Caucus cramming

DAVENPORT, Iowa -- If a very unscientific survey of Iowans at Hillary Clinton events around the state today is any indication, computer screens will be glowing across the state late into the night tonight as an incredible number of undecided voters cram in last minute homework about the candidates before tomorrow’s caucus.

The Des Moines Register poll the other day had only six percent of caucus-goers undecided, but the Clinton campaign’s internal numbers suggest it could be as high as 21 percent.

And in interviews with voters who came out to see Clinton today, there was a common refrain: I’m going to go home and do my research.

Kathy Eberlein, a 48-year-old school psychologist, saw John Edward the other day and Clinton this evening. “I think both are great,” she said.

She likes that Edwards doesn’t take money from lobbyists. She thinks Clinton is the most experienced, but worries the country is not ready to elect a woman president.

So Eberlein expects to spend two or three hours online tonight, reading up on the candidates’ websites and looking around for unbiased views and newspaper articles. She’ll be especially scrutinizing their health care plans.

She believes strongly in the importance of caucusing, but just doesn’t know what to do 24 hours from now.

“I just have to think about it more,” she said, a little grimly.