The Des Moines Register

Fortune smiled on Mike Huckabee today.

The former Arkansas Governor, suddenly the front-runner in Iowa, was supposed to come under intense fire from Mitt Romney at this afternoon’s Republican debate in Des Moines—the last head-to-head encounter between the candidates before the January 3 caucuses.

And the set-up seemed perfect for Mr. Romney, whose Mormonism has probably contributed to the stunning rise of Mr. Huckabee, a personable Baptist preacher who may be more culturally compatible with Iowa’s formidable bloc of Christian conservatives.  read more »

Another reminder that it's not just the New York press corps viewing every move by the Clintons through a 2008 prism.

A story in today's Des Moines Register about a schduled visit by Bill Clinton to an Iowa party event in mid-October carries a "fuels talk about the presidential ambitions of his wife" subhed.

From the article:

Some Democratic activists wonder whether the former president's trip - his second to Iowa this year - is a sign that the New York senator is considering joining the presidential race. Others say it's merely a triumph for party organizers to bring in a Democratic icon who will fire up activists and raise a lot of money.

"It's hard to imagine that President Clinton isn't sending some sort of message to Iowa voters by coming here," said Ron Parker, a longtime Democratic strategist.

Via JustHillary.

-- Josh Benson