1.    Two major endorsements:

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Former_pre sidential_contender_Gephardt_to_endorse_ 0705.html

Dick Gephardt

Former House Majority Leader and 2004 presidential contender Dick Gephardt (D-MO) will endorse Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) this afternoon in her bid for the presidency, according a senior campaign aide. A spokesman for the campaign confirmed the claim to RAW STORY this morning.

http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S= 6747642
The Army's first three-star general: Glaudia Kennedy:

The Army's first woman to become a three-star general says she is backing Hillary Rodham Clinton for president because Clinton will do the most to help veterans.

Lieutenant General Claudia Kennedy retired from the Army in 2000 and moved to Hilton Head Island. She is one of several dozen retired military service members advising Clinton.

2. Field reports from Iowa

A Time article: "The Hillary and Bill show"...
http://www.time.com/time/politics/articl e/0,8599,1640108,00.html

All year, Bill Clinton has served as chief fund raiser and private political cheerleader for his wife. But his spousal contributions in Iowa have been especially distinctive. He has helped draw bigger crowds so that the vital precaucus task of amassing names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses (required of all those who attend) produced a bumper crop. At public events and private meetings, Bill Clinton played biographer in chief, talking not about himself or his presidency (well, he might have slipped in a few stories and favorite statistics) but about his wife's career. And at joint meetings with local Democratic activists, aides say, Hillary Clinton took the lead, answering most of the questions.

Iowa is in some ways the most important state for Hillary Clinton's nomination campaign and the one in which she is weakest. (She trails John Edwards in most Iowa polls.) It is for that reason a good place to test her new campaign slogan--"Ready for change! Ready to lead!"--which highlights both her greatest strength as a contender for the job and the most frequent knock on her campaign.

...
But Bill Clinton knows all about how to be a "candidate of change"; it's what won him the White House in 1992 after he stole the title from Ross Perot, the hot reform candidate of the cycle. Clinton took advantage of the country's desire to turn the page on the Bush era. That pattern might be repeated. Perhaps just as Bush 41's failed Administration begat Clinton 42, Bush 43's war in Iraq and unpopular stewardship could pave the way for Clinton 44.

Moreover, Clinton partisans argue, to make change happen, a President must be ready for the job. Clinton strategists are aware that many voters associate the charismatic and youthful Obama with the ideal of change, but they are betting that voters see Hillary Clinton as the only candidate capable of implementing change.

...
Asked how someone named Clinton who serves in the Senate could be considered the best change candidate, the former President had a ready answer. "[Voters] don't want to change from what we did," he said. "They want to change from what was undone about where we were going ... Basically, every election is a change election. All elections are about tomorrow, not yesterday. Yesterday is only relevant as it gives evidence about tomorrow."
...

A local newspaper's report on Bill and Hillary's rally...
http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2007/ 07/05/news/top_story/doc468cb3c98ab50152 432249.txt

"They know how to campaign," said Steve Rondorf of Waterloo. "They know how to do a good show."

Margaret and Garold Zander of Denver live in a house somewhat divided: She is a fan of Hillary Clinton; he is less certain. In fact at the moment, Garold is leaning toward one of Hillary Clinton's opponents, John Edwards.

Polls focusing on the Hawkeye State indicate Iowa Democrats' will likely choose either Clinton; Edwards, a former senator from North Carolina; or Barack Obama, senator from Illinois. Multiple national polls, however, show Clinton with a comfortable lead over the closest challenger, Obama.

Margaret Zander viewed Wednesday's rally as an event and as an opportunity, jotting notes on a white legal pad.

"It's kind of a once-in-a-lifetime chance, and I'm getting information," she said.Garold Zander would, however, heartily endorse an Edwards-Clinton ticket --- if in the right order.
"Edwards first," he said.

Margaret Zander predicts success for Hillary Clinton in particular and for Democrats in general in 2008.

"People are ready for a change, big time," she said. "If they can find a way to work together, that will make the party pretty powerful."

Steve Rondorf and his wife, Donna, fell into the just-interested category, at least before the speeches began. Steve Rondorf supports Edwards.

" ... We're not on the Hillary Express, not at this time," he said, "but it's good to hear what she has to say."

Dan Cutsforth of Fairbank attended with his wife, Lynda; sister, Lisa Crow; and nephew, Scott Ebert. He wanted to hear Hillary Clinton speak and is a fan.

"I think I've pretty much decided," he said.

But Cutsforth had a hard time concealing his enthusiasm at seeing Bill Clinton. He and his group showed up about two hours early and were among the first allowed into the viewing area. In the end, Cutsforth collected autographs from both Clintons.

Joan Lawson of Waterloo is also optimistic about Hillary Clinton.

"She has a pretty good chance because she has Bill to support her," Lawson said.

Past problems in the Clintons' marriage illustrate more than damage Hillary Clinton's image, Lawson said.

"Everybody has issues in their family life. She stood by him, which shows what kind of person she is morally," Lawson said.

....
Bob Molinaro helped make the Bill and Hillary show a success but couldn't endorse much of what he heard from the parade of Democrats.

"I'm a Republican," Molinaro said.

But he is also chairman of a ad hoc committee that supports the National Cattle Congress, and the campaign appearance was a good opportunity to showcase the grounds and the city of Waterloo.

"He was president. I respect the office, and she's a U.S. senator. We have to respect that," he said.

"We can disagree. We don't have to be disagreeable."

Politics aside, Molinaro thought Bill and Hillary Clinton delivered.

"She's a talented speaker. And let's admit it, he's a charismatic guy. You can't help but like the rascal," Molinaro said.

...
Renee Wilkie of Cedar Falls wanted to make that assessment in person.

"I just came to check her out --- them out," Wilkie said.

After the speeches, Wilkie was convinced her impression of Hillary Clinton was correct.

"I was a fan, but now I'm a bigger fan now," she said.

3. Quinnipiac NJ poll:

No surprise in democratic primary: Hillary 37%, Gore 18%, Obama 15%, Edwards 6%.

The most interesting thing is the head-to-head match-up. Hillary is further improving her #s. It seems to confirm Obama's weakness in general election, especially when running against Rudy.

New York Sen. Hillary Clinton has gained some ground on former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani in a 2008 presidential matchup in New Jersey and now trails the Republican front-runner 47 - 44 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. This compares to a 49 - 40 percent Giuliani lead April 19.

* Clinton tops Arizona Sen. John McCain 47 - 41 percent;

• Clinton beats former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson 50 - 37 percent;
  
• Giuliani beats Illinois Sen. Barack Obama 48 - 40 percent;
  
• Giuliani tops former Vice President Al Gore 47 - 44 percent;
  
• Obama tops McCain 44 - 40 percent;
  
• Obama beats Thompson 49 - 32 percent

"Sen. Hillary Clinton is growing stronger in New Jersey, and now trails former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani by just three percent in a head to head matchup, compared with nine points in the last poll. And if Mayor Michael Bloomberg runs as an independent, he takes more votes from Giuliani, making the three-way race too close to call," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

Edwards does not seem so `likeable' as his supporters seem to suggest...

Favorability:

Hillary 50: 42
Bloomberg: 50:20
McCain: 46:30
Gore: 55:35
Obama: 49:21
Edwards: 39:30

It's interesting that Al Gore's favorability is very high, but he does not fare much better than Hillary in all head-to-head matchups.

Former Missouri U.S. Rep. Richard Gephardt will endorse Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., for president at 1 p.m. today. Gephardt - the former Democratic leader of the United States House - was last seen on the political landscape about three years ago when he made his second run for president. He bowed out after an unsuccessful showing in the Iowa primary. More later.