The Race for the White House

[illinoisprogressive]

But in some of the crucial early primary states, it's a closer race. Clinton, Obama and former senator and 2004 Democratic vice presidential nominee John Edwards are locked in a three-way battle for the top spot in the polls in Iowa.
The Hawkeye State caucus there kicks off the delegate selection process. In New Hampshire, which holds the first primary, and South Carolina, which holds the first southern primary, Clinton remains ahead by a comfortable margin in most polls.



Of course, polls are not the end-all. Remember, four years ago at this time, Howard Dean was skyrocketing in all the national surveys. The former Vermont governor and current Democratic National Committee chairman continued to surge into the autumn and early winter before crashing and burning in Iowa and New Hampshire in January 2004.codesmilie_remote('}(')




Obama may trail Clinton in the early national and state polls, but he does lead her in another crucial barometer, campaign cash. Obama's actually out-raised the vaunted Clinton fundraising machine. Obama is also drawing large crowds out on the trail. The first term senator from Illinois is in New Hampshire today, campaigning with his family.