to go elsewhere, even if that means they are uncommitted. it's going to b b a very exciting night. this is actually my tenth caucus anchoring tonight for kwwl news and i'i' excited about that. we have team 7 coverage with reporters at a number of the different precinct caucuses across the state of iowa. we begin first of all with our top rorters, kwwl amanda goodman and nat green from our sister station in iowa city. her at the hub of all things caucuses and no doubt about it, another historic and exciting iowa. let's go live to you right now. >> good evening frfr des moines. when it's all over, in just a few short hours, we may know who has the early lead in the race for the precedence spi. >> amanda: candidates are going to the finish line trying to change voters' minds.

mike huckabee simply trying to gain ground. in 2008, mike huckabee's last minute surge propelled him to the front of the presidential pack and a win in theheowa caucuces. >> heck, yeah, snow can fall more than once and so can lightning. >> the former arkansas governor says if it happens in 2016 without the money and media he had eight years ago, god gets the credit. for donald trump, money has never been an issue in the campaign and neither has support. still, the billionaire businessman is leaning on a legion of supporters to caucus for him monday night. >> we have to win this election and we have to win in iowa. a lot of people say, just do well in iowa. i say i can't do that. >> but trump swears victory isn't certain. >> maybe it won't work that way, but if we do, we'll run the country and make this country so great, you'll have victories all over the place. >> s sator rand paul believes his campaign will have a big night and could surprise people. >> we're going to do very well. we're going to geet a lot of

people in the race. i think there's a chance we can run. >> paul told supporters at his des moines headquarters to make sure to caucus because the outcome may hinge on turnout. chris christie didn't mince words on sunday. >> the tone u set and the people you pick are going to help determine the future course of our country. now it's time to get to work. >> now, the latest and likely last poll before the iowa caucuses came out today and it showed fueled by first time republican caucus goers, donald trump with a seven-point l ld over ted cruz and on the democratic side, bernie sander with a three-point lead over hillary clinton. >> and martin o'malley could be the most important democrat in iowa right now, but not for the reason he really wants to be. right now, he has 3% of support could incidentallll that is the exact spread between hillary

for martin o'malley, those supporters could potentially be the difference makers tonight in iowa. we caught up th o'malley earlier outside a coffee shop and he's telling his supporters, stay strong. >> whenever our country faced times of gridlock or polarizatiti in our national pli, the peele of iowa have a way of lifting up a new leader, so i'm here to challenge the people of iowa to do what you`do best, lift up a new leaderso we can n ve our country forwawa. >> his momentum throughout this process. democratic caucus rules are much different than republican rules. candidates must have 15% of caucus goers in the precinct. if they don't, the supporters are free to susuort another candidate. so unless a miracle happens, o'malley is not going to get that 15%, so the game is up in the air to go to either bernie sander or hillary clinton. >> we have to wait and see. >> amanda: absolutely. for nat green, i'm amanda goodman in des moines. back to you >> ron: they could throww a

it's hard to see measure what the iowa caucuses have truly am ent our state since getting that front-row seat back in '72 and '76, but you kind of got a sense today because it's certainly always and always has been a media driven events with with that inmind, let's go live to jerry gallagher sting our team 7 coverage live in the capital city of des moines, again, the media capital of the world today. >> jerry: it certainly is, ron fm i'm live in des moines at a heidi inn right in front -- a holiday inn right in front of what will become the bernie sander caucus watch party. the senator will be here to watch as the esults come in later tonight. right now, we can't get inside the event with all of ouou gear. we can do that shortly, but many journalists will be here tonight. thousands and thousands of journalists have moved into des moines over the last couple of days and they're here to tell a

own lens and in some cases, journalismists are covering how others are covering the story about iowa. this morning, we were given a behind-the-scenes s ok at the today show which broadcast live from a coffee shop in des moines. matt and savannah had a special guest today, including an iowa football player. it's amazing to watch how all the crews behind the scenes can turn a small business into a broadcast studioalmost overnight. there's so many moving parts and it was very impressive to watch that today. this broadcast just one example of so many that give the state of iowa so much exposusu during this process, and i've spoken to many iowans today, including me at that event, at rallies, and they are so oud to befrom the state because there are so many eyes on us, not only today, but over the last several months. i did speak to somebody today, not from the state of iowa, in our state for the caucuses, who said the state of iowa is very deserving for all the

gets because iowans are so thoughtful about this process. we have you coveredd live in des moines, jerry gallagher, kwwl news >> ron: if only everybody felt that way like priebus, for example. he's talking about taking away some of the power in the first four states. we'll see what happens there well. democrats are getting ready to caucus tonight. kwwl's lauren moss is as cunningham school in waterloo and let's talk about what's going to happen ththe tonight. that's a site of one of the democratic caucus locations. >> lauren: that's right, ron. it's quiet here now. an organizer just arrived, bubu really, i'm the only one in here. that will soon change. officials are expecting a very large crowd here tonight for democratic caucus goers. as you know, it's been a tight race between hillary clinton and bernie sander the past few months. the two seem to yo-yo, leading polls here in the hawkeye state. there's no question about that, but there is a big question

turn out to caucus. bernie sander has been saying all along, if there's a large turnout tonight, he is confident he will win. and the spotlight tonight is really on first-time caucus goers. as you know, sanders is very popular among college students, but looks like we're just going to have to wait and see who shows up tonight. again, i'm the only one in here. doors just opened. we're expecting to pee some people very soon. r now, we have you covered live in waterloo. i'm lauren moss, kwwl news >> ron: that's the one thing about the caucuses. you never know what's going to lap on caucus night. we have seen some big surprises over the years and perhaps tonight as well. as for black ha county republicans, they will report to one of ten locations across the county. last presidential cycle, republicans were able to congregate at the unome in cedar falls, but this time since students are back in stool, they're set up duffle. residents in more --

residents in more rural community go much easier tonight. coming up, we head to another part of eastern iowa to check on all the caucus excitement on this special historic night for our state. do you think when you e president you'll be paid as much as if you were a man-male... this is one of the jobs where they have to pay you the same. but there are so many examples where that doesn't happen. i'm going to do everything i can to make sure every woman in every job gets paid the same... ...as the men who are doing that job. i'm hillary clinton

there are those who say we cannot defeat a corrupt political system and fix a rigged economy. but believe we need to lift our vision above the obstacles in place and look to the american horizon. to a nation where every child can not only dream of going to college, but attend one. where quality healthcare will be a birthright of every citizen. where a good job is not a wish, but a reality. where women receive equal pay and a living wage is paid to all. an america where after a lifetime of labor, there is time for rest and grandchildren.

but no longer carries so much of that burden alone. i know we can create that america if we listen to our hearts. and that journey begins here in iowa. i'm bernie sanders. i approve this message, and i ask you to join with us at the caucuses on monday night.

>> mark: i'm chief meteorologist mark schnackenberg. we're tracking a major winter storm knock okay the do, approaching us here during the overnight hours. winter storm warning in for pink shaded area, tomorrow morning into wednesday morning.. this purple-shaded area, a winter weather advisory for the same time frame, tuesday morning to wednesday morning. snowfall amounts five to nine inches in the purple shaded area here. a little bit higher amounts farther to the north and west, and then a sharp dropoff in snowfall amounts farther to the uth and st as youu go because we're dealing with rain across parts of our southern counties here during the day tomorrow. a lot of the snow will fall across our northern counties. hehe's storm track 7 live doppler radar, no problems here through the evening hours except for some areas of fog.

a second. first, a little bit of rain now approaching the omaha area. temperatures in the upper 40s in des moines. looking at snow along interstate 80 out towards north platte. the storm is stilllocated down around the oklahoma and texas panhandle. it will track across parts of northeast iowa as we head through the day tomorrow and as it does so, it will pull warm air as well as some dry air pushing on into the region as we get into the afternoon hours. now, as for tonight, fog and light snow. tomorrow, snow in the north, rain-snow mix in the southern counties. windy and blowing snow heading into the day on wednesday. travel problems expected. tonight it will be with the fog. dense fog advisory in effect across the northern counties until 3:00, but other spots are dedeing with pretty thick fog. tama now down to zero visibility, oelwein same thing, deck error ka, new hampton, two and a half mile visibility in waterloo, the fog has improved just a litttt bit, but still

storm tram 7 live weather social network camera in waterloo shows. temperatures 28 in ck error that to as warm as 33 in iowa city. we're sitting in the low 30s for now. future track, dry conditions through 11:00. towards2:00 in the morning, a scattering of a few light snow showers. not a big deal, comes through 5:00. just a dusting a the that point. as we get towards 6 and7:00, 8:00, it becomes more widespread. widespread snow across much of the region,but notice the surge of warm airir by 11:00 in the morning, there's cedar rapids south dealing with rain. there's the snow at 2:00 across the northern counties. southern counties now still with rain and drying out just a little bit as we get towards 5:00. scattered snow showers to the north. then the colder air starts to wrap in and that moisture will swing arou and we'lldeal with scattered rain to snow showers as we get into the overnight hours. by 5:00 in the morning on wednesday, still a few snow showers around, still around 8:00, this is l done th as

again, a lot of snow blowing around and it will be gusting to about 35 or 40 miles per hour. so travel will be a real problem, especially areas that see five to nine inches of snow. so for tonight, temperatures 20s and 30s. ening fog, and snow late tonight. rain-snow in our southern counties, snow across our northern counties and it will be windy. gusts near 40 miles per hour. seven-day forecast showing dry weather after that. temperatures in the 20s for highs, single digits for overnight lows. >> ron: mark, thank you very much..

caucus covering and we'll be the time has come to make a choice... about which candidate can actually make a difference for you. in a world as complex as this, we need a president as experienced as hillary. in the situation room... at the negotiating table... and always on your side... fighting for children and families. with a real plan to get incomes rising... ...ruce drug prices... ...win equal pay for women... ...and protect social security and medicare for seniors. she'll build on obamacare, not start over. break through the gridlock, not add to it.t. defend planned parenthood, not attack it. stand up to the gun lobby, not protect it. lead on foreign policy, not ignore it. we need a president with the experience

i'm running to make a difference. a real difference for you and your families across our country. i'm hillary clinton and i approve this message. car rereirs, home improroments, a family trip... it's not easy to afford them. what did marco rubio do? he put $22,000 in personal expenses on a republican party credit card.d. rubio's bad judgment caused a scandal and for five years rubio refused to release the credit card records. marco rubio: skipping major votes... all over the place on immigration... bad judgment. marco rubio: just too many questions. right to rise usa is responsnsle for the content of this message. from postal workers to nurses... he's been endorsed for real change: bernie sanders. endorsed by friends of the earth action as "a bold, fearless voice for the e anet." the nation endorses bernie saying, "you can trust sanders because he doesn't owe his political career to the financial overlords." the des moines regisisr calls him,

endorsed by council bluffs daily nonpareil because "he would build on obama's legacy and challenge the establishment." i'm bernie sanders and i approve this message. hi. i'm kwwl general manager jim mccernan. the journalist sidney harris once said the whole burp of education is to turn -- purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows. tuesday, february 2nd, waterloo voters have a chance to do just that by voting yes to the referendum creating a w career and technical education center, and making much needed improvements to both east and west high schools. in today's global economy, the key to the future is education. in waterloo, the proposal before voters creates a specialized

than 30 career programs, including automotive, robot ticks, welding, animal sciences, information technology, computer-aided draft and design, marketing, nursing, digital media and culinary arts, to name just a few. the career technical education center would be the second such education facility in the state of iowa. it will be financed through a 4% surtax on individual state income tax, not property taxes. the average citizen in waterloo will pay between 40 and $60 annually. 82% of the school districts in the state of iowa have such a surtax in place for the purpose of keeping their districts aligned with the needs of today's economy. this investment speaks to the future of waterloo's youth and their ability to find great careers ininthe cedar valley and

this measure helps them and helps our local economic development, assuring a vibrant cedar valley economy well into the future. hawkeye community college, the university of northern iowa, the greater cedar valley alliance and chamber, the waterloo-cedar falls courier, allen and covenant hospitals and kwwl all strongly support this proposal. they do this because they understand the critic importance of preparing the next generatiti for the competitive economy they will face upon graduation. they do this because of the need for our kids to remain inthe cedar valley and/or the state of iowa rather than leaving the area or state for the career opportunities they seek. we face a significant shortage of skikied workers locally and in iowa. it is the major economic issue of our time. by passing this referendum, waterloo public schools wiwi

theirable to prepare our young people -- their ability to prepare our young people for the future and provide for the development of our workforcece the career and technical education center graduates will have a smooth transition to either hawkeye community college or the univerty of northern iowa, thereby allowing students a seamless transition towards a degree. we believe this initiative will also improvehigh school graduation rates in waterloo. kwwl strongly suorts this proposal and urges waterloon voters to say yes for the kids on february 2nd. comments or contrary views to

sent to j. mccernan at

and fix a rigged economy. but i believe we needdto lift our vision above the obstacles in place and look to the american horizon. to a nation where every child can not onlylyream of going to college, but attend one. where quality healthcare will be a birthright of every citizen. where a good job is not a wish, but a reality. where women receive eqeql pay and a living wage is paid to all. an aeerica where after a lifetime of labor, there is time r rest and grandchildren. a nation that defends our people and our values, but no longer carries so much of that burden alone. i know we can create that america if we listen to our hearts. and that journey begins here in iowa. i'm bernie sanders. i approve this message, and i ask you to join with us at the caucuses on monday night.

>> ron: continuing our iowa caucus covering on this monday night, let's head to the community center in peosta where brad hanson is covering a republican caucus in dubuque county. brad? >> brad: set-up has just started here at the peosta community organizers telling me they are hoping for a big turnout. so far tonight, only a handful of volunteers helping toto set up

organizers say about 1700 people showed up for the caucus 2012 in dubuque county and they're thinking tonight's turnoutwill far surpass that number, maybe hit 2,000. this is a county, dubuque county, that went to mitt romney in the last two caucuses, so no matter what happpps tonight, we'll for re see a new winner out of dubuque county tonight. one of the volunteers that's already here tonight, she has not missed an election here in dubuque county fororhe last 50 years. we'll get our take on this election cycle coming up tonight at 6:00. for now, we have you covered live from the peos st. a community cenenr. i'm brad hanson, kwwl news >> ron: thanks very much. covering the republicans, they could have a record turnout there at the community center. as for the democratic side in dubuque county, one of the sides expecting a large turnout tonight is washington middle school in dubuque. one of the precinct captains predicting about 3500 people will caucus there tonight. there will be a basketball game going on at the same time. how about that?

adequate parking there at washingtgt middle school. the doors at washington will open at 6:00 tonight for caucus, chsk starts at 7:00 this evening. i want to remind you also, we are extending our special coverage for this evening on this historic iowa caucus night. we'll have a full hour of news from 6:00 until 7:00 this evening and again tonight from

they've all come to look for america all come to look for america all come to look for america

one of the areas that i've been particularly interested in is the area of children. we intend to be sure that everybody in this room and every child in this state is somebody. no matter where they're born, no matter to whom they are born. i want to make sure that every child has a chance to livivup to his or her god-given potential. i've spent my life fighting for children, and i'm not stopping now. i'm hillary clinton,

>> ron: it is, of ccourse, iowa caucus night, first in the nation. be sure to tune in at 6:00, a full hour of special caucus covering. we'll have a full report tonight at 10:00 to 11:00, hopefully all the results by then. mark, a lot of people are not worrying about the caucus. they say what's up with the snowstorm? >> mark: that was real close. 24 hours later, a completely different story. dry conditions through the

positive into the area as we get into the overnight after about 3:00 or 4:00 in the morning >> ron: okay. we look forward to tomorrow after the caucus. nightly hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm-hmm they've all come to look for america all come to look for america all come to look for america i'm bernie sanders, and i approve this message. breaking news. tonight the voting begins in iowa as the nation takes its first step towards electing a new president. after months of campaigning, tens of millions spent, the final polls show just how close it is on both sides.

will cruz take down the