Political Caucuses

The downtown hot spot Centro hummed with energy for yet another night this week. Operatives for at least four would-be presidents huddled in separate corners of the glowing dining room. America's top political journalists table-hopped furiously. Everyone counted the hours until the Iowa caucuses. Well, not quite everyone. Dylan, the waiter who's moving to Los Angeles to be a fashion model, just tried to keep the plates of pancetta-wrapped shrimp and limoncello tiramisu coming.

Fred Adams, a retired Drake University history professor, wandered across the street from his house for a neighborhood party the Sunday before Christmas -- 5-8 p.m., food and drinks -- where he spotted Tammy Gentry. "I saw my opportunity," Adams said later, "and I took it." Adams knew Gentry was leaning toward former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina in Thursday's first-in-the-nation caucuses. But her husband, Brian, was backing Sen.

How likely are the Democratic and Republican winners in Iowa's caucuses Thursday to snare their party's presidential nominations? The record is mixed. In 1980, George H.W. Bush beat Ronald Reagan in the GOP caucuses and claimed he had "big mo" -- momentum. Reagan quickly crushed him. In 1988, Richard A. Gephardt won the Democratic caucuses and then went nowhere; the third-place finisher, Michael S. Dukakis, stormed to the nomination.

Strong drinks and live music are the usual attractions at the People's Bar & Grill, but on Thursday there was an added draw at the downtown pub: Michelle Obama. "I know this is the end of a long workday. Have a beer. . . . Sit down, relax, take a load off," the wife of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama told the crowd of stylish people in their 20s and 30s. She launched into her stump speech for the Democratic presidential candidate and urged the crowd to participate in the Jan. 3 caucuses.

Iowa is an energy-hungry farming state, where long-distance drives between far-flung cities are a way of life. Here, people watch the price of gasoline at places like the QT service station nearly as closely as the weather forecast during planting season. These days, they don't like what they see. And with just over a month until the Iowa caucuses, that could have ramifications for the out-of-towners trying to win their support in the presidential race.

In the days leading up to the 2004 Iowa caucuses, Iowa State University's sprawling campus crackled with excitement. Volunteers, celebrities and candidates thronged the university, urging students to vote in the nation's first presidential contest. Campus rallies had the charged atmosphere of rock concerts, and singer Joan Jett stopped by to belt out a new take on her hit "I Love Rock N' Roll" -- "I Love Howard Dean." It's going to be different this time: The Iowa caucuses are being held Jan.

With the Nevada caucuses just over two months away, Mom's Diner would seem to be the perfect spot for a presidential candidate to stop and mingle for the TV cameras. There are four booths, seven tables, country music on the radio and a welcome mat hanging on a bright yellow wall that reads, "Well butter my butt, call me a biscuit -- look who's here." Unfortunately for diner owner Tracie Oien, no one who is running for president has been here.

State Democratic Party officials are expected to settle on Jan. 3 for their presidential caucuses, the same day Republicans will vote, a party official said in Des Moines. The Democratic State Central Committee will hold a telephone conference call Sunday to make a formal decision, party spokeswoman Carrie Giddins said.

Iowa Republicans on Tuesday moved the date of their caucuses to Jan. 3, ensuring the earliest-ever start to the presidential primary season. The caucuses -- a statewide gathering of party members who cast their votes in a series of precinct-level meetings -- were originally scheduled for Jan. 14. But the 2008 political calendar has been in flux for months, ever since Florida and other states began pushing their dates forward to have a greater say in the nominating process.

Inside a brightly lighted downtown theater, a group of actors gathered around a piano, their songbooks open and voices ready, waiting for their cue. Director Tony Humrichouser peered intently at the score. With his nod, the cast began to sing: I remember back in '84 , I went to open up my door And there stood Walter Mondale in my yard. He'd been there since the break of dawn, That's when he'd mowed and raked my lawn And walked and fed my lazy St. Bernard.