations of Al Qaeda detainees was that they'd briefed members of Congress about their intention to do this long ago.  —  To which, Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA) …

Iowa Caucuses — Prediction Time!  —  After all of the waiting and anticipating, Iowa caucus day is here!  —  The Fix will be writing a constantly updating news story throughout the late afternoon and evening on washingtonpost.com, which we will be cross-publishing in this space.

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

Today's Must Read  —  The eight year Constitutional law seminar that is the Bush Administration continues!  —  Today's lesson: the pocket veto.  —  Last week, the president claimed to have sunk Congress' defense authorization bill by pocket veto.  Now Democrats are saying he can't do that.