NASHUA, N.H.—The Latest on developments from the 2016 Republican race for president, just days out from the Iowa caucuses (all times local):
4:15 p.m.
Bernie Sanders feels like the hottest candidate in the Democratic race. Thousands flock to his rallies across Iowa, screaming his name.
The question is whether all that heat translates into bodies in a room on a cold night in Iowa come Monday.
Even Sanders admits he doesn’t know the answer. He said Friday that he isn’t predicting a win on caucus night, but “saying that we are right now in Iowa in a very, very close election.”
For decades, Iowa has been a key testing ground for insurgent Democratic candidates trying to wrest the nomination from the establishment pick.
Mitch Stewart directed field operations for Obama’s Iowa effort in 2008. He says the adage is “organize, organize, organize and get hot late.”
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3:50 p.m.
Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign is demanding that the State Department release more than 20 emails sent from her private server that have been deemed heavily classified.
The Associated Press reported on Friday that seven email chains from Clinton’s correspondence as secretary of state are being withheld because they contain information deemed “top secret.”
Clinton’s campaign is questioning the secrecy of the messages, saying the emails originated and remained on the State Department’s unclassified system. They say at least one involved a public news article.
Says spokesman Brian Fallon: “This appears to be over-classification run amok.”
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3:05 p.m.
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush says political opponents need not paint each other as enemies.
Bush spoke to about 150 voters in the western Iowa town of Carroll on Friday and was asked how he would fix congressional gridlock.
He said people — particularly politicians — must stop seeing opponents as enemies. He says “they might just be people who disagree with me.”
Without naming names, Bush still worked in some criticism of his Republican rivals in the presidential race, mocking comments made by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in which he said he would “carpet bomb” Islamic State fighters.
Bush says “we have to have a real strategy.”
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2:40 p.m.
The New Hampshire primary is anyone’s race as several Republican presidential candidates vie for a top tier finish less than two weeks before voters head to the polls.
Uncertainties are mounting as candidates fail to sway the state’s many undecided voters one way or the other, despite months of courting by the various campaigns. And more than 40 percent are not registered with any political party, giving them the power to choose which party they'd like to vote with come Feb. 9.
With Trump maintaining a commanding lead in the state, the battle has intensified among the rest of the pack as they look to elbow each other out for a second-place finish.
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2:30 p.m.
One of the stars of the “Duck Dynasty” reality show will be joining Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in his final days of campaigning before the Iowa caucuses.
Phil Robertson plans to be with Cruz for stops throughout Iowa on Saturday and Sunday. The conservative political commentator also plans to campaign with Cruz leading up to Monday’s caucuses.
Cruz bagged Robertson’s endorsement after going hunting with him earlier this month.
Phil Robertson’s son, Willie, has endorsed Cruz’s Republican rival Donald Trump.
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2:20 p.m.
Not all the Republican candidates are sticking around Iowa for caucus night Monday.
While much of the large GOP 2016 field will host parties around the Des Moines area, Jeb Bush, Chris Christie and John Kasich will be in New Hampshire instead.
All three are performing better in New Hampshire polls and are getting a jump on the Feb. 9 primary.
Former Florida Gov. Bush is holding a town hall in Manchester. New Jersey Gov. Christie has one in Hopkinton. And Ohio Gov. Kasich will be hosting a town hall Loudon.
Bush and Christie have Iowa events through the weekend and early Monday. Aides say they’re working hard in the state. Kasich has events in New Hampshire all weekend.
Iowa’s Republican caucuses tend to be heavily influenced by Christian conservative voters, who favor other candidates, primarily businessman Donald Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.
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