THIS is how politics is played!

The filibuster war in the U.S. Senate has opened a front in the Iowa caucuses.A powerful group of leading state Republicans and social conservatives sent a letter last week to "potential presidential candidates" telling them, in effect, that any GOP senator with presidential aspirations who doesn't support ending judicial filibusters will face consequences in the 2008 caucuses.The letter puts Senators John McCain of Arizona and Chuck Hagel of Nebraska on notice.

The document was signed by Steve Scheffler, director of the Christian Coalition of Iowa; Chuck Hurley, president of the Iowa Family Policy Center; Edward D. Failor Sr., president of Iowans for Tax Relief; and Maxine K. Sieleman, host of KWKY radio's "Update Today" program, which is popular with religious conservatives.Also signing the letter were Marlys Popma, a respected former executive director of the Iowa GOP; David M. Stanley, chairman of the Tax Education Foundation; and Kim Lehman, executive director of the Iowa Right to Life Committee.

The group thanked Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee and Senators George Allen of Virginia, Sam Brownback of Kansas and Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania "for their courage" on the issue."On the other hand, we are concerned about the two potential candidates, Senator McCain, and from our neighboring state of Nebraska, Senator Hagel - who have so far refused to support an up or down vote," the group said. It said a filibuster against judicial nominees "is totally unacceptable . . . if individual senators oppose specific judicial nominees, then they should vote against them - not block an up-or-down vote."

See, kids, it is a contact sport. Hey, New Hampshire! New Hampshire! You listening?