The 2008 US Presidential race for White House was formally kicked off on Thursday night in the mid-western state of Iowa, as Iowans are gathering in some 1,781 precincts to make their choices among the candidates in the state's caucuses.

The nominating race is too close to call. On the Democratic side, Sen. Hillary Clinton from New York state and Sen. Barrack Obama from Illinois are locked in a three-way race with former North Carolina Senator John Edwards.

In the Republican race, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney are competing to the last minute to get more supporters.

(Xinhua News Agency January 4, 2008)