We've got some last-minute blog news before tonight's vote, so let's get started ...

 A PUSH TOWARD OBAMA?

The news blog iowaindependent.com  is now reporting that Richardson's campaign is expected to quietly direct its supporters to make Barack Obama their second choice tonight in caucus precincts where Richardson has little support.

Richardson campaign spokesman Tom Reynolds, however, tells me this morning that the report is untrue.

"Richardson is going to be viable in nearly every precinct in this state. We're not remotely concerned about second choices," Reynolds said.

 With only hours to go before caucus voting kicks off at 7 p.m., "there's rampant rumors," Reynolds added. "Every minute, I hear something different."

The blog, without giving names, said that "two sources familiar with the plan told Iowa Independent that the New Mexico governor's organizers have been instructed to direct supporters to Obama in the places where they fail to reach the 15 percent threshold for viability."

Under the Iowa Democratic caucus system, caucus goers gather in hundreds of locations across the state. Candidates who can't muster the support of at least 15 percent of the delegates in any one caucus site are deemed unviable at that specific site.

An unviable candidate's delegates can try to sway other candidates' delegates to join their group to reach the magic 15 percent figure, or fold and throw their support behind their second-choice candidate.

So while the Richardson camp says the blog report is bogus, here's one line of thinking on how such a move could make political sense:

Many people believe that if Hillary Clinton wins Iowa, she will roll out of the Hawkeye State with enough national momentum that could make her a virtual lock for the presidential nomination. Therefore, it wouldn't make much sense for a lower candidate hoping to stay in the game to send any caucus votes her way tonight.

Pundits also believe John Edwards, who has spent virtually all his time in Iowa, is toast if he doesn't do well tonight. Therefore, it wouldn't behoove candidates polling lower than him (Richardson, Biden, Dodd) to send any votes his way tonight.

That leaves Obama. Give him the votes and he wins Iowa, the race is on and could continue to be fluid, Edwards could conceivably be eliminated, and the pool of candidates would thin out at the same time it's getting mixed up.

Let's see what shakes out tonight.

A QUIET DAY

Richardson is not out on the campaign trail today but is doing some media interviews, Reynolds said.

He said the camp wants its staffers "focused and energized" for this evening, when it will be hard at work making sure Richardson's supporters get out to caucus for him.

That work will include driving folks to caucus sites around Iowa - and even offering babysitting to parents so they can get out and vote.

"We're doing everything under the sun to get our supporters to caucus tonight," Reynolds said.

 NOT THAT PLANE

One reader e-mailed me this morning after reading my story in today's Journal, and he apparently got the impression that the jet which ferried Richardson around Iowa for a last-minute vote push on Wednesday belonged to the state of New Mexico.

While the  state of New Mexico does indeed have a jet, it wasn't the Cessna that flew Richardson around Iowa.

Best I can tell from a quick FAA check, the Citation Richardson was using Wednesday (Tail number N91ML) may be from a charter service.

ONLY IN IOWA

Speaking of planes,  a scene that could happen only in Iowa unfolded in a small lounge at the tiny Mason City Municipal Airport when Richardson's jet rolled up there about 1:50 p.m. Wednesday.

A few folks inside the lounge looked on with only mild interest as Richardson got out of the jet and immediately packed himself into a red Chevy Cobalt to hurry to a campaign event.

Mason City, like just about every other burg of any size in Iowa, has seen a nonstop raft of candidate visits. Republican frontrunner Mike Huckabee had been at the airport just hours before.  And one lady in the lounge remarked that Richardson and Clinton were the only two she knew of that hadn't stopped into the lounge to press the flesh.

That's Iowa for ya. They're watching these candidates like a hawk.

 QUOTES FROM THE TRAIL

"This is the ultimate in American democracy."- Richardson, at the close of one of his final Iowa town hall meetings in Mason City on Wednesday. 

 "It's the incessant phone calls at home. It's continuous." - Mason City voter Mark Lemon, explaining why he's glad caucus night is finally here.

"CAR WASH?" - The question the computer screen on the automated gas pump asked me when I filled up my rental truck in Mason City Wednesday night. It was about 10 degrees at the time.

"Hold on, Iowa, for final hours" - the banner headline in Wednesday's Des Moines Register.

 "NOW, YOU DECIDE" - today's headline.

 "He just hasn't done anything for me. He's a little too homey." - Iowa podiatrist Dr. Claudia Addy, on why she won't be backing Richardson tonight.

 "This is my man. He really, really makes sense to me." - Mason City resident Albert Flores, who plans to caucus for Richardson.

 If you have questions, e-mail me at jjones@abqjournal.com 

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