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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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) …

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 …

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 …

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