Let's hope Newt is right! Change begins with bold new leadership! Obama 08!

Obama still has a ton of work to do, but everything suggests that he's going in the right direction.

Go Barack! Or John Edwards! Anybody but Hillary!

Obama is going to destroy hillary in Iowa. Look at the 2nd choice numbers.

hillary has very little support behind her first choice voters. Obama is the overwhelming 2nd choice for Democrats in Iowa.

He will also win NH, and SC. It will be interesting because she won't give up and then it will come down to who's better organized in the other 47 states.

I think Oprah should move more lightly in the background in support of Obama. I think what she is doing will backlash. People are not ready to accept celebrity opinions as their deciding factor in their choice for president. Oprah should run if she wants to get that much into the political arena, and I think she could muster lots of support for herself.

I used to actually care at what Newt had to say until he pulled his sham on his Conservatives of possibly running for President, only to sell his workshops. Forget you Newt! Don't care what you have to say anymore!

Although I would never vote for either, IMO Obama is the more honest of the two. The Clintons reek with dishonesty and if HRC is elected, we will be more divided than ever.

So another Republican hack is giving ammunition to the Obama campaign... doesn't it raise the least bit of suspicion? Maybe the Republican's want to face Obama in the general because he has not been properly tested or vetted in the Democratic primary. Imagine how badly the Republican party will slaughter Obama...inexperienced is probably just the tip of the ice berg. Obama supporters are latched on to an IDEA of what they describe is "hope." Ideas can only take us so far-- get behind a real supporter with experience--Clinton, Biden, Dodd, anyone BUT Obama... what a joke. If Obama is nominated we won't stand a chance in the general... Obamaites, don't ruin this for all of us.

If Obama is the nominee it won't matter how divided we are because we won't stand a chance against ANY Republican. Need I remind everyone of the Harold Ford Jr. race in Tennessee? Voters are likely to agree that they'll vote for a black candidate, but that it will never materialize in any primary, especially one as white as Iowa. Wake up and smell the coffee. We need someone with experience not a green politician who is calling on a talk show queen for support... give me a break.

Gingrich is a fool. I've never seen anyone more intent on predicting everything but all he does is blow with the wind. Hillary was a lock to be President, according to Newt, then it was 50-50 after a poor debate performance. Now that she is slipping in the polls she is going to lose be a surprisingly wide margin. This idiot reads the latest poll and then parrots it as his "prediction."

For the first time in my life I find myself agreeing with Newt. I wonder how skewed the polls are by unrepresented people who do not have landlines in their homes, who consider their cell phone as their primary telephone, and have not been polled. I am convinced that this group of unpolled voters is both younger and will probably vote in greater numbers for Obama than either HRC or the GOP candidates. If I am correct this statistical anomaly will be even greater in state contests with larger urban areas. I hope I'm right Go Obama!

Obama winning in Iowa would be no great surprise as Hillary is by far the most distrusted candidate out there on the liberal side.

We're supposed to take this from the architect of the republican/conservative Contract for America? He had a hand in making rich people richer. Obama might be a good president but there's the experience thing. Actually both Obama and Hillary lack the experience thing when it comes right down to it. Both are relatively new senators. We need change but we need somebody really strong who will stand up to a divided congress and push through the American people's agenda (healthcare, immigration reform, tax cuts for the middle class). Make the rich pay a higher % of their income and lift the cap on Social Security. These are challenging times and the economy, gas, healthcare and immigration reform are at the top of the agenda. Don't allow Republicans to tow the War on Terror and values crap. We've had enough of that fear-mongering over the last 8 years

TexasDem...polls show Obama ahead of Hillary. That seems to be a no-brainer at this point. You just spit nails at Newt because he's a Republican, which makes you a biased blogger, and have no validity of intelligence behind you. Newt may not be my favorite person, but he is extremely intelligent when it comes to politics.

I'm a Democrat who wants to win next year. Obama is too much of a risk in purple states - maybe the country will be ready in a few years when less people from my grandparents generation are around.

In the Big picture shes has a huge lead over everyone- lets focus on that! There is no question she will win the nomination- so lets not dream here.... One small state = very little in the big picutre. Gingrich is a fool-bottom line.

Why does anyone listen to this hypocrite? Why does the media pay attention to his ramblings? Here is man who was cheating on his wife while he was attacking Bill Clinton for the same thing. Then Newt had the nerve to deliver the divorce papers to his wife while she was in jail. Scumbag.

I said "jail" above! I meant "hospital". LOL!

Newt should be reminded that the Declaration of Independence is NOT a legal document...and our rights are derived from our CREATOR (not necessarily the Christian God)

Hillary's going to be the next "Comeback Kid", ala Bill style. I still believe Hillary's nomination is already locked up and this is all just high drama for entertainment. We don't actually see much about them in the news are far as policies are concerned, but we do get plenty of news on the just teh mechanics of the race.

The GRINCH has a HUNCH? The lackey republicans can't admit the lie to go to war? They run from their failure and write laughable CHEESE here today????? Turth will set them free, however, a repub friend of mine had to call a truce because of FACTS OVERLOAD. Not enough space in the cranial area to hold content...does not compute...does not compute...does not compute.

I'd rather see Hillary stay in the Senate as Senate Majority Leader. Who ever becomes president on the Democratic side, I hope selects Bill C. to be either Secretary of State or Ambassador to the UN. And to reserect the Clinton economic team. We need this to at least start cleaning up everything that GW has destroyed in the last 7-8 years.

And my first choice is Edwards, my second is Obama and my 3rd is anybody not Republican.

Why does anyone listen to this man? I don't think it will change anything if Obama wins this time. Hillary will still get the nomination. Oprah can sell books but I don't think she can influence the way people vote. I for one would never vote for Obama or Edwards.

It's fun to watch the dems tripping over each other with Hill and Obama. Hill will NEVER get elected. Although I don't agree with his politics, Obama is honest...which is more than I can say for Hill and crew. Bill is nothing more than a liability. No one wants these mafiosos back in the WH.

Vote Hillary!

She'll keep the seat warm for Chelsea.

I cannot wait for Iowa. I have nothing against women leading the U.S. However, I would prefer a woman other than Hilary. For me, she seems too polarizing and the ammo the republicans need to win the White House in 2008. I for one cannot wait until Obama begins winning early primaries and takes the Democratic nomination!! Otherwise, if Obama cannot win the primary - lets bring back Bill!

Newt's endorsement is the kiss of death. Dumbo ears may win Iowa but he can't generate any momentum after that. He's running backwards. The big "O" will be little help. Looks like HIL will get the nom.

I respect Oprah's opinion but I am surely not going to let her choose my candidate for President. I would hope that the American people would be able to think for themselves and choose a candidate they want and not who someone else chooses. Oprah has power but not that much power that she can make up my mind for me..........

I respect Oprah's opinion but I am surely not going to let her choose my candidate for President. I would hope that the American people would be able to think for themselves and choose a candidate they want and not who someone else chooses. Oprah has power but not that much power that she can make up my mind for me..........

Who cares about what this washed up Republican hack has to say?

Those saying under no circumstance would they vote for Obama have been equally as high, sometimes higher than Clinton's. Same for Edwards.

I hope Newt is correct. Because if he is, that will give us (republicans- God's nation loving people) and easy shoo-in for the presidency. Because God knows we can't nominate anyone of any merit this election. And as far as Oprah's involvement goes... She wields millions of votes as the "talk show queen" and what she is doing is not only un-american but just plain dangerous. I mean this is an election for the leader of our nation and the free world. NOT a popularity contest.

Edwards will win Iowa. Go on to win the nomination.

All this talk about Obama and Hillary is just some sort of smoke and mirrors campaign.

The nominee always has been a "white man in a suit". The USA is on way too shaky ground for the voters to go away from the norm.

GO OBAMA!!! We as americans need to say no to royal families!!! No more BUSH and NO MORE CLINTONS!!!

OBAMA FOR A BETTER AMERICA!!!

It does not matter whom the Democrats vote for in Iowa if they end up running HRC in '08. The only way they can win is if they can get a Moderate/Conservative third party candidate ala Ross Perot to split the center right voters. Remember Bill Clinton never got over 46% of the vote (42% the first time over Bush). If we look at Ohio and Forida (which will probably decide the election once again). Over 50% of LIKELY VOTERS consistently say they would NOT vote for Hillary Clinton under any circumstance.
If I were advising the Democrats, they should be urging Bloomberg to get in the race as an Independent. That's the only chance they have if the choice is HRC.

There were two polls yesterday that pitted Hillary versus her potential Republican challengers. One was an ONLINE poll by Zogby that found Hillary trailing Republicans, the other was a poll from Gallup that found Hillary beating all Republicans by substantial margins.

Which do you think got more coverage?

As of about 9AM, the Zogby poll was covered on TV news 15 times and the Gallup poll was mentioned twice – by the Hillary campaign's Mark Penn and Ann Lewis.

The Gallup poll showed that if Hillary was the nominee she would beat Giuliani by five points but if Sen. Obama was the nominee the race would be tied. Gallup also showed Hillary beating John McCain (by 6 points), Mitt Romney (by 16 points) and Fred Thompson (by 13 points). Hillary also leads all Republican contenders in Real Clear Politics' poll average.

Obama went to school at a Maddrahs (sp?) or Muslim school. The Saudis have globally set up these schools to spread an intolerant strain of Islam. America is insane if they want Hillary or Obama. Obama's veep could be Bin Laden. Edwards is a slimy ambulance chaser but he would be a better option than Hillary or Obama. Chris Dodd or Biden are even better.

TexasDem, Well, don't be too concerned for Hillary. The nomination is already hers. Don't fall for the scripted drama.

The uptighty righty press will have a field day with a Clinton Campaign. They will open up the dusty vault of innuendo,half truth,rumour,and unsubstantiated accusations.
Though they can fault Barack Obama for perceived weakness,like "experience", he can deal with it. Hillary will mobilize all the right to vote. The Neo Cons, radical right wingers,the religious right and their press will rise like no other time in history to fight her. Even though their leadership is bailing out on them because their ship is on fire they can win. Barack Obama is respected and loved by many Independents and Republicans. He can break the deadlock and partisan politics that has kept Congress inneffective.

What a load of garbage. Edwards will win the state, for cryin' out loud. The handwriting is on the wall.

One poll among polls which are poor indicators of voter sentiment in Iowa does not a winner make. Obama has squandered millions, while Edwards until recently spent virtually NO money there and was still in a statistical tie.

Everything else is trash, but the media desperately want to make it a race between a 40-state loser (Clinton) and a 50-state loser (Obama).

It's transparent.

I do not want to see the US Presidency continue to be a ping-pong match between the Clinton and Bush families.

It is indeed time for some new ideas and approaches and there is no way we can get that from a Clinton.

I voted for Bush but would be happy to vote for Obama next time. There is no way I'm going to vote for Hillary. I am not at all alone in this.

BTW, if being the wife of a President counts as experience I guess we should get ready for Laura Bush 2012 ?????

I hope that Hillary gets the Democrat nomination. In the general election, the Republican candidate will ride her down like grass.

Hilliary is DONE. She will lose the first three states but hang on a while until she is finally put to rest, hopefully, once and for all. The counrty is DOME with the Bush/Clinton era for good.

She should not be the first female president. It would be better for the gender to wait for a truely honest, sincere person with a good heart. That is what most females represent and is their shining quality.

The nominee will be Obama, although, I think that Biden is the BEST candidate for the Dims. If I wasn't GOP, I'd consider him. I watch all of the debates, both sides and he is a clear standout for experience, gravitas and personality. He is actually pretty funny, when he's not angry about something. I really like the guy, I just don't agree with all of his positions. I think he'd protect America in a heartbeat, which is my #1 concern.

As an Iowan, I assure you that in this late stage of the campaign, we've more than had our fill of the candidates and their celebrities. As the latest Zogby poll shows with Hillary getting beaten by all five of the leading Republican candidates, Democrats are beginning to more seriously consider the possible general election match-ups/outcomes. For this reason, Hillary's poll numbers will now begin to decline and Barak Obama's won't be far behind.

It's about time Obama started getting some positive press. I agree with Newt, Obama is building a movement. Obama's experience is equal to Hillarys, it's his wisdom and fair mindedness that makes him the better candidate. Dick Chaney and Donald Rumsfeld had lots of experience, where did that get us??? Obama has been in public office alot longer than Hillary, and he's lived his life with a lot of integrity. In this election I think wisdom will trump Washington experience. Obama 08

Clinton is truly less experienced than obama. The whole time she was hosting parties in the white house bubble, obama was in office in illinois doing plenty for the good people of that state. To say he is inexperienced is a shot in the mouth to state assemblymen and loval civic leaders everywhere. Experience won't be the key to beating republicans. It will be the ability to attract voters from accross the aisle. Hillary has zero ability to do that. We know that. Obama is the only one with that potential.

sps91158 - The Zogby poll was done online, I participated in the survey. Online voters are more likely to skew toward Obama. In addition, the survey is opt-in, not random, which means diehard liberals are a large piece of the pie.

Texas Dem:

That Gallup poll you mentioned that shows Hillary leading the GOP candidates was conducted Nov. 11-14, 2007 -- old data -- alot has changed since then. The Zogby poll was much more recent, conducted Nov. 21–26, 2007. It showed Hillary trailing all top 5 GOP candidates while Obama was leading them. Sorry Tex, you can't get away with spinning this one.

Obama can be elected and independents and some (former) republicans will be happy to vote for him. Obama has more or as much experience than Giuliani, Thompson, Romney, or Huckabee. As an independent, I would most like to see Obama vs. Huckabee for the general election. I'd vote for Obama at this juncture, but I'd be swayed.

Clinton vs Huckabee, no question, it's Huckabee from what I've seen. Obama over any other republican. Huckabee over any other democrat.

Clinton? Never.

I hate to say this, because I like the guy a lot.. but the republicans will eat him up and chew him out in the general. If you listen real close, you hear the inexperience in his rhedoric. Hopeful, idealistic.. yes.. and that sounds pretty but realities are much more difficult. I hate to say it, but Hillary or Edwards is better positioned to take on the repubs.. actually, Hillary has the best shot as a moderate. Democrats tradionally go with moderates because those do better in the general. And that is the ultimate fight, folks.. the general. They'd be well advised to remember this formula in Iowa. Food for thought.

Again republican machine trying to divide democate and rule. I think Gingrich is supporting OBAMA, GOOD FOR YOUR BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA.

IWOA VOTE FOR HILLARY THE BEST PERSON TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF THE USA!

4HILLARY!

Funny how no one on this blog has even mentioned one of the "so-called" strong candidates, Bill Richardson. That shows you how influential the media is at manufacturing a race. I don't know anybody that would consider Richardson. He is as laughable a choice as Ron Paul.

Poor, hypocritical Newt has been trying to return to significance ever since he left his cancer-stricken wife for another woman. He's the penultimate Neocon-- Seldom correct but never in doubt!

No one cares what you think Newt! Please relay that message to Tom Delay as well.

HAS ANYBODY QUESTIONED BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA ON REAL ISSUE? HE'S BEEN A REP FOR STATE OF ILLINIOS, HAVE SEEN CHICAGO LATELY? HE PROMISED BETTER HEALTHCARE, BETTER MASS TRANSIT AND IMPROVE HEATING COST...HELLO PEOPLE NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE IN ILLINIOS SINCE THIS OBAMA (OPRAH'S BOYTOY)... YEAH ELECT HIM AS PRESIDENT SEE HOW FAST THIS GUYS WILL SELL US OUT, HIS ALREADY BACKED BY ALOT SPECIAL INTEREST, WHICH HE DISCLOSES AND CAMPAIGN FUNDS NOBODY KNOWS WHERE'S IT'S COMING FROM....SUSPICIOUS TO ME...ANYBODY BUT OBAMA....

Bob--so an ONLINE poll is more reliable because it's the most recent? That's ridiculous. I would think it would be less reliable. And by your own argument, the poll that showed Barry leading within the margin of error is old news too isn't it? It's not spin... it's fact and I'm sorry you can't understand that. I don't trust polls altogether, but an ONLINE poll that the MSM was all over is ridiculous.

All I can say is: remember Harold Ford Jr. and his campaign in Tennessee. I worked on that campaign and really wanted to see him win (and still would), but this country has shown it's true colors that it is not as racially progressive as we think it is.

I like Hillary but I dont like her husband. If Hillary wins you can bet that Bill is going to be the one pulling the strings. Now I really dont know much about Obama except that he will not win in the south. And that is why Republicans want him to take the nomination. Now Edwards really does not give me a really good feeling about him. I just dont trust him. But I would take any of them over any of the scum in the Republican side.

Well I think I would rather listen to Newt's predictions rather than Rove or Bush ----
I would also like to believe that Obama will take Iowa by a storm -- this country is ready.
And, what is this school teach voice that Hillary just got -- the slow, low manish one.

Old Newt is right on all issues! Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee are the only qualified candidates in this race. Obama seems like a nice guy.

We have some really interesting comments here! A few which really shock me in that people still believe that Obama is A: Terrorist that went to a madrassa, B: Unelectable because he's black , C: Inexperienced and incapable of being president, even though we've have much less experienced presidents in the past.

I'd like everyone to check their so called "facts" before blabbering the same rhetoric over and over again. I'm with John Edwards on this, anyone that wouldn't vote for Clinton just because she's a woman or Obama just because he's black - I believe should NOT get to vote. We're the freaking United States of America, what happened to people? Equality? All men created equal?

I don't agree with everything Obama stands for, mostly just gun control, but I support the great majority of what he is and what he has to offer. Run, Obama, all the way to the White House and jar this country back on track.

Obama has the best chance of pulling this country together so I will vote for him! I hear Newt is considering a switch to the Democratic Party and offering his suport to Obama!

If Obama wins Iowa, all bets are off. It can change the entire voting dynamic. The momentum from an Iowa victory can boost the winner to a win in NH and SC and so on to the nomination. It has happened before and can happen again.

WHO IS THIS GUY OBAMA? WHERE ARE YOU OBAMA? YOU STILL NOWHERE TO BE FOUND IN ILLINOIS...TOO BUSY PROMOTING YOUR BOOK "AUDACITY TO HOPELESSNESS"...YOU SHOULD BE IN ACTING INSTEAD OF POLITICS BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO EXPERIENCE BUT ALL TALK...SINCE YOU WERE ELECTED AS A U.S. SENATOR YOU BEEN TOO BUSY JUST PROMOTING YOURSELF TO BE PRESIDENT...THIS GUY NO TRACK RECORD IN THE SENATE FOR PROMOTING HEALTHCARE, REAL ISSUES...IT'S FUNNY HOW HILLARY CLINTON PUT THIS GUY OBAMA IN THE PEDDLESTOOL AND NO OBAMA HAS THE AUDACITY TO PERSONALLY ATTACK HER LIFE...GET A LIFE PEOPLE OSAMA BARACK HUSSEIN IS NOT THE PERSON YOU REALLY KNOW HE'S BEEN CARVED OUT BY REPUBLICAN TO RUN...

Lol, HillaryHub? That's her personal propaganda site. It's pretty low rated as far as web traffic is concerned. The Gallup poll has a pathetic sampling number in the mid hundreds where Zogby's sample is over 9,000. To date Zogby has been way more acurate than any media herd poll. Personally, I'm supporting Rudy but wish all the best to Obama!

This country is terribly divided and polarized due to the past 20 years of Bush/Clinton. A Hillary Clinton presidency will simply make matters worse, like throwing gasoline on a fire. In my opinion, Barack Obama has the best chance of bringing this county back together again. We need a uniter not another divider.

I get the impression this is going to be very similiar to 4 years ago with Hillary being Dean and Obama being Kerry. Obama was little known outside of Chicago heading into the primaries and the voters are beginning to recognize his passion towards making positive changes in this country and it is showing in the polls. Obama isn't out to be the first African American President, he is out to make this country a better place for us and our children. I get the impression that Hillary sees this more as an opportunity to make history and be the first woman president. I have no problem voting for a woman when there is a woman candidate worthy of being President. Hillary is not that woman.

Bob-- "United not a divider..." Sure sounds like George W. Bush to me. The country was far better off when there was a Clinton in the White House Bob. Get over it--hope is just an idea if you don't have a candidate with the experience necessary. This doesn't have to be HIllary (although she is my candidate), but there are also Biden and Dodd who are equally capable. Obama is a hack of a politician. I'd vote for Oprah over him.

NObama will win Il. Hill is a paper tiger and will be shown to be so. In the end a Republican will defeat the eventual NObama/Clinton/Oprah ticket.

Here is a great example of the kind of person Hillary Clinton is:

When asked about the recent Iowa poll showing Obama leading she said "I don't pay attention to any polls". Then later when asked why Democrats should believe that she can beat the Republicans, she began citing polls that showed her leading the GOP candidates. Is this the kind of person we want leading this nation?

If Obama is the Dem nominee, I will vote for the Repubs.

C'mon people, be real! I have no doubt that Mr. Obama is an intelligent, talented guy, but have you actually looked at his positions? His views are frighteningly naive!!! He may be a good candidate for president in 4-to-8 years, but the thought of this man running the country (with all of it's it's complexity) is truely scary.

This is too funny. Horizon says we need the "authenic" Biden. Right. Sue illustrates that anyone divorced should not be allowed to talk. Most hilarious is the people's party of equality and diversity is saying some interesting things about Osama's ethnicity. I clearly don't have the nuance to comprehend all this.

If Obama is the nominee, I will vote for a Republican also--for the first time ever. I cannot stand Obama.

A Barack Obama presidency represents a huge fundamental change in US politics. Just the basics are significant -- Barack is of mixed race, has a Muslim father, has an Arabic name, and lived overseas for several years as a child. These facts, even on the surface, will make America look entirely different to the rest of the world -- in a good way. It will be much more difficult for those who hate America to claim we are the enemy of the Islamic and Arabic world when our president's name is Barack Hussein Obama. Plus he has limited inside the beltway experience, few connections to the lobbyists and special interests that have influenced the White house during the past few decades and an inspirational, uplifting, charismatic style that we have not seen since JFK. This is the kind of change many are looking for and this is the change America needs now.

Frankly, I hope John Edwards comes from behind and wins. This would make things more interesting and I think Edwards is a much more electable candidate than either Clinton or Obama. That said, I'll support any Democrat in the general election.

Anyone coming on here and stating they would not vote for a man simply because of his skin color... how do you people sleep at night? How does the color of a persons skin determine how qualified they are to lead the FREE nation? You people are no different than the extremists that attack this nation and the freedoms we all have. Shame on all of you.

I have donated to Obama's campaign, which is remarkable considering I have never in my life sent money to a candidate. There is something quite inspiring about him, something I haven't seen before. I WANT him to win in a way I have never WANTED a candidate to win. I am amazed at myself, but more important, I am amazed that a calm-speaking, smart guy like this is actually connecting with the voters. Totally, completely inspiring.

Signed,
44-year-old white female independent voter in middle Tennessee

It's this type of ignorance that has this country in the position it is currently in. And for the record I'm a 27 year old white guy living in southern California.

Though I disagree with his political leanings, I find that Obama is personable and likeable, whereas Hillary is utterly cold and afraid of being challenged. I especially like how Obama has broken the fourth wall and taken Hillary to the woodshed over her hypocrisies. He is a fresh face on the scene and I wouldn't mind seeing him beat her for the nomination, which Hillary has taken as her annointment by default.

To TexasDem, TrueBlue, and others of similar sentiments: What is amazing to the majority of America is you criticize hope, reason, and tolerance---but you want to instill fear, cynicism, and corruption. You'll realize shortly that you're in a minority. America is tired of your rhetoric. They will no longer work.

Hey Fred, last time we elected a candidate on the basis of "likable" we ended up with the idiot that occupies the whitehouse now. PLEASE people, think about it just a little bit. Who cares if you "like" the person.. we are HIRING them to do a JOB for 4 years, not annointing a king/queen. Stick to qualifications, please.

I'm a white republican that would vote for Obama because he is a breath of fresh air in the corrupt arena of American politics. Even though I don't agree with most of his "solutions", I believe he offers a new vision for America versus the stale old guard baby boomer ideas. BTW, I'm also a baby boomer.

All of Hillary's different voices are as fake as she is. Teacher, BLack, SOuth, NYC. She is the queen of deception. Is that the kind of WOMAN you want for the first female American President? What a poor example for the youth of America.

I've always suspected that her real, long term goal is to have her likeness on Mt. Rushmore. Unfortunately, it would only serve to remind us of the shame brought on by the Clintons for all eternity. The only question is where to put it. Next to Lincoln or Washington? I would suspect Washington who was dubbed the "Father of our Country". She would be the first "Mother of the Country", albeit for the reason of gender, instead of Washington's bringing the country together. Wow, the irony of that thought...

Jennifer,

I'm a white male.