SNEAK PEEK: Speak Now

October 25, 2007— -- Just in time for her 60th, here comes the Starbucks set!

Keying off of a Gallup analysis conducted for National Journal, Ron Brownstein writes in Friday's magazine that Hillary Clinton has cut into Barack Obama's "core" by "dramatically gaining ground with better-educated Democratic women." LINK

"If she stays where she is among college women, it is going to be incredibly hard to catch her in New Hampshire," Andrew Smith, the director of the University of New Hampshire's survey center tells Brownstein.

And to add icing to the cake, the AP's Nedra Pickler has former Dean strategist Steve McMahon saying: "If this were a wedding, we'd be at the 'speak now or forever hold your peace' part." LINK

As for Clinton's Friday, she is slated to spend it in Chappaqua, N.Y.

For his part, Obama spends Friday raising money in Ohio and Missouri while his "Embrace the Change" concert series kicks off (without him) at 7:00 pm ET in Charleston, S.C.

Neither Gospel singer Donnie McClurkin (who has called homosexuality "a curse") nor the Rev. Andy Sidden (the gay minister who was added to the program after the McClurkin flap) will be on hand until Sunday.

In Sioux City, Iowa, John McCain marks the 40th anniversary of being shot down over Vietnam. He will be joined at his 10:00 am ET event by Col. Bud Day, the man who nursed the senator back to health in his POW cell.

Rudy Giuliani is fundraising in Texas friday-- but he had a key meeting on Thursday with Sam Brownback, the staunch abortion rights opponent who ran for president on a "pro-life, whole life" platform before pulling the plug last week.

Asked if Giuliani had put his concerns on the abortion issue to rest, Brownback said that he now has "much more confidence," per ABC's Z. Byron Wolf.

In an interview with ABC News last week, an unnamed Brownback adviser explained the Kansas Republican's thinking: "He is making the same calculation that Republican primary voters are," said the adviser who spoke about Brownback's endorsement plans on the condition of anonymity. "Every indication is that Hillary Clinton will be the Democratic nominee and we will really have to sit down and ask ourselves: if that's the binary --- Clinton or non-Clinton --- ask yourself who is the most likely non-Clinton." LINK

One day after going after Clinton on family values, Mitt Romney campaigns in Iowa.

Fred Thompson spends Friday in Alabama celebrating his son's birthday (Sammy is turning one).

For his part, Ron Paul courts Arab Americans in Michigan.

On the calendar front, Iowa Democrats are ready to join their Republicans counterparts in setting their caucuses for Jan. 3. The official decision will not come until the party leaders have a 9:00 pm ET conference call on Sunday.

TiVo alert: Be sure to tune into Nightline, ABC's Jake Tapper was on the trail with Fred Thompson this week and he talks with the former Tennessee senator about how the loss of his daughter influenced the way he looks at the world.

On the campaign trail. . .

JOHN MCCAIN

-- 10:00 am ET: Commemorates 40th anniversary of his capture in Vietnam, Sioux City, Ia.

-- 12:00 pm ET: Meets with voters, Sheldon, Ia.

-- 1:15 pm ET: Holds a town hall meeting, Rock Rapids, Ia.

MITT ROMNEY

-- 8:30 am ET: Holds breakfast town hall meeting, West Des Moines, Ia.

-- 10:15 am ET: Tapes for Iowa Public Television, Johnston, Ia.

-- 12:45 pm ET: Holds lunch town hall meeting, Mount Pleasant, Ia.

-- 4:15 pm ET: Holds town hall meeting, Fort Madison, Ia.

TOM TANCREDO

-- Attends fundraiser in Texas

MIKE HUCKABEE

-- 12:00 pm ET: Attends rally at Woodbury Central High School, Moville, Ia.

-- 8:00 pm ET: Performs with his band "Capitol Offense" at the Surf Ballroom, Clear Lake, Ia.

RON PAUL

-- 11:00 am ET: Holds a private briefing with Arab-Americans for Ron Paul, Detroit, Mich.

-- 2:20 pm ET: Speaks to the Arab-American Institute National Leadership Conference, Dearborn, Mich.

-- 7:00 pm ET: Visits Iowa State University, Ames, Ia.

TOM TANCREDO

-- 10:00 am ET: Attends a meet and greet, Maquoketa, Ia.

-- 1:00 pm ET: Attends a meet and greet, Davenport, Ia.

-- 5:00 pm ET: Goes to "Sharp Shooter Handgun Contest," Moline, Ia.

-- 7:30 pm ET: Attends a house party, Colona, Ill.

DUNCAN HUNTER

-- Spends the day in Huntsville, Ala.

FRED THOMPSON

-- Celebrates son's first birthday at home

As for the Democrats. . .

HILLARY CLINTON

-- Celebrates her 60th birthday in Chappaqua, NY

JOHN EDWARDS

-- 9:30 am ET: Speaks to the Stop the Arms Race Political Action Committee, Des Moines, Ia.

-- 11:00 am ET: Gives a major policy speech, Des Moines, Ia.

-- 1:15 pm ET: Holds a community meeting, Boone, Ia.

-- 5:15 pm ET: Holds a community meeting, Iowa Falls, Ia.

ELIZABETH EDWARDS

-- 3:45 pm ET: Visits a house party, Brentwood, N.H.

-- 5:30 pm ET: Attends a fundraiser, Concord, N.H.

JOE BIDEN

-- 4:30 pm ET: Participates in the AARP "Divided We Fail" Forum, Manchester, N.H.

-- 6:00 pm ET: Gives keynote address at Salem Democrat Fall Gala, Derry, N.H.

BARACK OBAMA

-- 10:30 am ET: Attends a fundraiser, Columbus, Ohio

-- 6:00 pm ET: Attends a fundraiser, St. Louis, Mo.

MICHELLE OBAMA

-- 12:00 pm ET: Meets with voters, Hampton, Ia.

-- 2:25 pm ET: Meets with voters, Eagle Grove, Ia.

-- 4:45 pm ET: Meets with voters, Algona, Ia.

-- 8:00 pm ET: Meets with voters, Mason City, Ia.

MIKE GRAVEL

-- 8:30 pm ET: Speaks to the Arab-American Institute National Leadership Conference, Dearborn, Mich.

BILL RICHARDSON

-- Attends an evening fundraiser in Texas

The White House . . .

PRESIDENT BUSH

-- 10:15 am ET: Meets with the president of Congo, Joseph Kabila (Sect. Rice also attends), Washington, D.C.

POLITICAL ARTICLES ON ABCNEWS.COM:

ABC News' David Chalian and Mike Chesney Report: Iowa Dems Expected to Caucus Jan. 3http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/10/iowa-dems-to-ca.html

ABC News' Jake Tapper and Katie Hinman Report: Low Key or Low Energy? Thompson's Doing It His Wayhttp://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Vote2008/story?id=3772883&page=1

ABC News' Kirit Radia: U.S. Announces New Sanctions on Iranhttp://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=3774568&page=1

ABC News' Raelyn Johnson Reports: Edwards Slams Clinton, Romney on Iranhttp://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/10/edwards-slams-c.html

ABC News' Matt Stuart Reports: Mitt Romney Invokes Lewinsky Scandalhttp://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/10/mitt-romney-inv.html

Intern for the ABC News Political Unit:

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The internship begins Monday, Dec. 31, and runs through Friday, May 25.

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In order to apply, you must be either a graduate student or a college student who has completed his or her first year.

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