I'm not sure Obama, Edwards, or Clinton will really "lose" tonight.

[Sparkly]

If it stays close, it's not a loss for any of them. There'll be a winner, of course, but I'm not sure any of the three will be a loser.

[robbedvoter]

Maybe we win by making Iowa irrelevant. Let"S HAVE PRIMARIES ALREADY!

[ruggerson]

1. I'd rather have a clear winner

if the trend holds, they all live to keep going at each other until Feb 5, which will only damage the eventual nominee.

[Cameron27]

2. I don't know how there going to call it,

beyond who wins it. It's so close.

[ccpup]

3. if a percentage point or two

is all that's separating the top three, you may be right. Of course, whoever places first will claim the mantle of Winner, but may not get as big a bump for NH and SC if it's as close as it could be. Gut instinct is telling me that we may not know who the Nominee is until March.

[sandnsea]

4. If Obama wins 98% white Iowa

That is HUGE, no matter what the other candidate supporters try to say about it.

[babylonsister]

5. Even if he places, there goes the meme that a black person can't win.

And that would be welcome!

[Cameron27]

8. Yes, I think that's right.

[wiley]

6. So much money for this? One big media buy.

Primary already.

[babylonsister]

7. I think you're right; thank goodness NH is right around the corner. nt

[dmkinsey]

9. I'd be fine if it stays how it is

all three at 31-33% They can all stay alive into NH

[Joe the Revelator]

10. If Hillary ends up in third, she loses

There is no spin out of that.

[William769]

11. What you just said is spin.

[Joe the Revelator]

13. Afraid not, its a political reality

Someone like Hillary can't spend the time that she spent in Iowa and walk away unwounded from a 3rd place finish.

[William769]

15. Yes she can.

[Cameron27]

18. Of course she can.

[jenmito]

17. Especially when Obama adds 2nd choice supporters and Edwards' supporters if/when he drops out.

[William769]

Thats only in Iowa.

[jenmito]

24. First of all, GOOD! Secondly, if/when Edwards drops out, his support will go more to Obama

everywhere.

[Tesha]

25. Absolutely. Hillary was supposed to be a steamroller; instead, she's a teakettle at best. (NT)

[jenmito]

12. Obama leading by 3% right now without 2nd choice support.

That will add to it.

[Kucinich4America]

14. Looks like a statistical dead heat to me.

Senator Barack Obama : 34.09%
Senator John Edwards : 31.66%
Senator Hillary Clinton : 31.43%
Governor Bill Richardson : 1.75%
Senator Joe Biden : 1.00%
Senator Chris Dodd : 0.04%
Uncommitted : 0.03%
Precincts Reporting: 943 of 1781

Obama's gone up a couple points, but I doubt the remaining precincts will sway it much one way or the other.

This is exactly the way I wanted Iowa to go, and I hope New Hampshire turns out much the same.

As I've said before, if NOTHING is decided until Denver, we all win.

[MannyGoldstein]

16. It'll Be A Tie - But Clinton Will Lose Big

The whole "resistance is futile/accept my coronation" thing is blown. Now she'll have to move to plan B, C, D, E, or F. Seems like her campaign has been trying B-F on a daily basis lately.

[Tesha]

26. "Terry? Oh Terry? Just WTF do I do now??? You said you had it in the bag! Bill????" (NT)

[Mass]

19. If it stays like that, there will be a winner, but no loser. They are too close.

[xchrom]

20. hillary does lose.

hillary and bill have to go back and THINK about how strong the anti-hillary feeling among dems really is.

two thirds of The Established democratic party front runner didn't throw in for her.

that's deep.

[HughMoran]

21. I agree - a 3-way tie is not so meaningful

Let's see how it turns out...

[TSIAS]

23. Clinton's going for the Lieberman win

Finish 3rd but claim she was tied for 1st.

[mcscajun]

22. I'm seeing a three-way dead heat.

Everybody stays 'in play'.