SNEAK PEEK: Primaries: Cajun Style

February 8, 2008— -- Voters head to the polls in Louisiana Saturday and gather for caucuses in four states and the Virgin Islands.

There are 74 delegates at stake on the Republican side on Saturday and 161 at stake on the Democratic side.

The Washington State caucuses are the big jackpot for the Democrats, with 78 delegates at stake. Barack Obama picked up a key endorsement from Gov. Christine Gregoire today but Hillary Clinton has the backing of the state's two female senators, Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray.

The calendar and contests don't favor Clinton, who has admitted to having difficulties in caucuses, which are more time-demanding and require great passion of supporters, ABC News' Eloise Harper reports. Clinton has lost eight out of the last nine such contests and said in recent press availability that caucuses draw the "activists" from campaigns and are not the most democratic process.

Saturday it's Mike Huckabee's turn to address the conservatives at CPAC, on the day of the convention's straw poll. Remember it was Huckabee who wowed over the audience at the Family Research Council's Values Voters summit and went on to finish a close second to Mitt Romney in the straw poll there.

The straw poll is, of course, non-binding and largely meaningless and the results should not be read as representative of the conservative movement writ large. However the results may be something to keep in your inbox and pull up again if/when Huckabee's name is floated as a vice presidential candidate.

Huckabee has performed well in southern states and among conservative, evangelical voters. With Romney out of the race, the audience politely took in what McCain had to say this week but he didn't exactly bring down the house. Huckabee's performance tomorrow could help him plant his name firmly on the GOP Veepstakes list.

This year's CPAC presidential preference straw poll will have a slightly different twist than last year's poll. The first question on the ballot is a simple question of whom voters would choose if the election were held today.

In addition to the generic preference question, there will be follow up questions asking what voters would do on Election Day if McCain, Romney or Huckabee are the GOP nominee.

CPAC STRAW POLL QUESTIONS1. If the election were held today to decide the Republican presidential nominee for whom would you vote?

Huckabee

McCain

Paul

Romney

Other

Undecided

2. If John McCain is the Republican nominee for president in 2008 - which of the following will you personally do on election day?

Vote for McCain

Vote for someone else

Won't vote

This question is repeated for Romney and Huckabee, if they were the Republican nominee, which given the current delegate estimate, is not looking likely for Huckabee.

The straw poll results will be announced on Saturday at 4:30 pm ET by David Keene.

Romney won the CPAC presidential preference straw poll last year when the question was "Who would be your FIRST choice to be the Republican Nominee for President in 2008?" Romney edged Giuliani, 21-17. The now presumptive nominee, McCain, came in fifth with 12 percent.

Saturday's line up:5:00 PM ET POLL CLOSING

WASHINGTON- Republican Caucuses

WASHINGTON- Democratic Caucuses

KANSAS- Republican Caucuses

6:00 PM ET POLL CLOSING

VIRGIN ISLANDS – Democratic Caucuses

8:00 PM ET POLL CLOSING

NEBRASKA- Democratic Caucuses

9:00 PM ET POLL CLOSING

LOUISIANA- Republican Primary – closed

LOUISIANA- Democratic Primary - closed

Saturday February 9, 2008On the campaign trail. . .

MIKE HUCKABEE

-- 9:00 am ET: Delivers remarks at Conservative Political Action Conference, Washington, DC

-- 10:00 am ET: Holds media availability, Washington, DC

-- 12:00 pm ET: Attends event with voters, College Park, MD

-- 4:00 pm ET: Visits patients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC

As for the Democrats. . .

BARACK OBAMA

-- 2:30 pm ET: Attends rally with voters, Bangor, ME

-- Attends Democratic Party of Virginia Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, Richmond, VA

HILLARY CLINTON

-- 9:30 pm ET: Attends town hall discussion with voters, Orono, ME

-- 1:30 pm ET: Attends town hall discussion with voters, Lewiston, ME

-- 8:00 pm ET: Attends Democratic Party of Virginia Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, Richmond, VA

BILL CLINTON

-- 9:30 am ET: Attends event with voters, Chesapeake, VA

-- 4:30 pm ET: Attends event with voters, Abingdon, VA

-- 8:00 pm ET: Attends event with voters, Blacksburg, VA

Sunday, February 10, 2008

On the campaign trail. . .

MIKE HUCKABEE

-- Appears on Meet the Press with Tim Russert

-- Appears on Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer

As for the Democrats. . .

BARACK OBAMA

-- 12:30 pm ET: Attends town hall discussion with voters, Alexandria, VA

-- 12:50 pm ET: Attends roundtable discussion with voters, Alexandria, VA

-- 7:30 pm ET: Attends rally with voters, Virginia Beach, VA

-- Appears for an interview with Steve Kroft on 60 Minutes

HILLARY CLINTON

-- 1:00 pm ET: Attends event with voters, Manassas, VA

-- 5:00 pm ET: Attends event with voters, Roanoke, VA

At the White House. . .

PRESIDENT BUSH

-- 6:00 pm ET: Attends event honoring Abraham Lincoln's 199th birthday, Washington, DC

-- Appears on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace

Monday, February 11, 2008

On the campaign trail. . .

JOHN MCCAIN

-- 5:30 pm ET: Attends campaign rally with voters, Richmond, VA

-- 6:15 pm ET: Holds media availability, Richmond, VA

As for the Democrats. . .

BARACK OBAMA

-- Attends town hall meeting with voters, Roanoke, VA

-- 10:30 am ET: Attends rally with voters, College Park, MD

At the White House. . .

PRESIDENT BUSH-- 1:05 pm ET: Signs the 2008 Economic Report, Washington, DC-- 4:45 pm ET: Delivers remarks at The Heart Truth reception, Washington, DC

POLITICAL NEWS STORIES AT ABCNEWS.COM

ABC News' Jennifer Parker Reports: Obama vs. Clinton: Will Voters or Party Elite Decide? LINK

ABC News' Jonathan Karl Reports: Secret Memo Blasts State Dept. Iraq Effort LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper and Eloise Harper Report: Sleepless in Seattle, for Delegates LINK

ABC News' Diane Sawyer, Robert Morrissey and Jonann Brady Report: Newt Gingrich's Race to '08 Predictions LINK

ABC News' Gary Langer Reports: Turnout and the Youth Vote LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper Reports: Bill: I Never Attacked Obama LINK

ABC News' Rick Klein Reports: Buzz Maker of the Week! LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper Reports: The Super-Delegate Mess (and Other Messes) LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper Reports: Clinton Camp Threatens to Boycott NBC Debates Because of Comment About Chelsea Being "Pimped Out" LINK

ABC News' Kevin Chupka Reports: Taking on New York Is All in a Day's Work for Huckabee LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper and Eloise Harper Reports: Clinton Brings Cash into the Convention LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper Reports: Wash. Gov. Gregoire Endorses Obama LINK

ABC News' John Hendren Reports: Bush Endorses McCain? Not So Fast. . . LINK

ABC News' Ron Claiborne Reports: Let the Veepstakes Begin! LINK

ABC News' Kevin Chupka Reports: Huckabee: "I Still Believe in the Impossible" LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper Reports: Obamagirl Didn't Vote LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper Reports: Feminist Organization: Bring Me the Head of MSNBC LINK

POLITICAL VIDEO AT ABCNEWS.COM

Newt Gingrich's Crystal Ball

Former speaker of the house weighs in with predictions on the presidential race LINK

The Next Phase of the Presidential Race

ABC's Jake Tapper on the challenge for the Clinton campaign LINK

Fight! 'View' Spars Over McCain

Hasselback defends the Arizona senator's decision to skip a crucial Senate vote LINK