Last-Minute Candidate Shopping in Iowa

By Jose Antonio Vargas
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa -- Forget the countless state polls. Here at Jordan Creek Town Center, the biggest and newest mall in the Des Moines area, the only poll that counts is the one kept by the USA Button Poll kiosk, a busy spot next to the towering Christmas tree. With the crucial caucuses just days away, The Trail caught up with Iowans shopping for last-minute stocking stuffers. Barack Obama, Mike Huckabee, Ron Paul buttons are $2 each. Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, John McCain T-shirts are on sale for $12.99. A life-size cutout of Hillary Clinton -- in a black pantsuit -- goes for $36.95.

The kiosk's most popular item? A "She Can Do It! Hillary for President" tee. John Olsen, the kiosk's manager, told The Trail over the weekend that judging by button sales of the past two weeks, Clinton and Huckabee should win the caucuses.