SNEAK PEEK: How the Grinch Stole Iowa
Mike Huckabee may spoil the holidays for a few of his Republican rivals.
December 19, 2007— -- 15 Days Until the Iowa Caucuses
Mike Huckabee got an early Christmas present today, a new poll wrapped up with a bow. The other Republican candidates may be feeling as if they are more likely to get coal in their Iowa stockings.
The latest ABC News/Washington Post poll finds that the Huckaboom of November was not a fluke and his upward momentum continues. At 35 percent support among likely Republican caucus-goers, Huckabee has widened his lead over the longtime Iowa GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney who has 27 percent support. Huckabee's incredible Iowa surge is being driving by the overwhelming support of Christian evangelical voters.
ABC's polling director Gary Langer writes, "Huckabee, who jumped into contention in Iowa a month ago, has soared further among his key groups -- weekly churchgoers, abortion opponents, conservatives and, above all, evangelical Protestants, who account for nearly four in 10 likely caucus-goers. They now favor Huckabee over Romney by a 3-1 margin, 57 percent to 19 percent.
Read all of the numbers here.
Huckabee, Romney, Fred Thompson and Tom Tancredo are all out in Iowa on Thursday. Rep. Tancredo has a major announcement at 3:00 pm ET in Des Moines.
On another front…every December the ad gurus on Madison Avenue come up with new ways to tie their product to the holidays and catch the eye of the American consumer (and to catch their dollars).
The major presidential contenders already have plenty of Americans' dollars, and now they're trying to get last minute votes with holiday themed ads.
Four more Christmas-ish campaign commercials were released on Wednesday - and they are as priceless as MasterCard ads.
Hillary Clinton is seen packing presents for all Americans to enjoy. Tucker Carlson is going to be very excited that the senator finds her Universal Pre-K package in the ad. LINK
Unsurprisingly Sen. Barack Obama's explains how "the things that unite us is more powerful and enduring than anything that sets us apart." Obama's attractive wife and daughters were along for the ride (move over Huxtables). LINK
Even more unsurprisingly, Rudy Giuliani's kids were no where to be found is his ad - no Judith Nathan either. Santa keeps the former mayor company. LINK
John Edwards appeared by himself with a holiday lecture about fighting for those living in poverty. LINK
Here's what's on tap for Thursday.
The Republicans. . .
RUDY GIULIANI
-- No public events scheduled.
MITT ROMNEY
-- 8:45 am ET: Holds Q&A with voters, Indianola, IA
-- 11:45 am ET: Holds event with voters, Fort Dodge, IA
-- 3:45 pm ET: Holds event with voters, Orange City, IA
-- 8:15 pm ET: Holds event with voters, Council Bluffs, IA
MIKE HUCKABEE
-- 8:30 am ET: Meets with voters, Marshalltown, IA
-- 11:00 am ET: Meets with voters, Dike, IA
-- 1:00 pm ET: Meets with voters, Waterloo, Iowa
-- 3:00 pm ET: Meets with voters, Manchester, Iowa
-- 7:00 pm ET: Attends Iowa Christian Alliance event, Cedar Rapids, IA
JOHN MCCAIN
-- 7:30 pm ET: Attends finance reception hosted by Governor Buddy Roemer, Baton Rouge, LA
FRED THOMPSON
-- 11:00 am ET: Meets with voters, Carroll, IA
-- 1:05 pm ET: Tours downtown Denison, Denison, IA
-- 3:15 pm ET: Participates in a radio town hall, Atlantic, IA
-- 5:15 pm ET: Tours downtown Missouri Valley, Missouri Valley, IA
-- 8:00 pm ET: Meets with voters, Council Bluffs, IA
RON PAUL
-- No public events scheduled.
TOM TANCREDO
-- 3:00 pm ET: Makes an announcement, Des Moines, IA
DUNCAN HUNTER
-- Tours manufacturing facilities, Oakland and Macomb County, MI
-- 7:00 pm ET: Attends fundraiser, Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan
The Democrats. . .
HILLARY CLINTON
-- 11:00 am ET: Attends event with voters, Grundy Center, IA
-- 2:30 pm ET: Attends event with voters, Tipton, IA
-- 4:45 pm ET: Attends event with voters, Centerville, IA
-- 9:00 pm ET: Attends event with voters, Burlington, IA
BILL CLINTON
-- 4:15 pm ET: Attends event with voters, Wolfeboro, NH
-- 7:30 pm ET: Attends event with voters, Holderness, NH
BARACK OBAMA
-- 11:00 am ET: Holds a roundtable discussion, Exeter, NH
-- 5:00 pm ET: Meets with voters, Portsmouth, NH
-- 7:00 pm ET: Meets with voters, Rochester, NH
MICHELLE OBAMA
-- 11:00 am ET: Attends event with voters, Iowa City, IA
-- 1:45 pm ET: Attends event with voters, Sigourney, IA
-- 4:15 pm ET: Attends event with voters, Fairfield, IA
-- 5:40 pm ET: Attends event with voters, Mt. Pleasant, IA
-- 7:40 pm ET: Attends event with voters, Burlington, IA
JOHN EDWARDS
-- 1:00 pm ET: Holds event with voters, Council Bluffs, IA
-- 5:30 pm ET: Holds event with voters, Le Mars, IA
-- 7:45 pm ET: Holds event with voters, Sioux City, IA
JOE BIDEN
-- 9:00 am ET: Speaks to voters at event, Sioux City, IA
-- 12:30 pm ET: Speaks to voters at event, Mason City, IA
-- 3:30 pm ET: Speaks to voters at event, Webster City, IA
-- 7:30 pm ET: Speaks to voters at event, Marion, IA
CHRIS DODD
-- 1:00 pm ET: Speaks to voters, Council Bluffs, IA
-- 7:30 pm ET: Attends holiday event with voters, Des Moines, IA
BILL RICHARDSON
-- Spends the day in Iowa
At the White House. . .
PRESIDENT BUSH
-- 11:25 am ET: Participate in the swearing-in of the Secretary of Veteran Affairs, Washington, DC
POLITICAL NEWS STORIES ON ABCNEWS.COM
ABC News' Jennifer Parker and Lindsey Ellerson Report: Auld Lang Resign: Topsy-Turvy Politics of '07 LINK
ABC News' Gary Langer Reports: Religion Drives Iowa GOP Race, Lifting Huckabee into the Lead LINK
ABC News' Brian Ross and Avni Patel Report: Whose Push Poll Is It Anyway? Going Negative on Clinton, Obama; Positive on Edwards LINK
ABC News' Jan Simmonds Reports: Rudy Wants to Give You a Holiday Fruitcake LINK
ABC News' Ann Compton, Jon Garcia, Jonathan Karl, Karen Travers, and Jack Date Report: Blaze at White House Office Building LINK
ABC News' Jake Tapper Reports: Is It Sexist to Discuss Hillary's Wrinkles? LINK
ABC News' Jan Simmonds reports: Giuliani: Early Primaries are 'Uncharted Territory'LINK
ABC News' Sarah Amos Reports: Richardson Ad Gets Tough on Rivals' Iraq Plans LINK
ABC News' Bret Hovell reports: Kissinger: McCain Best for 'Difficult and Complicated' Times LINK
ABC News' John Berman Reports: Romney Shows W. Love LINK
ABC News' Matthew Dowd Reports: Hearts and Souls Party LINK
ABC News' Matt Stuart Reports: For Romney, There's an 'End in Sight' LINK
ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf Reports: Paul Entices College Supporters Not to Skip Town for the Holidays LINK
ABC News' Steven Portnoy Reports: Small Fire, Big White House Photo-Op LINK
ABC News' Kevin Chupka Reports: Huckabee's Marathon: From Rotund to Runner LINK
ABC News' Christine Byun Reports: Thompson's New Role: Tipton, Iowa Bank Teller LINK
POLITICAL VIDEO ON ABCNEWS.COM
Christmas Brings Deadlines LINK
Religious Showdown in Iowa LINK
The Hillary I Know LINK
Hillary Clinton on her Likeability LINK
Giuliani's Christmas Spirit LINK
Richardson Talks Tough on Iraq LINK
Romney Ad: 'Searched' LINK
Huckabee on Christ Ad Brouhaha: 'Paul is Dead' LINK
Putin Receives Time's Annual Nod LINK
White House Campus Fire LINK
New Poll Shows Tight Race in Iowa LINK
Questions Over Destroyed CIA Tapes LINK
Political Highlights of 2007 LINK
Energy-Saving Actions in Congress LINK
Political Tactic: Cut Back on Campaign LINK