Posted by DEAN SKIP RUTHERFORD – With the January 3 Iowa caucus voting and the Clinton School watch party just around the corner, here are some recent observations:
*Read where former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee got an $18 haircut at a Des Moines barber shop. While that pales by comparison to John Edwards $400 cut, it’s still steep compared to Sullivan’s Barber Service in Little Rock. In fact, my barber, Scott Sullivan (who also cuts General Wes Clark’s hair), just raised his price from $10 to $11.
*Had several reports of Arkansans who are campaigning and volunteering in Iowa gathering at a Des Moines sports bar to watch Missouri thump Arkansas 38-7 in the Cotton Bowl. Give Missouri credit, they played well and with only two losses (both to Oklahoma), they deserved, but did not receive, a BCS bowl bid. A big Cotton Bowl win was not a bad consolation prize. Noted where Mitt Romney attended “huddle house parties” (college football bowl game watching parties) on New Years Day. Maybe we should schedule a “huddle house party” at the Clinton School for The Super Bowl.
*Facuty and staff return to the Clinton School on Wednesday after the holiday break. While classes don’t begin until January 14th, we’ll be getting ready for the spring term. Admissions for the our new August class also move into high gear.
*Clinton School student James Mitchell, who is blogging for us in Iowa, is attending the “Huck and Chuck” rally (Mike Huckabee and actor Chuck Norris). Be looking for his post along with insight from an event with Mitt Romney.
In the spirit of the Iowa caucus and our watch party, I’ve asked some people to offer their Iowa predictions:
State Representative Marcelo Llorente (R-Fla): Republican: Huckabee; Democrat: Edwards
Former Senator J. William Fulbright (D-Ark.) staff member and Washington D.C. resident David Lambert: Republican: Huckabee, 31%; Romney 29%; and McCain 18%; Democrat: Clinton 29%; Obama 28% and Edwards 26%.
Ceile Faulkner, Little Rock resident and astute observer: Republican: Huckabee; Democrat: Clinton
Blake Rutherford, editor of Blake’s Think Thank: Republican: Romney, Huckabee and McCain–with the big story being McCain’s surge; Democrat: Clinton, Edwards, Obama
Sam Mitchell of Memphis, Tenn., and father of Clinton School student James Mitchell: Republican: Huckabee; Democrat: Clinton
Iowa native and Clinton School graduate Jason Fisher: Republican: Huckabee (by five points over Romney); Democrat: Obama (narrowly by 1 to 2 points over Clinton and Edwards)
Other predictions to come and add Ron Fournier, Associated Press writer, to our election night call-in speakers.