Well, last night the campaign trucks all pulled into Iowa, and all candidates stood up before the locals - and the media - to make their last bids for the Presidency.
Except, for one!
The Huckabee hopeful made a classic boo-boo on two counts. Instead of groveling with candidates in the "heartland", he chose to elevate himself above the others, by flying to Burbank, California, to appear on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
The poor man failed to check his facts, and subsequently, ended up with egg on his face. You see, in order to make the fateful appearance, he was forced to cross a picket line - after all, the writer's strike is still grinding on.
Huckabee tried to beg off with the flimsy excuse he hadn't been properly informed of the specifics; nonetheless, few gave him any wiggle room...today many were shaking their heads and calling the republican candidate a "scab".
On a second count, he erred too.
His reason for appearing on the Tonight show? According to Huckabee, a friendly chat with Leno was a golden opportunity to reach out to thousands of Americans across the great Nation, instead of a paltry handful of voters in Iowa proper.
Big mistake!
If Mr. Huckabee doesn't know the value of a warm handshake - or the potential of one-on-one personal contact with the voter - then he'd be wise to pack it in...the man is out of his depth, surely!
But, the Obama handlers made mistakes, too. At one point, the campaigners propped the political-savvy candidate up on a makeshift "soap box" - which stressed one point - he may be short on something!
Symbolically, the image gave the impression Obama is trying to play with the big boys. We'll know tomorrow, if he can.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Obama's speech lacked oompf, too.
At times, the well-educated Senator stumbled over words - grasped for the appropriate turn of phrase - so, insightful viewers were inclined to whisper on the sidelines - "Was he smoking doobies in the green room?"
If it wasn't obvious before - it sure is now - Mr. Obama may find it difficult to walk in Martin Luther Kings' shoes. In spite of fact the Obama team has hinted that their candidate is capable of picking up where the honored leader left off - at this point - it appears doubtful. His take on the "I had a Dream" speech, fell flat.
In sum, Obama appeared tired and weak, and in need of a good shot in the arm.
Mitt Romney's moment in the sun was kind-of-like a fireside chat. Except, it failed to meet it's potential impact. Maybe someone should have passed on a memo to props to include a cracklin' fire in the background as he made his pitch on American values. The setting was spare, after all.
Mitt is an honest straightforward man, but - handsome is as handsome does, right?
Hillary's speech was also low-key...about as soft in focus as those lenses which recently shot footage of her two-minute promo this past week, designed to touch the undecided voter. Instead of attacking her opponents last night, she took pot shots at Bush instead. Ho Hum.
Hillary getting image tips from Madonna?
She appeared for all-the-world, like she was at a coffee klatch...about to hand out her latest recipe, give sewing tips, or instructions on joga.
In sum, John Edwards stole the thunder last night. After all, his speech was forceful and dynamic - eloquent at times - and oftentimes reminded the voters of a young JFK or Robert Kennedy.
The lasting impression?
John Edwards is definitely Presidential material.
In essence, he left others in the dust, in my estimation