You've just got to shake your head at this sort of "reporting" by the Associated Press' Beth Fouhy on the Iowa caucuses.

Hattie Irving, an 81-year old Iowan, has never participated in her state's presidential caucuses, but she plans to this time - to support Hillary Rodham Clinton.

"I was very impressed with her as first lady. I think it's important to take part," Irving said at a Clinton campaign event at a senior center here.

Brad Smith, a 27-year old engineer who moved to the state in 2005, plans to attend his first precinct caucus, too - and stand up for Barack Obama.

"The caucuses were intimidating to me when I came here - I didn't really know what the word meant," he said. "But regardless of how difficult or confusing it is, I feel like I need to take action."

As the Democratic front-runners compete with John Edwards to win the state's Jan. 3 contest, Clinton and Obama are counting on thousands of first-time caucus goers to show up.

Hers are grayer and generally female. His tend to be younger and male.

Experts say gambling on either group is risky.

"Many candidates over the years have said they'll bring in more young people and more women to the caucuses. Virtually all of those efforts have been failures," said Hugh Winebrenner, an emeritus professor and caucus historian at Iowa's Drake University. "No matter how much hoopla surrounds the caucuses, the people who show up tend to be the party regulars."

And on and on it goes -- with nary a mention of any Republican candidates. Apparently the AP couldn't find any Republicans in a state George W. Bush won in 2004.