First votes in US election race
Thursday, 03 Jan 2008 10:41
Hillary Clinton faces a tough race with Barack Obama and John Edwards
Party activists are due to begin casting the first votes of this year's United States presidential campaign in Iowa today.
Both the Democrat and Republican parties are opening their caucuses later today in what political analysts expect will prove a crucial result for all involved.
The Democrat race is currently too close to call after the three candidates spent the last week barraging local media with campaign adverts.
Polls currently place New York senator Hillary Clinton and Illinois senator Barack Obama neck-and-neck. John Edwards, vice-presidential candidate on the 2004 ticket, is a mere two points behind.
The Republicans are also seeing a close contest, but the Iowa race is less reflective of the situation nationally.
The conservative mid-western state has seen Mormon candidate Mitt Romney pour millions into his campaign, but he is struggling to keep up with late-surger Mike Huckabee. John McCain, who is third in Iowa, now leads the field over Rudy Giuliani nationwide.
Record turnout is expected this year for both parties in an election campaign which is anticipated to be the most expensive ever.
Ms Clinton asked: "After all the town meetings, the pie and coffee, it comes down to this: who's ready to be president and ready to start solving the big challenges we face on day one?"
Voters in freezing Iowa are about to provide initial indications of the eventual answer.