CNN is reporting that Gov. Bill Richardson, who placed fourth in the Iowa Caucus, is laying off staff.

“We had an extremely large staff in Iowa, and since we have moved onto New Hampshire we have had some layoffs,” Richardson’s presidential campaign spokesman Tom Reynolds told CNN Friday.

Citing strategic political reasons, Reynolds would not say how many campaign aides were let go. He did say that no senior campaign staffers have been asked to take pay cuts.

“We have the resources we need to be competitive in the early states,” Reynolds said.

Either the Obama campaign has some indication that things are indeed turning for him in New Hampshire beyond the expected bump an Iowa win will give them or Barack Obama is just feeling the high of a Caucus win because today he had this to say:

“If you give me the same chance Iowa did last night, I truly believe I will be the next president of the United States.” - Said to a Portsmouth, NH audience

Now a politician boasting of their own chances is nothing new but as Clinton & Edwards begin to hit him today and more than a few in the media probably look to start releasing a couple of not so flattering stories to help balance out the positive press onslaught he will receive, Obama might not want to go around raising his own expectations through the roof. If you look over that statement you have to consider the opposite. If the Senator doesn’t take New Hampshire, does that mean he might not be the next president?

Last night he boasted that there was no need to change any strategy as the one he had was working well. Though both statements might be true, depending on how you look at things, now is not the time to get arrogant but the time to ride this win into what will be a pretty ferocious fight. Before a nominee Obama can move onto a multi-month bare-knuckle fight against republicans, he has to face one against Democrats.

Not to be Mr. Cynical or Negative here but in another election year one could rest for a few days on the laurels of a win. In our condensed schedule that isn’t going to happen. Super Tuesday is just around the corner and Obama should be thinking about Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, California, Illinois, Tennessee etc.

MUST GET SLEEP Goodnight all

10:50 PM EST - 1732 Precincts Reporting

SENATOR BARACK OBAMA : 37.53%
SENATOR JOHN EDWARDS : 29.88%
SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON : 29.38%
GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON : 2.11%
SENATOR JOE BIDEN : 0.95%
UNCOMMITTED : 0.13%
SENATOR CHRIS DODD : 0.02%
PRECINCTS REPORTING: 1732 OF 1781
(PERCENTAGES ARE STATE DELEGATE EQUIVALENTS.)

10:17 PM EST - 1700 Precincts Reporting

SENATOR BARACK OBAMA : 37.39%
SENATOR JOHN EDWARDS : 29.95%
SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON : 29.47%
GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON : 2.12%
SENATOR JOE BIDEN : 0.92%
UNCOMMITTED : 0.12%
SENATOR CHRIS DODD : 0.02%
PRECINCTS REPORTING: 1700 OF 1781
(PERCENTAGES ARE STATE DELEGATE EQUIVALENTS.)

10:03 PM EST - Republicans - 72% Reporting

Mike Huckabee 28,762 34% 0
Mitt Romney 21,213 25% 0
Fred Thompson 11,522 14% 0
John McCain 11,281 13% 0
Ron Paul 8,549 10% 0
Rudy Giuliani 3,053 4% 0
Duncan Hunter 366 0% 0

9:59 PM EST - 1640 Precincts Reporting

SENATOR BARACK OBAMA : 37.15%
SENATOR JOHN EDWARDS : 30.00%
SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON : 29.61%
GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON : 2.14%
SENATOR JOE BIDEN : 0.95%
UNCOMMITTED : 0.13%
SENATOR CHRIS DODD : 0.03%
PRECINCTS REPORTING: 1640 OF 1781
(PERCENTAGES ARE STATE DELEGATE EQUIVALENTS.)

9:51 PM EST - 1600 Precincts Reporting

SENATOR BARACK OBAMA : 36.98%
SENATOR JOHN EDWARDS : 30.05%
SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON : 29.75%
GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON : 2.17%
SENATOR JOE BIDEN : 0.92%
UNCOMMITTED : 0.11%
SENATOR CHRIS DODD : 0.03%
PRECINCTS REPORTING: 1600 OF 1781
(PERCENTAGES ARE STATE DELEGATE EQUIVALENTS.)

Read the rest of this entry »

CNN has now declared Mike Huckabee the winner of the Iowa Caucus. Basing decision on entrance polls and hard evidence.

As I mentioned yesterday I was on the Shaun O Mac radio show last night to discuss politics and Iowa. You can listen to my appearance either using the player below or visiting the show site and listening to the 1/2/2008 11:00 PM show.

Thank you so Shaun for having me on.

Related Links
- LA Times helps support my thought that money might not be the deciding factor in Iowa