The Nigh Seen Creeder

Looks like the GOP race in Iowa is gonna be a real barnburner:

"Iowa Republicans have a recent track record of embracing the GOP's establishment presidential candidate in their leadoff caucuses. They've searched far and wide for a such a nominee for 2008 - but haven't yet found him.

"Less than seven weeks before the voting, the Republican race here is unsettled.

"Mitt Romney had held a double-digit lead in polls for months, but his margin is narrowing as voters begin to home in on their choices ahead of January's contest. ...

"Iowans long have been known for waiting until the final weeks and even days of a campaign before locking in on someone - and this cycle is proving no different.

"Polls show some 15 percent of likely Republican caucus-goers are undecided. And more than half say they could still change their minds. The lack of a clear-cut favorite seemingly presents opportunity for any of the strong contenders to emerge. ...

"Over the past few weeks, several polls have shown Romney's lead tightening to single digits as Huckabee, an underfunded though charismatic conservative who barely registered in polls this summer, leapt to a second-place showing. This week, a CBS News/New York Times poll found Romney with 27 percent to Huckabee's 21 percent, with Giuliani at 15 percent. The Research 2000 Iowa Poll showed Romney at 27 percent, Huckabee at 18 percent and Giuliani at 16 percent. Thompson and McCain lagged the others in both polls."