yeah, i tend to think so. if Clinton wins Iowa and her current 3/9/12 point lead stabilizes/increases, as does the media theme that the Dem nomination is a done deal, then the more 'fun' election will be on the GOP side, so I'd have to think it would increase turnout over there and that, in turn, will help both McCain and Paul.

and, actually, that also helps Clinton, since she polls better among rank and file Dems than among independents.

I'm scared of McCain's electability but I wonder how much even an outright victory in NH could help him. Unlike Kerry 04, McCain's name recognition is pretty much 100 across the country. If Republican voters haven't decided to support him by now it's for a reason -- or multiple reasons (immigration, campaign finance, occasionally taking a token independent stand). I think the only way he could get the nomination is in a brokered convention, into which I think he'd go better positioned than anyone else.

...they'll nominate McCain. He needs Willard and Huck to destroy each other.

that McCain has looked like a no-hoper since the summer. It has caused a lot of Democrats to think that electability isn't a big deal.

Obama's been getting overwhelmingly positive media coverage this year compared to Edwards and Clinton. That would change in a nanosecond if he had to run against McCain (media darling) in the general.

I'm sorry but the polls don't seem to reflect that huck is gaining?

I seem to have heard somewhere that he was, but i dont see any updated polling that would suggest he's in the hunt?

I think McCain can make the race interesting. huck is supposed to be gaining in SC, the GOP race is going to be more of a fist fight.

But Ron Paul will declare independent and siphon off their voters.

I think Thompson could do sorta okay as the social conservative who's not too over the top.  He could be a sleeper candidate in every sense of the word.

Liebermans revenge, Mccain Lieberman would crushHillary so bad in the general election it wouldn't be funny. Dems nominate their most polarizing unlikeable candidate and the GOP goes with the guy that appeals to moderates and swing voters whom almost no one personally dislikes. Then he picks Joe L and appears to be reaching out to unify the country to the average voter.  Don't say we weren't warned Hillary ends our argument for change as a party.

I wonder if McCain can do anything with it?

I'm having trouble seeing him take a NH victory anywhere.

I've said it before and I will say it again--McCain will be the nominee.  I think Edwards would be best against him, but I don't think he's getting the nomination.

McCain may be alive in the polls but he looks dead in real life. He looks like he just walked out of a hospice. What strength? What exerience? Give that man a cane!

The Republican field is going to be fun. I'm keeping my fingers crossed no one receives enough delegates and it come to a convention showdown here in the Twin Cities.