Obama Shifts Strategy, Takes Aim at Iowa

Change shows sensitivity to alienating Clinton fans

(NEWSER) - Reversing earlier plans, Barack Obama will not declare the Democratic race over tomorrow night—in a move Carrie Budoff Brown, on Politico, sees as concern about “appearing presumptuous or antagonistic” toward Hillary Clinton. Hillary fans are sensitive about disrespect, so Obama will boast he’s won a majority of pledged delegates, a “tiptoe right up to the line” of claiming victory. More»

He nets 7 delegates over Clinton as Edwards backers shift in second-round voting

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama netted seven more delegates in Iowa tonight, two months after the state held its caucuses, the AP reports. How so? Some of the delegates who originally backed John Edwards shifted to Obama during the state's county conventions, the second part of Iowa's election process. These are generally of no great consequence because the nominee is usually secured by now. Not so this year. More»

Post 's Cillizza pegs Iowa as most likely to flip

(NEWSER) - Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are bragging about which states they might flip. The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza has a top-10 list, ranked in order (only New Hampshire and Minnesota appear headed red):

1. Iowa: The Democrats get “HUGE” points for their diligence in primary season, while John McCain was AWOL.
2. New Mexico: It’s all about savvy Bill Richardson’s influence. The Land of Enchantment is always a virtual tie.

Mabus deplores divisiveness, Clinton's 'derogatory' statements

(NEWSER) - A Barack Obama radio ad airing in Mississippi ahead of Tuesday’s primary features the ex-governor arguing that Hillary Clinton looks down on the state, CNN reports. Entitled “Respect,” the ad refers to remarks Clinton made about a lack of elected female officials in Iowa, when she said, “How can Iowa be ranked with Mississippi? That’s not the quality.” More»

His campaign is claiming a lock on the nomination, but don't count Hillary out yet

(NEWSER) - With a week of sweeping victories, culminating yesterday in Potomac wins that show him cutting into the heart of Hillary Clinton's base, newly crowned front-runner Barack Obama now has a strong case that the Dems should coalesce around his candidacy, Adam Nagourney writes in the New York Times. He now leads in funding, states, and delegates. But don't count Hillary out too early. More»