Top Political Talent Getting Calls from 08 Hopefuls

I saw this story this morning from Political Insider about Hillary Clinton's so-called money advantage and her chances in Iowa...

There's a lot of buzz in political circles about the NY Times story from earlier this week about Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's money advantage disappearing. The most immediate fallout may come in Iowa where Democratic organizers told me in September that Clinton's only hope of creating a strong campaign apparatus -- absolutely essential in a caucus system -- would be if she were to buy an organization.

John Edwards and Evan Bayh have been working the state aggressively to tie up top talent. The likely addition of Gov. Tom Vilsack and possible entry of Illinois neighbor Sen. Barack Obama could basically shut the door to Clinton for the remaining Iowa operatives. It's looking increasingly likely that Clinton may skip Iowa altogether, turning New Hampshire into a do-or-die state.

The Des Moines Register had a story this morning about Barack Obama courting advisers, such as John Norris, Steve Hildebrand, and Dick Myers, and getting advice for a possible campaign.

The first-term Illinois senator has surrounded himself with advisers rich in experience in Iowa, the leadoff caucus state.

Obama has vaulted to the top tier among prospective candidates for the Democratic Party's nomination, even as the new star in the party says he has not made up his mind about running.

The Iowa connections of Obama's campaign advisers and the senator's behind-the-scenes inquiry into the Iowa caucuses are hardly an announcement that he is running for president. But they show he is visualizing the presidential campaign process, in the event he decides to run.

I wouldn't be disapointed if Clinton skipped Iowa. She has not been to the state at all like other candidates have. If Hillary skips Iowa, it plays right into the story Rolling Stone put out called, "Is Vilsack a Stalking Horse for Hillary?"