Holiday's over, back to politics in Iowa

MASON CITY, Iowa -- Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama bragged Wednesday about getting eight hours of sleep, while on the other end of this state, Republican Mike Huckabee boasted of his ability to bag pheasant.

After a brief Christmas break, presidential candidates stormed back into the Hawkeye State to make a final push for caucuses next week. Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton stumped 200 miles away from here, while leading Republicans Huckabee, Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani scattered across this and other states that will pick presidential nominees in January.

A well-rested Obama joked that he got a full night's sleep for Christmas, helping him to deliver an energetic performance that convinced voter Janet May to commit to caucus for him Jan. 3. "He inspired me," she said.

Obama suggested to the crowd of 400 that he might be able to upset what once seemed to be a Clinton juggernaut in Iowa. "What people said couldn't be done, we might do," he said. He asked for a show of hands of those who were undecided. Several scores went up. "That's your target," he said to his aides.

Without mentioning names, Obama also took aim at Clinton, his chief rival, who emphasizes her years of experience as first lady and as a New York senator.

Obama, elected to the Senate three years ago, argued that he's better qualified to shake up the Washington establishment and that those who have been a part of it don't want change.

"That's essentially the argument being made in these last seven days," he said. "Don't try something different because you might get something risky."

Clinton and her husband, former president Bill Clinton, attended a rally in Mount Pleasant. Terry McAuliffe, Clinton's national campaign chairman, said Iowa caucusgoers should pick her "because she is tested, ready to lead on day one."

Among the Republicans, Huckabee shot pheasant with hunters south of Des Moines. Huckabee, who leads state polls for the GOP nomination, pointed to a bird he shot and joked, "See, that's what happens if you get in my way."