memeorandum: Huckabee Takes Iowa; Romney in 2nd (David Schoetz/ABCNEWS)

1:15 AM ET, January 4, 2008

Top Items:

Huckabee, Obama have huge night in Iowa — DES MOINES, Iowa (CNN) — Barack Obama will win the Iowa Democratic caucus and Mike Huckabee will be the Republican winner, CNN projects. — With all precincts reporting, Obama had the support of 38 percent of voters, compared to 30 percent …

David Schoetz / ABCNEWS:

Huckabee Takes Iowa; Romney in 2nd — Former Arkansas Governor Rides Momentum Surge to Early Victory — ABC News projects that former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee will win the Iowa Caucuses, beating out former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in a two-man race for the Republican party's top spot in Iowa.

Discussion: New York Times, The Politico, The Moderate Voice, TownHall Blog, QandO, Middle Earth Journal, Ankle Biting Pundits, Punditry and BitsBlog

The Politico:

Iowa leaves GOP in total disarray — DES MOINES, Iowa — Mike Huckabee's startling, not-even-close victory over Mitt Romney and the rest of the GOP field in the Iowa caucus means the Republican Party is in for a wildly unpredictable ride in the weeks ahead.

Discussion: Tammy Bruce, DownWithTyranny!, Spin Cycle and The Democratic Daily

Jonathan Garthwaite / TownHall Blog:

Huckabee Chairman Ed Rollins Trashes Romney — Amanda Carpenter files this report from the ground in Iowa: … Stay tuned to the Townhall blog for continuing coverage of the Iowa Caucus tonight and Friday.

Discussion: Power Line, michellemalkin.com, Hot Air, NewsBusters.org, The Campaign Spot, The Radio Equalizer, Political Radar, Redstate, race42008.com, Wizbang, Althouse, The Sundries Shack and Right Wing News

Atrios / Eschaton:

Huckenfreude … I'm shocked that Gloria Borger could find an “unaffiliated” strategist who hates Huckabee but is authorized to speak for “the establishment Republican party." — 9:05: … Republicans: — Huckabee 35% — Romney 24% — Thompson 14% — McCain 12% — Paul 11%

Discussion: GregsOpinion.com, Norwegianity, Balloon Juice, The Agonist and Environmental Republican

Washington Wire:

Beginning of the End for Romney? — Susan Davis reports from Des Moines, Iowa, on the presidential race. — Mitt Romney congratulates Mike Huckabee on his victory in the Iowa caucus. — Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, wildly out-spent and out-organized by Mitt Romney here in Iowa …

Discussion: Hotline On Call and Macsmind

FactCheck.org:

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.

Discussion: The Corner and Althouse

Patrick Healy / New York Times:

2 Newcomers Jolt Parties' Status Quo — DES MOINES — The Democratic and Republican establishments and their presidential candidates, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and former Gov. Mitt Romney, were brought low in Iowa on Thursday night, shaken seriously by two national newcomers who won decisively on messages of insurgency and change.

Discussion: The Politico, The New Republic, Wonkette and No Left Turns

Marc Ambinder:
THE BOILER ROOM — REPUBLICANS | DEMOCRATS | KCCI LIVE |

Discussion: Firedoglake, TPM Election Central, The Caucus, Donklephant and Rod 2.0:Beta

doj.nh.gov:
MCCain and Romney PUsh Poll Complaints

Discussion: Associated Press, TPM Election Central, Captain's Quarters, The Campaign Spot, michellemalkin.com, Washington Times, The Corner, Hot Air, Wake up America, BlueOregon and Redstate

Think Progress:
Live Iowa Caucus Updates

Discussion: Hot Air and Threat Level

John Harwood / The Caucus:

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 …

Discussion: Ben Smith's Blogs, CNN, Iowa Independent, michellemalkin.com, Marc Ambinder, TalkLeft, Slog, Spin Cycle, Captain's Quarters, The Belmont Club, Stumper, Sister Toldjah, The Democratic Daily, American Street, Taylor Marsh, Wake up America, TPM Election Central and You Decide 08!

Rick Klein / Political Radar:

Live Caucus Blogging from Des Moines by Rick Klein — 8:28 pm CT: Checking in with the GOP — Fred Thompson stirs. Running third as of this moment, holding off McCain. Wonder if Thompson's secretly disappointed — he looked like he needed a nap. — 8:27 pm CT: It's over way earlier …

Discussion: NYT, Hotline On Call, Slog and Comments from Left Field

Michael Crowley / The New Republic:
The Deal Was for Real (UPDATED)

Discussion: Ben Smith's Blogs, Taegan Goddard's … and American Street

Carrie Budoff Brown / The Politico:
Barack Obama scores decisive victory

Discussion: New York Times and The Swamp

Mark Murray / MSNBC:
DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS SITE PACKED

Discussion: MyDD, THE REACTION, Oliver Willis, Cogitamus and Open Left

Shailagh Murray / The Trail:
A Biden-Obama Deal? — DES MOINES — Sen. Joseph Biden wants …

Discussion: Iowa Independent, Wonkette, Taylor Marsh, RealClearPolitics, Donklephant, All Spin Zone, TPM Election Central and The Carpetbagger Report

Associated Press:
Record turnout in Iowa caucuses

Discussion: New York Times and American Street

Joe Biden / CNN:

Biden, Dodd to abandon White House runs — (CNN) — Delaware Sen Joe Biden will abandon his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination, three sources tell CNN. He is not expected to endorse any other candidate tonight. — A senior campaign aide tells CNN that Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd …

Discussion: MoJoBlog and The Newshoggers

Martin Kady II / The Politico:
Dodd, Biden to drop out after Iowa defeat

Discussion: The Swamp and BlueOregon

You Decide 08!:
BIDEN, DODD BOW OUT OF PRESIDENTIAL RACE AFTER POOR SHOWINGS IN IOWA

Discussion: Patterico's Pontifications and Spin Cycle

CNN:

Supreme Court Justice Bill Clinton? — WASHINGTON (CNN) — It is a title that would be sure to bring either fear or cheer to many Americans, depending on your political leanings: Supreme Court Justice Bill Clinton. — That provocative possibility has long been whispered in legal …

Discussion: TBogg, Moonbattery, The Carpetbagger Report and Wonkette

Arianna Huffington / The Huffington Post:

Obama Wins Iowa: Why Everyone Has a Reason to Celebrate Tonight — Even if your candidate didn't win tonight, you have reason to celebrate. We all do. — Barack Obama's stirring victory in Iowa — down home, folksy, farm-fed, Midwestern, and 92 percent white Iowa — says a lot about America …

Discussion: Weekly Standard, Hotline On Call and The Democratic Daily

Matthew Yglesias:

Preordained — Watching Chris Matthews, I just saw that Tim Russert has already booked John McCain as his featured interviewee for this Sunday. Republican presidential candidate who won the Iowa Caucuses? Well, sorry, you're out of luck. It's already been decided that the “real” story out of Iowa is McCain....

Discussion: The Huffington Post

Andrew Sullivan / The Daily Dish:

The Mold Is Smashed — Look at their names: Huckabee and Obama. Both came from nowhere - from Arkansas and Hawaii. Both campaigned as human beings, not programmed campaign robots with messages honed in focus groups. Both faced powerful and monied establishments in both parties.