DES MOINES, Iowa — Starting tonight, the presidential campaign embarks on a political sprint across the nation that is likely to produce a nominee for one or both of the major parties by the first Tuesday in February.
First, though, it’s Iowa’s moment. Tonight, residents will head to school gymnasiums, church basements and community centers to start the presidential selection process.
Given the staggering amounts of time and money the contenders have invested here, turnout in the Iowa caucuses will almost surely be significantly higher than in years past, particularly for the Democrats.
On the Republican side, the battle is between former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who left Iowa for California on Wednesday so he could appear on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno.
Among the Democrats, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards are the main contenders, with some polls showing Edwards falling slightly behind.
All are hoping that the Iowa results will give them a boost heading into Tuesday’s primary in New Hampshire.
Their Iowa campaign organizations were preparing legions of precinct captains to get supporters to the nearly 2,000 caucus sites. Weeks ago, for instance, the Clinton campaign purchased hundreds of snow shovels, just in case.
As it happens, weather will not be a problem. Forecasts call for a clear night.
With the caucuses not slated to start until 6:30 p.m. CST, some of the candidates planned to keep on campaigning until late this afternoon. And two Republicans who’d been among the missing returned to Iowa to join the action.
Arizona Sen. John McCain, who’s been focused on New Hampshire, came back late in the day for a 24-hour fly-around, while Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, who’s spent heavily on Iowa TV but has not campaigned much here, flew in for several events in Des Moines.
All of the other candidates were campaigning frenetically.
