Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/democrats-appeal-to-iowans-as-polls-show-a-tight-race Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript In the first of two reports on voter sentiment in Iowa ahead of the state's early caucus, Judy Woodruff examines how the Democratic candidates are approaching the state's voters and the influence of the women's vote. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. JUDY WOODRUFF: With less than three weeks to go until the first votes are cast by Democrats in the 2008 presidential nominating process, the candidates are constantly reminding Iowans of the important role they play in the American political process.SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), New York: So it's a pretty heavy responsibility that you have assumed for yourself. You know, you're kind of kicking the tires and looking under the trunk and seeing whether we can go the distance. JUDY WOODRUFF: Polls here show three frontrunners bunched in a tight race: Senator Barack Obama, former Senator John Edwards, and Senator Hillary Clinton. But recently Clinton has lost ground with the one part of the electorate that was assumed to be her strongest suit.Ann Selzer directs the Iowa poll for the Des Moines Register. J. ANN SELZER, The Iowa Poll: In our polls, it's looking like Barack Obama may be stealing the women's vote from Senator Clinton. She was very strong, but I think, again, because he brings a message of inclusion and bringing people together, that really strikes at where women's values go. And I think they weren't sure he could win, and when he started gaining some momentum, they came on board.