Millions of dollars in television advertisements are blanketing Iowa and reshaping the Republican presidential contest just before the first votes are cast.

FORBES: A Megaphone for Plutocrats

What happens if things go less well for the economy, if the right eventually gets its act together, and if Mr Jospin's coalition then loses the parliamentary election due (assuming the calendar remains unchanged) to be called just a couple of months before the presidential contest?

ECONOMIST: Laurent Fabius, France��s man of delayed destiny

Promoter Frank Warren insisted he will not rush Khan into a world title bout just yet and feels his fighter needs another contest before he goes for the big time.

BBC: Khan stops Kristjansen in seven

Barack Obama snagged seven of 12 delegates and just before Mississippi's contest, Politico.com executive editor Jim VandeHei takes the pulse of the Democratic presidential primary and reveals his vote for the biggest news story of the week.

NPR: Commenter: Obama Rolling Toward Mississippi

He had described Iowa as a must-win contest for him to continue in the 2004 race for the White House and just before the caucuses began, Gephardt predicted he would win.

CNN: Gephardt formally bows out of Campaign 2004