IOWA - On Thursday, tens of thousands of Iowans will gather to make their picks for president. Thursday night's caucuses come after a very long campaign in the state. Where & When to Caucus

More than a year ago, in November 2006, Iowa governor Tom Vilsack announced he would seek the Democratic Party's nomination. That's after Duncan Hunter became the first candidate to throw his hat into the republican ring.

Within a matter of days, the race swelled to include 19 names between the two parties, with at least six to eight candidates in the top tier.

Now, there are 16 officially still in the race, with Vilsack for the democrats out, along with republicans Sam Brownback and Tom Tancredo. But that number could soon shrink once again.

The outcome of Thursday night's caucuses could make or break several campaigns and the all important results everyone will be waiting for will come into one location in Des Moines.

You walk into the building and you know you're in Des Moines, but this is not like anything you have ever seen before. People walk by speaking foreign languages, there are seats for more than 200 people.

Behind them are several rows of television crews. Journalists from all over the world are in Iowa to witness the first step toward naming the next president of the United States. That’s why Iowa is so important.

Candidates who get a strong jump on Thursday night can carry that success through November. It has been eight years since the republicans and democrats have had caucuses at the same time.

The parties are putting their differences aside for this event here at the Des Moines county convention complex.

"What matters for this is Iowa and that is what is important. It's not the democratic or republican caucuses... it is Iowa's caucuses. And it is our first in the nation status and we know that was important and we need to protect that vital role in the political process," said Carrie Giddins, Iowa Democratic Party.

With the race too close to call on the republican side, the final push will be non-stop.

Mike Huckabee spent Wednesday morning in Fort Dodge. He is locked in a tight race with former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. Huckabee told the crowd about his stance against gun control. And Romney took some more jabs at Huckabee on Thursday while campaigning in Bettendorf. Romney accused Huckabee of being more interested in Los Angeles, where Huckabee will appear on The Tonight Show. Romney also attacked republican John McCain. Romney said he has demonstrated his ability to lead, while McCain was merely talking in congress for 25 years.

On the democratic side, former North Carolina senator John Edwards remains in a three way battle with senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. At midnight, Edwards was in Creston in western Iowa where he kicked off 36 straight hours of campaigning. But the sub-zero temperatures gave him an immediate setback when his bus broke down. The campaign had to bring in another bus to continue on, but that made Edwards late for several early morning events.

Democrat Bill Richardson is making ten last minute stops in Iowa on Wednesday. The New Mexico governor spoke to supporters Wednesday morning at the Dubuque Regional Airport. He asked voters to think about which candidate has the most experience to bring about change. Richardson says he thinks he can finish in the top three in Iowa.

Click for Full List of Candidates

The caucuses present a unique problem for the candidates and their supporters. Unlike a primary or a general election, people have to attend the caucuses at a specific time.

To make sure her supporters can make it to their caucuses Thursday night, Hillary Clinton supporters are offering teen-aged babysitters to parents of young kids. And Barack Obama is busing in Chicago area students who attend college in Iowa so they can also take part.