Egads! The nightmare everyone feared may be coming to pass. Candidates will be spending New Year's Eve in Iowa:The state’s Republicans tonight set Thursday, Jan. 3, as the date for their caucus. The Democrats have not yet set a date, but they are likely to join the Republicans on Jan. 3. Still no word from Bill Gardner, the secretary of state in New Hampshire, on when he plans to set that state’s primary, but there’s talk of December. The Iowa Republicans moved their caucus in order to maintain their status as the first-in-the-nation caucus state. State law requires that the caucuses be held at least a week before anyone else’s. Iowa was set for Jan. 14. But then Michigan muscled its way to the front of the line to Jan. 15. That forced Iowa Republicans to move ahead; they have been debating between Jan. 3 and Jan. 5. The party’s central committee members held a conference call tonight and chose Jan. 3.I fondly recall trudging through the streets...(Read Full Post)