Obama wins Iowa on Democratic side, CNN projects
Story Highlights
NEW: Huckabee moves ahead of Romney
Tight race between Clinton, Edwards, Obama
Huckabee strikes populist tone in last pitch to Iowa voters
Thompson downplays reports that he will drop out if places lower than third
DES MOINES, Iowa (CNN) -- Barack Obama will win the Iowa Democratic caucus, CNN projects, based on early results.
Iowa residents register for the caucus at Merrill Middle School in Des Moines.
1 of 3 more photos » Mike Huckabee will be the Republican winner in Iowa, CNN projects.
With 76 percent of precincts reporting, Obama had the support of 36 percent of voters, compared to 31 percent for Edwards and 30 percent for Clinton.
With 41 percent of Republican precincts reporting, Huckabee had the support of 31 percent of voters, compared to 23 percent for Mitt Romney. Fred Thompson had 13 percent and John McCain had 12.
Rudy Giuliani, who has turned the focus of his campaign to the February 5 "Super Tuesday" primaries, trailed behind with 11 percent.
Huckabee's victory can be attributed to his overwhelming support among evangelical voters and women, according to CNN analysis of entrance polls.
Unlike the more complicated Democratic caucuses, the GOP results are tabulated by a single straw poll.
Polls taken as Iowans entered the first-in-the-nation caucuses show a tight race for both parties.
With such a close race on both sides, voter turnout is key.
Caucus-goer Kathy Barger, inside a Democratic caucus site in Walnut, Iowa, said the room she is in is packed to the brim with a line out the door.
'CNN Special Coverage'
Get the fastest results and latest developments with special coverage of the Iowa caucuses.
8 p.m. ET
see full schedule »
"I don't know how they are going to be able to fit everybody in the room, much less count the votes," she said. "There are bodies in every available space in the room."
The White House hopefuls were campaigning down to the wire in Iowa today, determined to reach as many people as possible before the 1,781 caucuses that started at 7 p.m.
Every supporter is critical in this contest, which historically produces very low turnout. The Iowa Democratic Party said 124,000 people participated in the 2004 caucuses, while the Republican Party of Iowa estimated that 87,000 people took part in the 2000 caucuses. (President Bush ran unchallenged for a second term in 2004.) See your pictures of the candidates in Iowa »
Iowa Democrats, unlike Republicans, use a more complicated system to determine a candidate's viability. Republican caucus-goers are asked for their support for a candidate only one time during the event. Democrats are asked twice: an initial question of support, and a second if their first choice candidate does not reach a 15 percent threshold to achieve viability.
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The candidates might disagree on matters of policy, but in the closing week of the Iowa campaign they are working from the same script on political strategy. Some candidates rode in buses, while others took planes to cities and towns across this state in 11th-hour drives to give a final boost of adrenalin to their candidacies. See the challenges facing each candidate »
Huckabee has been vastly outspent by Romney, who poured millions of dollars into a sophisticated get-out-the-vote operation. Nevertheless, Huckabee told supporters in Burlington during a last-minute rally that they could send "an important message" Thursday night.
"With the eyes of the world on Iowa, imagine what it's going to be like when they tune into places like Burlington, Waterloo, Des Moines, Dubuque, Sioux City, and they find out that caucus-goers here in Iowa can't be bought, that they can't even be rented, that they'll make up their own minds and they'll make it up for what they stand for," he said.
For most of 2007, Huckabee languished in the single digits in the polls and had very little success raising money. But his momentum really picked up in the final six weeks of the year when social conservatives -- an important voting bloc in Iowa -- began to move his way.
Meanwhile, former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee and Rep. Duncan Hunter of California will likely need strong showings in Iowa to keep their campaigns going, while Rep. Ron Paul of Texas is likely to ride his surge of popularity through February 5 -- "Super Tuesday," when 24 states hold their primaries -- no matter where he places in the early contests.
Speaking to CNN Thursday, Thompson brushed off speculation that he would drop out of the race if he didn't finish better than third in the caucuses. Watch Thompson say personal ambition is bad »
On the Democratic side, Clinton, a New York senator, and Edwards, a former North Carolina senator, are battling Obama, a senator from Illinois, for their party's nomination in a contest that has come down to two main themes: change and experience.
Clinton is working to convince Iowa caucus-goers she has the experience to enact change, while Edwards and Obama preach that she is too much of a Washington insider to bring change to the nation's capital.
If Obama wins Thursday night, Clinton would lose the sense of inevitability she has as the national front-runner. New Hampshire polls showing Clinton tied with Obama could grow more troublesome.
But if Clinton loses to Edwards in Iowa, it could produce an Edwards-Obama showdown to be the "non-Clinton" candidate.
Obama, whose campaign was organizing babysitters for potential caucus-goers, said he was expecting a high turnout.
"We've seen these enormous crowds as we travel across the state in this last week, and the weather's been brutal, so for these folks to be coming out just to hear a candidate at the last minute, it's doubtful they're not going to go to caucus," he said Thursday.
Edwards -- who placed second in the 2004 caucuses -- swore off sleep to hold a 36-hour marathon. Watch Edwards call for an investigation of oil prices »
Democratic hopeful Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico said he was feeling good in the final hours.
"You know, I think a lot of the undecideds are breaking my way. Iowans make up their minds at the last minute, maybe 30 percent of them in the last three to four days, and I'm seeing good movement," he said. Watch Richardson call for a 50 mpg fuel standard »
The second tier of Democratic candidates -- Sens. Joe Biden and Chris Dodd, and Richardson -- will all need strong showings in Iowa or risk a fatal blow to their campaigns. E-mail to a friend
CNN's Mark Preston, Peter Hamby, Dana Bash and Candy Crowley contributed to this report.
All About Hillary Clinton • Barack Obama • Mike Huckabee • Mitt Romney • Iowa
Obama wins Iowa on Democratic side, CNN projectsStory Highlights
NEW: Huckabee moves ahead of Romney
Tight race between Clinton, Edwards, Obama
Huckabee strikes populist tone in last pitch to Iowa voters
Thompson downplays reports that he will drop out if places lower than third
Next Article in Politics »
Read VIDEO PHOTOS INTERACTIVE EXPLAINER
DES MOINES, Iowa (CNN) -- Barack Obama will win the Iowa Democratic caucus, CNN projects, based on early results.
Iowa residents register for the caucus at Merrill Middle School in Des Moines.
1 of 3 more photos » Mike Huckabee will be the Republican winner in Iowa, CNN projects.
With 76 percent of precincts reporting, Obama had the support of 36 percent of voters, compared to 31 percent for Edwards and 30 percent for Clinton.
With 41 percent of Republican precincts reporting, Huckabee had the support of 31 percent of voters, compared to 23 percent for Mitt Romney. Fred Thompson had 13 percent and John McCain had 12.
Rudy Giuliani, who has turned the focus of his campaign to the February 5 "Super Tuesday" primaries, trailed behind with 11 percent.
Huckabee's victory can be attributed to his overwhelming support among evangelical voters and women, according to CNN analysis of entrance polls.
Unlike the more complicated Democratic caucuses, the GOP results are tabulated by a single straw poll.
Polls taken as Iowans entered the first-in-the-nation caucuses show a tight race for both parties.
With such a close race on both sides, voter turnout is key.
Caucus-goer Kathy Barger, inside a Democratic caucus site in Walnut, Iowa, said the room she is in is packed to the brim with a line out the door.
'CNN Special Coverage'
Get the fastest results and latest developments with special coverage of the Iowa caucuses.
8 p.m. ET
see full schedule »
"I don't know how they are going to be able to fit everybody in the room, much less count the votes," she said. "There are bodies in every available space in the room."
The White House hopefuls were campaigning down to the wire in Iowa today, determined to reach as many people as possible before the 1,781 caucuses that started at 7 p.m.
Every supporter is critical in this contest, which historically produces very low turnout. The Iowa Democratic Party said 124,000 people participated in the 2004 caucuses, while the Republican Party of Iowa estimated that 87,000 people took part in the 2000 caucuses. (President Bush ran unchallenged for a second term in 2004.) See your pictures of the candidates in Iowa »
Iowa Democrats, unlike Republicans, use a more complicated system to determine a candidate's viability. Republican caucus-goers are asked for their support for a candidate only one time during the event. Democrats are asked twice: an initial question of support, and a second if their first choice candidate does not reach a 15 percent threshold to achieve viability.
Don't Miss
I-Report: Calling all Iowans!
Poll: Ties in Iowa but many undecided
Iowa caucuses 101: Mastery of the rules key to victory
Election Center 2008
The candidates might disagree on matters of policy, but in the closing week of the Iowa campaign they are working from the same script on political strategy. Some candidates rode in buses, while others took planes to cities and towns across this state in 11th-hour drives to give a final boost of adrenalin to their candidacies. See the challenges facing each candidate »
Huckabee has been vastly outspent by Romney, who poured millions of dollars into a sophisticated get-out-the-vote operation. Nevertheless, Huckabee told supporters in Burlington during a last-minute rally that they could send "an important message" Thursday night.
"With the eyes of the world on Iowa, imagine what it's going to be like when they tune into places like Burlington, Waterloo, Des Moines, Dubuque, Sioux City, and they find out that caucus-goers here in Iowa can't be bought, that they can't even be rented, that they'll make up their own minds and they'll make it up for what they stand for," he said.
For most of 2007, Huckabee languished in the single digits in the polls and had very little success raising money. But his momentum really picked up in the final six weeks of the year when social conservatives -- an important voting bloc in Iowa -- began to move his way.
Meanwhile, former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee and Rep. Duncan Hunter of California will likely need strong showings in Iowa to keep their campaigns going, while Rep. Ron Paul of Texas is likely to ride his surge of popularity through February 5 -- "Super Tuesday," when 24 states hold their primaries -- no matter where he places in the early contests.
Speaking to CNN Thursday, Thompson brushed off speculation that he would drop out of the race if he didn't finish better than third in the caucuses. Watch Thompson say personal ambition is bad »
On the Democratic side, Clinton, a New York senator, and Edwards, a former North Carolina senator, are battling Obama, a senator from Illinois, for their party's nomination in a contest that has come down to two main themes: change and experience.
Clinton is working to convince Iowa caucus-goers she has the experience to enact change, while Edwards and Obama preach that she is too much of a Washington insider to bring change to the nation's capital.
If Obama wins Thursday night, Clinton would lose the sense of inevitability she has as the national front-runner. New Hampshire polls showing Clinton tied with Obama could grow more troublesome.
But if Clinton loses to Edwards in Iowa, it could produce an Edwards-Obama showdown to be the "non-Clinton" candidate.
Obama, whose campaign was organizing babysitters for potential caucus-goers, said he was expecting a high turnout.
"We've seen these enormous crowds as we travel across the state in this last week, and the weather's been brutal, so for these folks to be coming out just to hear a candidate at the last minute, it's doubtful they're not going to go to caucus," he said Thursday.
Edwards -- who placed second in the 2004 caucuses -- swore off sleep to hold a 36-hour marathon. Watch Edwards call for an investigation of oil prices »
Democratic hopeful Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico said he was feeling good in the final hours.
"You know, I think a lot of the undecideds are breaking my way. Iowans make up their minds at the last minute, maybe 30 percent of them in the last three to four days, and I'm seeing good movement," he said. Watch Richardson call for a 50 mpg fuel standard »
The second tier of Democratic candidates -- Sens. Joe Biden and Chris Dodd, and Richardson -- will all need strong showings in Iowa or risk a fatal blow to their campaigns. E-mail to a friend
CNN's Mark Preston, Peter Hamby, Dana Bash and Candy Crowley contributed to this report.
All About Hillary Clinton • Barack Obama • Mike Huckabee • Mitt Romney • Iowa
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