January
3 At Last

That, and other news, in today's Political Panorama.

Judging by the media, the money and the attention showered onto Iowa, it's hard to think that no less than the fate of the world is about to be decided today. In fact, according to the Politico, the avalanche of news about the presidential race in general already is exceeding coverage of the last four campaigns combined.

Of course, how could they not cover a race that's been so much about political stars or tapping into the power of celebrity? Here's some of the latest highlights of the candidates and how they have spent their final day on the trail in the Hawkeye State:

Hillary Clinton taped this appearance on "Late Show with David Letterman"...

A hoarse-voiced Barack Obama got a dose of good news from the latest polls, and actually told a crowd that there may be "somebody" in Iowa who hasn't noticed we got a caucus going on"...

John Edwards ended a 36-hour bus tour with a performance by John Mellencamp (singing special lyrics of "Ain't That America") --- and an entourage of a lot of journalists amped up on Red Bull...

Mitt Romney was otherwise relaxed at a campaign rally, but can't be entirely pleased with the comparisons to Adam West. Or maybe he is? Responding to Huckabee adviser Ed Rollins' desire to knock his teeth out, he says "Don't touch the hair."

John McCain can only be happy about a new poll showing him in the national lead over Rudy Giuliani --- and he's enough of a threat that Romney is after him...

Mike Huckabee survived writers' pickets to land on "The Tonight Show" set (and, per Time's The Page, he'll again be on late-night TV tonight)...

Short of money, Fred Thompson made the rounds on free media. He tells Tim Russert that "at the end of the evening tonight, things are going to look different for all of us. Some of us may get shellacked, some of us may get a strong wind to our back. Some of us have to recognize the signals that we have been given and respond accordingly. I expect a strong wind."

And Giuliani --- who has barely campaigned in Iowa --- is in Florida.