Hot on the Trail

Chelsea attacks

The former First Daughter traded her gauzy, feel-good platitudes for a low blow against Bernie Sanders in New Hampshire, saying he wants to “dismantle” Obamacare, Medicare and private insurance; in fact he supports incorporating those programs in a new federal system. Clinton family mudball returns.

King of Des Moines

Marco Rubio’s boots are made for walking, leading rivals to mock all the time he spends around populous Des Moines and in Iowa’s eastern cities. It’s more strategy than convenience: the Senator wastes little energy on the more religious rural voters who are backing Ted Cruz.

Clinton + Iowa = ?

Hillary Clinton aides fear the wacky rules of the Iowa Democratic caucus will overstate Sanders’ true support on Feb. 1, since some precincts could award delegates to candidates who do not actually win. The deadlocked Iowa polls suggest Clinton should feel lucky with any outcome short of a humiliating loss.

Boos for Cruz

After Donald Trump began questioning whether Canadian-born Cruz was eligible to be President, GOP boss Reince Priebus refused in an interview with TIME to back Cruz’s eligibility, and Iowa Governor Terry Branstad joined Senator John McCain in calling it a valid issue. The case law aside, it’s a sign of how many party leaders dislike Cruz.