A friend of ours was out sledding with her grandkids in the backyard on Saturday in Cedar Rapids when a couple from DC came to her door wanting to talk with her about Hillary. Clinton headquarters is also providing snow shovels to volunteers to dig out sidewalks for older women needing to get to the caucus (the only problem is that a thick coat of ice underlays the snow, so shoveling may not be the best thing to do for women wanting safe footing as they venture out). First-time caucus-goers are being offered campaign mugs, bumper stickers, and fridge magnets.

Among Iowa legislators, Clinton and Romney picked up the most endorsements, with Obama and Biden next up for the Dems and McCain and Thompson for the Republicans. And the Cedar Rapids Gazette reported that Chelsea Clinton brushed aside questions from nine-year-old Sydney Rieckhoff, fourth grade "Kid Reporter" for Scholastic News. When she asked Chelsea "Do you think your dad would be a good 'first man' in the White House?" Chelsea told her, "I'm sorry--I don't talk to the press, and that applies to you, unfortunately. Even though I think you're cute." Although Sydney looked pretty disappointed after Chelsea turned her away, Sydney's mom said she will still caucus for Hillary. "I like her position on family values and health care. And I think it's time we have a female president."

Hillary was also the subject of some criticism for cutting out the question-and-answer portion of her appearances at all but three of the 24 campaign rallies she's held since Christmas. "She says she listens to people, but yet she doesn't take questions," said Paul Collier, who will turn 18 before the November election but won't be able to caucus this time. Biden and Edwards, by contrast, take questions from the audience at every event, and Obama has taken questions at 14 of his 26 events since Christmas, according to the Register.

In general most of us Iowans will be eager to caucus tomorrow night--and happy to wave goodbye to the candidates as they head for New Hampshire. It's been pretty intense, especially with all the robocalls and campaign literature in the mailbox. My hunch is that Obama and Huckabee will come out on top tomorrow night, but not by much. The numbers are still very fluid, and, believe it or not, after all these months, many people are still undecided. On the Democratic side, at least, there are really five or six excellent candidates, any of whom would be able to handle the Presidency just fine. The question is one of electability. And wiser folks than I will have to puzzle that one out.

One thing I know for sure is that Friday morning when 2,000-plus campaign rental cars are turned in at Iowa's two or three major airports, it won't be pretty.

B3 Personal note to Carolyn: Thanks, Carolyn. You did a great job as our rep in the Iowa Press corps. You and your fellow Iowans make me proud to be Iowan. You should go into this line of work. B3, temporarily in San Francisco