(cctv.com)
Updated: 2008-01-15 12:13

US presidential hopefuls have made their final pitches to the people of Iowa, urging them to turn out and vote in Thursday's caucus.

This first round marks the beginning of the nomination process for both the Democratic and Republican parties for the 2008 presidential election.

Eight Democrats and seven Republicans all vying for office making their last-minute appeals to the residents of Iowa.

Polls suggest the top three contenders among Democrats are Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards.

The leading Democratic candidates capped months of expensive advertising on Wednesday with evening news appeal to Iowa voters. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton focused on change, while John Edwards relied on a laid-off worker to make his case.

In Clinton's ad campaign, she said Iowans should "take the first step" towards changing the direction of the country by voting for her.

Hillary Rodham Clinton, presidential hopeful, said, "I am looking forward to being a president who is welcomed in countries, who understands we have to build relationships and alliances with every continent, because its time the United States have a foreign policy again that is not only focused on our interest, but understands we can best promote our interests by helping other people".

The three Democrats are neck-and-neck in state polls, giving the contest an air of unpredictability.

On the Republican side, the polls suggest it's a two-man race between Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney.

Mike Huckabee stirred controversy because of a television appearance on the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on Wednesday, despite a strike and picketing by the show's writers.

The Writers Guild of America urged Huckabee not to cross their picket line after he flew out to California.

Mitt Romney thanked the people of Iowa amid a final plea for votes which he hopes will begin a snowball of support that rolls all the way to the Republican presidential nomination.

The Iowa caucus is important as it provides an early indication of public opinion and tests candidates in responding to pressure, and statesman qualities.