SNEAK PEEK: All Eyes on Des Moines

November 9, 2007— -- The hottest place to be this weekend? Sorry Lauren Conrad it's not Les Deux and silly Tom Brady, it's not The Spotted Pig.

If you haven't made your plans to be in Des Moines this weekend, you are out of luck and will have to settle for watching the action from home.

On Saturday night the Iowa Democratic Party holds its annual Jefferson Jackson Dinner at Vet Auditorium in Des Moines. It is a veritable "who's who" of Democratic politics and one of the premiere events leading up to the caucuses on Jan. 3, with 9000 party enthusiasts cramming the auditorium to raise money for the state party and see the presidential candidates deliver back-to-back remarks.

The audience will hear from Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, Bill Richardson, Joe Biden and Chris Dodd. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi serves as the emcee.

The dinner is one of the last marquee events to reach a huge crowd in Iowa so the pressure is on for the candidates to really deliver and shine in their 10-minute speeches.

Iowa polls show an ever-tightening race among the three frontrunners – Clinton, Obama, and Edwards – and all eyes will be on Clinton to see how she tries to bounce back after a rough news cycle that began with the debate in Philadelphia last Tuesday, continued through the "tip/no-tip" stories Thursday but culminated with the endorsement of Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland and a noticeably stronger voice on Friday. LINK

Saturday's event is the Iowa Democratic Party's largest J-J dinner ever. The previous attendance record was set in 2003 when 7500 party enthusiasts heard Hillary Clinton serve as master of ceremonies.

The weekend kicks off tonight at 8:00pm ET with the start of the "sign war." Iowa Democratic Party spokesman Carrie Giddins said that for two hours, each of the six campaigns can hang signs on the inside walls and hallways at the convention center, fighting for prominent location and most territory.

For some of the candidates, the event marks an opportunity to bring in some star power for pre-game festivities.

Obama will appear at a pre-dinner rally with five-time Grammy winner John Legend and Richardson holds a rally pre-dinner that his campaign is billing as the Richardson 500. Richardson will appear with car racers Al and Bobby Unser and John Early, the pilot held hostage by Sudanese rebels, who Richardson helped get released.

On the campaign trail…

Saturday Nov. 10

RUDY GIULIANI

-- 11:15 am ET: Visits with local residents in Loveland, CO.

MITT ROMNEY

-- 8:45 am ET: Meets with New Hampshire Supporters in Manchester, NH

-- 11:00 am ET: Holds town hall event in Hopkinton, NH.

-- 2:30 pm ET: Holds a house party in Holderness, NH.

-- 4:00 pm ET: Holds a town hall event in Laconia, NH.

JOHN MCCAIN

-- 10:40 am ET: Attends a meet and greet at Goffstown Hardware in Goffstown, NH.

-- 3:10 pm ET: Attends a meet and greet at Calef's Country Store in Barrington, NH.

-- 4:00 pm ET: Attends a town hall meeting in Rochester, NH.

--5:30 pm ET: Holds a media availability in Rochester, NH.

-- 7:00 pm ET: Attends University of New Hampshire vs. Boston College hockey game in Durham, NH.

MIKE HUCKABEE

-- 8:00 am ET: Runs in 5K Fun Run with supporters at the University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH.

--10:30 am ET: Participates in downtown walk with Rep. Lee Quandt at Town & Country Barber in Exeter, NH.

--11:00 am ET: Attends Coffee & Conversation hosted by Rep. Lee Quandt and Chris Moustis in Exeter, NH.

--12:30 pm ET: Attends Chowderfest co-hosted by the Seacoast Republican Women and the Hampton and Seabrook Republican Town Committees in Seabrook, NH.

--2:30 pm ET: Attends private house party in Bedford, NH.

--4:30 pm ET: Attends a house party in Amherst, NH.

RON PAUL

-- 11:15 am ET: A Private Briefing with Ron Paul in Philadelphia, PA.

-- 1:00 pm ET: Ron Paul Liberty Rally on Independence Mall in Philadelphia, PA.

As for the Democrats…

HILLARY CLINTON

-- 5:00 pm ET: Delivers Remarks to the Iowa Farmers Union Convention in Des Moines, IA. (Open Press)

-- 8:00 pm ET: Delivers remarks at the Jefferson Jackson Day Dinner in Des Moines, IA

BARACK OBAMA

-- 11:30 am ET: Delivers remarks at Iowa Farmer's Union Convention in Des Moines, IA.

-- 4:30 pm ET: Pre- JJ Rally with 5 time Grammy winner John Legend, Des Moines, IA.

-- 8:00 pm ET: Delivers remarks at the Jefferson Jackson Day Dinner in Des Moines, IA

MICHELLE OBAMA

-- 4:30 pm ET: Pre- JJ Rally with 5 time Grammy winner John Legend, Des Moines, IA.

JOHN EDWARDS

-- 1:00 pm ET: Delivers remarks at the Iowa Farmers Union's 2007 Food and Family Farm Presidential Summit in Des Moines, Iowa.

-- 2:15 pm ET: Attend an event with the Carpenters Union in Des Moines, IA.

-- 6:45 pm ET: Attend a rally with supporters and a special musical performance by Dr. Ralph Stanley in Des Moines, IA.

-- 9:15 pm ET: Delivers remarks at the Jefferson Jackson Dinner, Des Moines, IA.

CATE EDWARDS

-- 10:00 am ET: Manchester Canvass Kick-Off in Manchester, NH.

-- 11:20 am ET: Women's Health Roundtable in Greenland, NH.

-- 12:50 pm ET: Phillip Exeter Academy Event in Exeter, NH.

JOE BIDEN

-- 11:00 am ET: Meet and Greet with State Rep. Bob Kressig and Blackhawk Democrats in Waterloo, IA.

-- 1:00 pm ET: Delivers remarks at the Iowa Farmers Union's 2007 Food and Family Farm Presidential Summit in Des Moines, Iowa.

-- 2:30 pm ET: Speaks at the Farmers Union Presidential Union Forum in Des Moines, IA.

-- 7:15 pm ET: BBQ Rally with supporters in Des Moines, IA.

-- 8:00 pm ET: Delivers remarks at the Jefferson Jackson Dinner in Des Moines, IA.

CHRIS DODD

-- 1:00 pm ET: Attends the Iowa Farmers Union's 2007 Food and Family Farm Presidential Summit in Des Moines, IA.

-- 8:00 pm ET: Attends Jefferson Jackson Day Dinner in Des Moines, IA

BILL RICHARDSON

-- 8:00 pm ET: Attends Jefferson Jackson Day Dinner in Des Moines, IA

DENNIS KUCINICH

-- 9:15 am ET: Meets with homeless veterans in Manchester, NH.

-- 10:00 am ET: Holds a Town Hall Meeting in Manchester, NH.

-- 12:00 pm ET: Attends the opening of the new Manchester office, NH.

--1:30 pm ET: Visits the Salvation Army's McKenna House in Concord, NH.

-- 3:00 pm ET: Holds a town hall meeting in Concord, NH.

-- 7:00 pm ET: Attends a hockey game at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, NH.

The White House...

PRESIDENT BUSH

-- 11:25 am ET: Holds media availability with German Chancellor Merkel at Bush Ranch, Crawford, Texas.

SECRETARY OF STATE RICE

-- 10:05 am ET: Attends President Bush's meeting and availability in Crawford, TX.

Sunday, Nov. 11 (VETERANS DAY)

On the campaign trail…

RUDY GIULIANI

--No public events scheduled

MITT ROMNEY

-- No public events scheduled

JOHN MCCAIN

--10:30 am ET: Attends Veteran's Day Ceremony, Boscawen, NH

--Makes remarks to National Veterans Day Celebration, North Charleston, SC

--media availability

FRED THOMPSON

--6:00 pm ET: Holds meet and greet, Burlington, IA

--7:40 pm ET: Holds meet and greet, Mount Pleasant, IA

As for the Democrats . . .

HILLARY CLINTON

--No public schedule

BARACK OBAMA

-- Interviewed by Tim Russert on NBC's "Meet the Press" from Des Moines, IA

JOHN EDWARDS

--12:00 pm ET: Delivers a major address, Des Moines, IA

--4:00 pm ET: Attends a fundraiser for Johnson County Supervisor Terrence Neuzil and Johnson County Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek, Iowa City, IA

--5:30 pm ET: Attends a fundraiser for State Representative Art Staed, Cedar Rapids, IA

--8:00 pm ET: Attends Congressman Bruce Braley's barbeque event, Dubuque, IA

JOE BIDEN

--11:00 am ET: Appears on CNN Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer

--1:00 pm ET: Attends a meet and greet with Shelby County Democrats in Harlan, IA.

--3:45 pm ET: Attends a meet and greet with Monona County Democrats in Onawa, IA.

--6:45 pm ET: Attends the Five Counties Fundraiser hosted by Sen. Kibbie in Emmetsburg, IA.

--8:30 pm ET: Attends a meet and greet with Mitchell County Democrats in Osage, IA.

BILL RICHARDSON

-- Campaign events in Iowa

DENNIS KUCINICH

--8:00 pm ET: Speaks at the Ani De Franco concert, Asheville, NC

CHRIS DODD

--No public schedule

MIKE GRAVEL

--No public schedule

The White House. . .

PRESIDENT BUSH

--In Crawford, TX

VICE PRES. CHENEY

--10:55 am ET: Lays wreath and delivers remarks, Arlington National Cemetery

Monday Nov. 12, 2007

On the campaign trail…

RUDY GIULIANI

-- No public events scheduled

MITT ROMNEY

--8:45 am ET: Meets with Gentex Employees, Manchester, NH

--10:45 am ET: Visits with Veterans at the Harris Hill Retirement Home, Concord, NH

--6:45 pm ET: Attends dinner fundraiser, Washington DC (Closed Press)

JOHN MCCAIN

-- No public events scheduled

FRED THOMPSON

--9:45 am ET: Meets with Ottumwa Courier Editorial Board, Ottumwa, IA (Closed Press)

--11:00 am ET: Makes a stop at Smokey Row, Oskaloosa, IA

--12:40 pm ET: Holds meet and greet, Indianola, IA

Tom Tancredo

--3:00 pm ET: Holds presser introducing new television ad, Des Moines, IA

As for the Democrats . . .

HILLARY CLINTON

-- No public events scheduled

BARACK OBAMA

--No public events scheduled

JOHN EDWARDS

-- Events in New Hampshire.

JOE BIDEN

--11:00 am ET: Attends a meet and greet with Allamekee County Democrats in Davenport, IA.

--2:00 pm ET: Speaks at UAW Conference in Dubuque, IA.

BILL RICHARDSON

--Spends the day campaigning in Iowa

DENNIS KUCINICH

--5:30 -6:30 pm ET: Speaks to the United Auto Workers, Dubuque, IA

--8:30 – 9:00pm ET: Attends the Middle East Issues Forum, Cedar Rapids, IA

POLITICAL NEWS STORIES ON ABCNEWS.COM

ABC News' Jake Tapper and Katie Hinman:Giuliani Admits 'Mistake' in Case of Indicted Top Cop LINK

ABC News' Karen Travers: Ohio Gov. Endorses Clinton LINK

ABC News' Rick Klein: Edwards to Hit Rivals on Trade LINK

ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf: Dems Plot Another Vote for Iraq Drawdown LINK

ABC News' Teddy Davis: Edwards Picked Over Obama as 'The Un-Hillary' LINK

ABC News' Jared Wiener: Get to Know John McCain LINK

ABC News' Z. Byron: Paul vs. Bernanke on Value of the Dollar LINK

ABC News' David Wright and Sunlen Miller: Obama v. (Which) Clinton LINK

POLITICAL VIDEO ON ABCNEWS.COM

The NoteABC News' Senior Political Reporter Rick Klein on the weekly political roundup. LINK

Edwards Nabs Coveted Iowa EndorsementThe fmr. North Carolina Senator gets a nod from liberal Iowa Caucus group. LINK

Politics LiveIf you're an '08 contender and your friend's in trouble, does it rub off on you? LINK

Fred Thompson's Sweet TeaThompson's presidential campaign stops for a sweet taste of SC. LINK

Romney Attacks Rivals in Immigration AdMitt Romney releases an ad highlighting his opposition to illegal immigration. LINK

Obama Takes on President Clinton's Claim Obama objects to Bill Clinton taking blame for failed healthcare effort in '93. LINK

Ready To LeadIs Rudy Giuliani's mayoral experience enough to be president? LINK

The Candidates: John McCainExtended version of Charles Gibson's talk with the presidential candidate. LINK

This Week All Week WebcastGOP Endorsement Showdown LINK

Bernard Kerik IndictedThe former New York police commissioner is accused of defrauding the public.LINK

Michael Mukasey ConfirmedThe Senate votes in favor of the retired judge to be the next attorney general. LINK