Thursday, January 03, 2008
Anderson's View: Iowa and Pizza
I've spent most of today studying up on Iowa caucuses trivia. Woo hoo! Tonight our special coverage starts at 8p ET and we will go all the way through until midnight. I will be talking with our team of analysts all throughout the evening, and we have this really cool new piece of technology that allows me to walk around with a virtual pie chart. It's sort of hard to describe, and I have no idea how it works, but it looks great. John King said it made me look like I was a pizza deliveryman and kept trying to hand me ten bucks, but you can decide for yourself tonight. Speaking of pizza, I'm hungry. I will see you tonight.
-- Anderson Cooper
Track Iowa results yourself and stay up-to-the-second at CNNPolitics.com - your one stop shop for the Iowa caucuses!
Posted By CNN: 4:44 PM ET
  47 Comments
Anderson,

Caucus trivia huh, well you're not a Jeopardy Champ for nothin...

See you this evening.

Mindy
Surprise, AZ
Posted By Blogger Mindy : 5:01 PM ET
Hi Anderson,
I never thought I would get excited about the US elections, but I am!!
It's totally your fault!!! LOL

Gosh, pizza...now I'm hungry!

See you tonight!

Kristien, Antwerp, Belgium
Posted By Blogger Kristien : 5:04 PM ET
Hi Anderson,

Pizza pie chart, huh? Sounds high-tech, and delicious at the same time! Hold the anchovies, but I'll have pepperoni with that! LOL!

I've been reading up on the Iowa caucuses too, and I must say the rules hurt my head! I like the simplicity of the Republican process and I wish the Democrats would follow the same procedures. In any event, with a wide-open race, it will be interesting to see how it all shakes out!

I'll be watching tonight!

Thanks :)
Lilibeth
Edmonds, Washington
Posted By Blogger Lilibeth : 5:10 PM ET
Ten bucks? Does that include the tip? Where can you get a pizza for ten bucks?
Posted By Anonymous Arachnae, Sterling VA : 5:11 PM ET
Hmmmm...Pizza!

Anderson, I will surely need a very good pizza to stay awake from 2 to 6 am and watching the Iowa coverage. The process is still a little blur for me. I count on the best political team to enlighten me on it...once again! All this is very exciting though.

Can't wait to see the results.

Delphine, Paris, France.
Posted By Blogger Délie : 5:12 PM ET
Hmmm...the pizza delivery man...that conjures up some interesting thoughts.

Looking forward to seeing the analysis and the new technology.
Posted By Anonymous Joseph Kowalski, North Huntingdon, PA : 5:19 PM ET
Mmmmmmmm....Pizza.......

I'm looking forward to tonight's coverage. Mostly I'm looking forward to the Iowa caucuses being over. I wonder if anyone in Iowa feels the same way?
Posted By Blogger Barbara in Culver City, CA : 5:21 PM ET
if this is a repeat....I am sorry. Blogger is acting up

Anderson, call it fate but I just grabbed a slice a pizza before I logged onto your blog. Hopefully you found something to eat at least.

Now if you ever go on celebrity Jeopardy, if Iowa caucuses are a category you can sweep the board :)

I am really excited to watch the coverage of the Iowa caucuses and I can't wait to see this portable pie chart. Not only will America be watching but the rest of the world will be watching as well. This is why CNN is the best at political news in the business. Hopefully by the end of the night we will have some sort of excitement to report on.

See you and the rest of the team tonight. It is going to be an exciting one!
Posted By Anonymous Megan O. Toronto, ON, Canada : 5:22 PM ET
Hi Anderson,
Thick crust or thin, cheese or the works..A virtual pizza pie chart?
Well, whatever the chart, I guess today is the big day and somewhere all the candidates and staff are probably wondering if it will be pizza and beer tonight or champagne and caviar...Celebrate or drown their sorrows? It will be an interesting evening.

Lorie Ann, Buellton, Calif.
Posted By Blogger Lorie Ann : 5:22 PM ET
Hi Anderson,
That technology sounds cool. Your use of the smart board last night to show how people vote in the caucus was cool too. This election will be far from over tonight, but it will be one for the books!
Posted By Blogger pamina : 5:23 PM ET
Anderson,

imagine you as my pizza delivery man...LOL! I will be watching CNN tonight, as always, to keep me informed and in touch. I must go now, it's time for dinner! :)

Maureen, Mississauga, ON, Canada
Posted By Anonymous Anonymous : 5:23 PM ET
Well that sounds like a fun way to spend the day! :P

But in all seriousness it's going to be very interesting to see how things turn out tonight. After a year of nothing but talk, we'll finally have solid(ish) results and we'll see if all our speculating and analysing was onto something!

I live in Canada but this election has definatly caught my attention. I've even signed up for a politics class to take this term in university as an elective! And yes I realise that I am a huge loser! :D

See u tonight!

PS: I can't wait to see you carrying around that 'pizza pie chart' tonight... I thought that was a pretty smart name for it :D
Posted By Blogger Nardeen : 5:24 PM ET
Why is it I just can't picture Anderson as a pizza deliveryman? Looking forward to seeing that new contraption that makes pie charts though. I'm woo hooing too, it's going to be a long but exciting night.
Posted By Anonymous Jolene, St. Joseph, MI : 5:25 PM ET
Anderson,

I look forward to your "pizza chart" demonstration tonight! Anything to make this more understandable and a little more entertaining is welcome.

How can we even trust the outcome when there have already been reports of dirty campaign tricks? Don't get me wrong, I think that the election process can be fascinating, however, after all of this the results will probably be inconclusive.

I hope you don't have any technical glitches tonight!

Later,
Jo Ann
Posted By Blogger Jo Ann : 5:26 PM ET
A day studying Iowa caucus trivia? Anderson, you've EARNED that pizza...
Posted By Anonymous Fay, Vacaville, CA : 5:27 PM ET
Anderson,

So this is a pizza pie chart with room for 150,000 pieces of pepperoni, I mean votes? Can't wait to see this new techie toy. And I will have one vegetarian thick crust to go.

PS: Now you are ready for the next celebrity Jeopardy esp if there is a category for Iowa Caucuses.

Charlotte D, Stockton CA
Posted By Blogger Charlotte : 5:42 PM ET
Cool (re: "...new piece of technology...")!
Posted By Anonymous K@KatchPro Portland, OR : 5:43 PM ET
Ah, technology never ceases to amaze me. Virtual pie chart? Sounds tasty! I look forward to the program!

I, too, have been studying Caucus terms all day and I finally think I understand the process and what it means in the overall election. Fascinating!

See? Engineers can be closeted political junkies too!!
Posted By Anonymous Aruna, Minneapolis, MN : 5:43 PM ET
Anderson,
I have to say that I am really looking forward to your election coverage tonight!! I think this Iowa caucus is going to get really interesting!! I bet we won't have a clear winner until the very end!! It seems as though the candidates are pretty much even to me! I guess it will be determined by who actually shows up to vote!

And BTW I am a bit hungry myself so how about throwing a pizza my way!! LOL I gotta see this new equipment!! LOL

C-Ya Tonight!!

Cynthia, Covington, Ga.
Posted By Blogger Cindy : 5:46 PM ET
As a Canucky viewer of AC 360, I must admit that the American elections draw my attention more so than our country's own political process...Yet any tool that makes the analysis less dry (sorry guys, it's true!) to watch is ok by me - Bring on the virtual pie chart!
Posted By Blogger Romina : 5:54 PM ET
Anderson, I wasn't going to watch tonight since I am not interested in politics, but you talking about that virtual pie has me curious.

You may have a new career if the whole news anchor thing doesn't work out. Anderson Cooper...pizza deliver boy...lol!!!

Oh and I hope you have something good for dinner.
Posted By Anonymous Sarah, Atlanta, GA : 6:16 PM ET
The way the campaigns have been going on both sides of the aisle, that pizza should be with "extra cheese" and "full of baloney".
--Ruby, New York City
Posted By Anonymous Ruby S. : 6:24 PM ET
John King's got jokes! Who would have thought...(ahem - sarcasm)

A word to the wise - take the money. Stops those pesky chief national correspondents in their tracks.

Looking forward to the coverage of the caucus tonight.
Posted By Blogger Natalie : 6:39 PM ET
I am SO READY for the Iowa caucuses to be over. Kinda sounds like you are too! Woo hoo! back @ ya
Posted By Anonymous Kathy : 6:55 PM ET
Four hours straight tonight?! WOW! Well, that's a lot of you. I'm glad YOU studied Iowa caucauses, because I don't think I could. Well, I guess I'd have to if I had your job, but I don't. So I'm looking forward to learning much from you tonight! See ya soon.

I can't even look at pizza for a while; ate too much of it just the other day.
Posted By Anonymous Mariela, New York, NY : 6:56 PM ET
Anderson: I am with an earlier comment -- I have never really paid much attention to the early election falderal, but this year you & CNN have hooked me & I am an addict. Couldn't wait all day at work to see you tonight in Iowa -- talk about not having a life!

As to Pizza -- ENJOY each bite. My son & I decided last Thanksgiving that we are bored with the traditional Thanksgiving Dinner & are switching to a decadent Pizza; so I gotta wait until Thanksgiving.
Posted By Blogger Diane : 8:29 PM ET
Hello Anderson -

Well, I'm watching CNN and have not yet had the pleasure of witnessing the pizza delivery guy! Still, you and CNN have done such a great job at making this election cycle interesting and engaging, most certainly.

Good work!

Nina
Posted By Blogger ninapatina designs : 9:20 PM ET
What’s up Anderson love your book by the way, I’m watching the coverage of the Iowa caucus and I don’t see a pie chart, no ten bucks for you lol. I do see the live updates for HD and I think this new type of technology is awesome or maybe it’s just because CNN is awesome. woo hoo!!! Obama won!!!
Posted By Blogger Desmon : 9:34 PM ET
Anderson: As an 18 year old high school student, I have to admit I am addicted to 360. I was really looking forward to CNN's coverage of Iowa tonight and it is great as expected (watching it now!), especially with the virtual PIZZA PIE CHARTS :)

Huckabee & Obama - interesting ..
Posted By Blogger Brittany : 9:50 PM ET
why don't you deliver a piece of that political pizza over here...although i suppose the delivery fee would be pretty monumental...i'm excited for obama, but even more so for stephen colbert. you know, huckabee promised him a place as a running mate...long show tonight, maybe you should have had kathy back on to keep things light? you guys really are the best political team on television. keep up the good work. ~jen
Posted By OpenID ribbitjen23 : 9:54 PM ET
Obama and Huckabee...Gag me. I guess the Oprah tour and religious right really did make a difference. I just want the pizza toy for my classroom. Which may be in another country if either of these guys go into office.
Posted By Anonymous Tammy, Berwick, LA : 10:08 PM ET
Well, you're sticking to your resolution, thanks for the continued blogging. You might not rub it in our faces that you're eating pizza when some people dieting can't. No fair.

But, if you did, at least I hope there was beer, because I'm keeping my resolution, "stop thinking; start drinking." I think I'll get back to that.
Posted By OpenID jaelmara : 10:22 PM ET
Anderson,

I know you were excited about the virtual pie chart, but I have to say it looks totally ridiculous on the screen, bobbing around in front of everyone's faces like one of those internet pop-up ads....

Otherwise, enjoyed the coverage as always.
Posted By Blogger Doug : 10:23 PM ET
Anderson one from me tonight -- Obama & Huckabee -- what a discouraging outlook.

Jack Cafferty, please bring back more & more of him; I really miss his (yes, hard ball) but realistic viewpoints. Howard Dean - I can't believe CNN spent the air time; what a laugh. I had forgotten he existed; can't believe he is a spokesperson for anyone except Looney-Tunes.

As to John Edwards speaking at the end of the caucus results, I actually had to turn my TV OFF; I simply could not bear to listen to anything that came out of his mouth. Now I'm moving to my bedroom & will tune in again to CNN; if it is Hillary spouting her same ole, same ole, I probably will be turning off the light & hope for something pleasant to dream about.

I am addicted to all of this, but at the same time feeling, "Are these people really the best that the U.S. has to offer?" What happen to our real honest champions?

Diane in Tustin
Posted By Blogger Diane : 10:41 PM ET
Gergin asked the other day what our dream and our nightmare outcomes were. Well my nightmare was Obama and Huckabee and it happened.

Surely we can do better than this. This seemed more like a popularity contest from middle school than an event where you voted on the issues.

I hope I wake up and discover like JR in Dallas did years ago that it was all a dream.

Annie Kate
Birmingham AL
Posted By Blogger Annie Kate : 11:07 PM ET
Hi Anderson,

I wasn't surprised by the results, but I didn't think Obama would win the Democratic caucus as decisively as he did. I thought that was pretty amazing, especially in a predominantly white state.

Regarding Huckabee, I guess his victory is not really surprising, given that a huge population of Iowan Republicans are evangelicals.

But as we all know, it's a long road ahead, New Hampshire is a totally different state, so we all have to put this in perspective. I'm sure though that the victors know that and will not be sitting back.

Great job tonight Anderson and the best political team! Thanks for the outstanding coverage!

Thanks :)
Lilibeth
Edmonds, Washington
Posted By Blogger Lilibeth : 12:08 AM ET
Wow, Annie Kate! Wow!

Obama -- nightmare?! Are you serious? Now that's real deep.

If you think Obama is a nightmare, then you ain't seen nutin', yet!

I don't know how you feel about the nightmarish Bush, but if he and Giuliani get to have it their way, you'll know exactly what a nightmare really is. And as Bush likes to say, "MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT," there will be NO waking from it!

We'll all have hell to pay for that one if it happens. LET US PRAY that it DOES NOT.

God Bless!
JPHowell, NY
Posted By Blogger JPHowell : 12:10 AM ET
First there was the Tobacco industry then the drug companies and now it appears the Health insurance companies will be the "DARTH VADER" of this election. Boy do I miss the USSR.

Mike L
Franklin TN
Posted By Anonymous Mike L : 1:16 AM ET
Pizza? Gods no! That's all I ate during the holidays at work, enough of that.
So, I get home to see that Huckabee & Obama are our choices (well, your choices). Fascinating.
my roommate so wants Obama to be the next president tho I must admit there's something amusing as well as creepy to think that Huckabee might win. Y'know, we should really play the soundtrack to that movie at all his rallies, just makes more sense.

-G. Shane. Betts Williams- Halifax, NS, CANADA
Posted By Blogger Shane : 2:15 AM ET
I just had to check this blog out to see if Anderson was holding true to his word. :))

Jackie Smith
Reno, NV
Posted By Anonymous JMHO : 2:24 AM ET
Hello Anderson
We in the deep south of africa get AC360 at 5 am. Was nearly late for work as was glued to screen! What with the virtual pie chart. Verrry interesting
Watched you and Miz Griffin on New Year's Day as well - it was 6 hours after we'd celebrated! Again very interesting, sort of the yin and the yang, you two were
Posted By Blogger Cathy : 3:56 AM ET
Hmmm pizza.... John King was right, it really looked like a pizzabox, especially the way you were holding it. It made me hungry!I found the caucasus very interesting. I was a bit surprised about the outcome for both parties, though. I didn't think Hillary Clinton would make only the third place and very surprised that Mike Huckabee would come in first. Very interesting.

Judy
Cologne, Germany
Posted By Blogger Judy : 6:25 AM ET
Hey Anderson,

Caucus... hard to to understand. Took my mom several minutes to explain it to me. She said it may be complicated to understand, but it's pretty much the right thing to do. I hope the Philippines can adopt that soon.

Yes, yes, you were a very adorable pizza deliveryman.

Hope you get some rest!

Myta Santiago, Philippines
Posted By Anonymous Myta Santiago : 7:36 AM ET
Haha Pizza John is is truly one of a kind. You should have taken the money. I saw that little board it was weird a little to over technical. Oh well it was still fun.
-Kayle
Posted By OpenID louismustdie2792 : 8:47 AM ET
Hey A!
Rogets Thesaurus offers numerous synonyms for the word 'den': lair, study, cave ... that's it, cave, as in cave-dwelling. Why the English lesson so early in the day? P_R_E_S_I_D_E_N_T versus P_R_I_E_S_T ... as any Scrabble aficionado can attest, they're missing a few letters that will officially send them back to the Stone Age ... I hope the die wasn't cast in Iowa.
Dwayne Moholitny
Edmonton, Alberta
Posted By Anonymous marq65 : 1:11 PM ET
Anderson,
Love your coverage. Was in Atlanta over Christmas and took a tour of CNN. Was sad to find out you're in NY but you were there with a virtual interview. Thanks for the great Primary coverage, you distill the issues into relevant points of interest. Look forward to great election coverage all year. Bryan Farnsworth Dallas, Texas
Posted By Blogger Bryan : 1:40 PM ET
Anderson,

Yes the technology was exceptional but the floating pie chart.....


Noone talked about the Oprah effect/bump. Your statistics showed that there was none for the winner. Most votes were from the young not older women. That is all the more authentic for Obama. It is a real victory of the people.
Those who criticized the Oprah rally should be eating......pizza with double mea culpea toppings.

Joanna
Posted By Anonymous Jo : 1:57 PM ET
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