Republican and Conservative political analysis and commentary

Zogby has what will be the final Iowa poll (until about October at least), conducted 12/29-1/1:

Huckabee 29%
Romney 25%
McCain 12%
Thompson 12%
Paul 9%
Giuliani 7% 

And democracy is good for the economy. First Read has totals on how much money has been spent in the state and what that equals per vote:

According to various campaign sources, the Democratic and Republican candidates and various interest groups have spent more than $50 million in TV ads here in Iowa this year. That is more than five times the amount from 2004, when a combined $9.1 million was spent in the state.

Obama (more than $9.5 million) has spent the most among all the candidates -- followed by Clinton (more than $7.5 million), Romney ($7 million-plus), Edwards ($4 million), and Huckabee ($1.4 million).

And consider this: The three top-tier Dems have spent a total of $21 million -- or $140 a vote based on 150,000 turnout. Or this: Based on 85,000 Iowa Republicans turning out it, Romney's and Huckabee's combined $8.4 million-plus comes out to about $100 per GOP vote.

And based on a 235,000 turnout for both Democrats and Republicans, the $50 million-plus total spending comes out to more than $210 a vote.

Also, the top campaigns have spent some $2 million to $3 million each on direct mail. That's another $15 million.