To view past editions of The Hill's 12:30 Report, click here: http://bit.ly/1M1mIfw

To receive The Hill's 12:30 Report in your inbox, please sign up here: http://bit.ly/1Tt4hqN

--> A midday take on what's happening in politics and how to have a sense of humor about it.*

*Ha. Haha. Hahah. Sniff. Haha. Sniff. Ha--breaks down crying hysterically.

The Hill's 12:30 Report — From the trail in New Hampshire: Democrats gear up for crucial debate | What to watch as Dems take the stage | Buttigieg, Sanders in dead heat with Iowa results finally in | How Iowa deepened the divide between Sanders, DNC | Buttigieg surges in new NH poll | Sights and sounds from the Granite State | Sanders speaks at 'Politics & Eggs' breakfast | Vermin Supreme blocks Buttigieg's SUV

ON THE GROUND IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

Bernt eggs!

...annnnd with that, we've made it to the 'bad pun' phase of primary coverage:

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersSenate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Hillicon Valley: DOJ indicts Chinese, Malaysian hackers accused of targeting over 100 organizations | GOP senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal | QAnon awareness jumps in new poll Schumer, Sanders call for Senate panel to address election security MORE (I-Vt.) hit the classic New Hampshire campaign stop -- the New England Council's "Politics & Eggs" breakfast -- this morning at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics, a few hundred yards from tonight's debate venue.

This feels so luxurious: The venue has strong Wi-Fi, I have a seat, I was able to park on-site, there is coffee and I didn't have to wait outside in the cold to get in. I can't tell you how rare that is to find on the campaign trail.

And when they say, "Politics & Eggs," they mean eggs: Per tradition, the tables have wicker baskets of wooden commemorative eggs. Collectors like to get the eggs signed by presidential candidates.

Photo of the basket of eggs: Aren't they adorable? http://bit.ly/37cEz5D

And an up-close photo of the egg's logo: http://bit.ly/2H4sYuw

But it's not just a tease: The breakfasts do always have actual breakfast eggs. Photo of the breakfast buffet: http://bit.ly/2vff1Hq

^ Check out that woman's patriotic outfit.

Bernie Sanders went to sign a few eggs and then asked out loud: "Does the New Hampshire Institute of Politics have a pen?" realizing he did not have one. Photo: http://bit.ly/3bkBRxZ

There. Is. So. Much. Press.: Here's a photo of just part of the packed room. Plus, there's an overflow press room. My photo of the room: http://bit.ly/2v92Lbz

^ LOL -- here is that same photo, but from the other side of the room: From The New Hampshire Institute of Politics's executive director Neil Levesque. Hi, Neil! http://bit.ly/2tDu1P7

Bernie to the press: "Isn't it nice to go to an event where you're not considered the enemy of the people?" http://bit.ly/2SxOJZg

Livestream of the event: It's a classic. https://cs.pn/31AQDwa

Happy Friday from New Hampshire! Four days until the first-in-the-nation primary. Filing from Saint Anselm College before tonight's Democratic presidential debate, I'm Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what's coming up. Send comments, story ideas and events for our radar to cmartel@thehill.com -- and follow along on Twitter @CateMartel and Facebook.

Did someone forward this to you? Want your own copy? Sign up here to receive The Hill's 12:30 Report in your inbox daily: http://bit.ly/2kjMNnn

FROM TULSI GABBARD'S CAMPAIGN STOPS:

You guys, presidential candidate (ish?) Vermin Supreme is back (!): Supreme runs for president most cycles. He wears a boot on his head. If you don't know about him, here's a quick primer -- it does not disappoint: http://bit.ly/2uv0F5I

Anyway, Supreme asked Gabbard an odd question -- 'What are you going to name your pony?': Seriously, that was his question. Tulsi Gabbard's (D-Hawaii) response: "My pony? .. oh that's right. You have the free pony for everyone plan. Right." Watch -- it's just as weird as you think: http://bit.ly/2uq045i

Here's a photo of Gabbard with Supreme -- and his signature boot hat: It's a rite of passage to pose for a photo with him. The photo: http://bit.ly/2vZZSKH

FROM TEAM BERNIE SANDERS:

He's booking it -- that windswept look!: Here is Sanders's entry at a rally. Watch: http://bit.ly/2Uw7WwU

I declare 'VICTORY!!!' -- yes, in Michael Scott's voice: Yesterday, Sanders declared victory in the Iowa Caucuses with him in a dead heat with former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Photo from Bernie's noon press conference yesterday: http://bit.ly/2Oywu4u

This split screen is my life these days: Sanders's press conference yesterday happened at the same time as President Trump Donald John TrumpBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Military leaders asked about using heat ray on protesters outside White House: report Powell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy MORE's post-acquittal press conference. Photo of The Boston Globe's James Pindell covering both: http://bit.ly/2SrEAwX

FROM Joe Biden Joe BidenThe Memo: Warning signs flash for Trump on debates Senate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden National postal mail handlers union endorses Biden MORE'S CAMPAIGN:

Biden held no campaign stops in New Hampshire yesterday: Here is what his campaign schedule looked like: http://bit.ly/2SuOuxO

FWIW, here's a strategy idea for Biden -- from Blackout's Scott Conroy, who knows New Hampshire very well: "Biden needs to toss out the script completely these next five days and just talk from the heart in New Hampshire. This has worked many times before for frontrunners with their backs against the wall (Hillary in '08, McCain in '08, Bill in '92, etc.) and it could work again." http://bit.ly/2H5K8YF

FROM BUTTIGIEG'S SWING THROUGH NEW HAMPSHIRE:

When I say 'everyone and their mother,' it still feels like an understatement: A few towns from the Manchester epicenter and with not many competing candidate events yesterday afternoon, Buttigieg held a campaign stop in Merrimack -- and it seemed like literally every member of the media showed up.

Here's a photo of some (!) of the press at the Merrimack event: http://bit.ly/2OvpLbF

Several dozen members of the press were turned away: Photo of some of the crowd -- journalists and New Hampshirites-- being denied access: http://bit.ly/2UzyRIi

So Mayor Pete came to tell everyone the bad news: "I'm so sorry. It sounds like we have more than filled up and won't be able to fit everybody in the space." Video of Buttigieg getting out of his SUV to make the announcement: http://bit.ly/39eDbR3

If you watch one video today -- here is the reason the campaign trail is so, so strange, but entertaining:

As @PeteButtigieg’s team was trying to leave the Youth Climate Town Hall, they were briefly blocked by satirical candidate Vermin Supreme.



“Boot head head!” he chanted at the mayor’s car. pic.twitter.com/jWG6q0tPL7 — Rob DiRienzo (@RobDiRienzo) February 5, 2020

Watch: http://bit.ly/2Sqpdor

THE IOWA RESULTS

Wooooo, Iowa ~finally~ hit 100 percent of the results

Hey, I'm a New Hampshirite -- I can't not make these snarky comments:

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

With 100 percent of the caucus results in, former Buttigieg and Sanders are in a dead heat for first place in Iowa. http://bit.ly/2H2tzNx

The numbers:

Pete Buttigieg Pete ButtigiegBogeymen of the far left deserve a place in any Biden administration Overnight Defense: Woodward book causes new firestorm | Book says Trump lashed out at generals, told Woodward about secret weapons system | US withdrawing thousands of troops from Iraq A socially and environmentally just way to fight climate change MORE: 26.2 percent

Bernie Sanders: 26.1 percent

Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth WarrenNo new taxes for the ultra rich — fix bad tax policy instead Democrats back away from quick reversal of Trump tax cuts It's time for newspapers to stop endorsing presidential candidates MORE: 18 percent

Vice President Joe Biden: 15.8 percent

Amy Klobuchar Amy KlobucharEPA delivers win for ethanol industry angered by waivers to refiners It's time for newspapers to stop endorsing presidential candidates Biden marks anniversary of the Violence Against Women Act, knocks Trump and McConnell MORE: 12.3 percent

LATEST WITH THE 2020 RACE

A hell of a time to surge:

Four days before the first-in-the-nation primary, Buttigieg is surging, according to a new WBZ/Boston Globe/Suffolk University daily tracking poll of New Hampshire voters. http://bit.ly/2Ox5MJy

The numbers:

Bernie Sanders: 24 percent

Pete Buttigieg: 23 percent, up four points in the past 24 hours

Elizabeth Warren: 13 percent

Joe Biden: 11 percent

The full poll: https://cbsloc.al/2OBxPHU

Op-ed --'This will be a wild weekend in New Hampshire': http://bit.ly/2SkouVK

Spotted: Bernie and Tom Perez Thomas Edward PerezClinton’s top five vice presidential picks Government social programs: Triumph of hope over evidence Labor’s 'wasteful spending and mismanagement” at Workers’ Comp MORE seeking relationship counseling:

Via The Hill's Jonathan Easley in Manchester, N.H., "the vote-counting debacle around the Iowa caucuses has furthered distrust and hardened anger between Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and the national Democratic Party." http://bit.ly/2S97N0N

IN OTHER NEWS

Happy first Friday of the month!:

Via The Hill's Sylvan Lane, "The U.S. added 225,000 jobs in January as a decline in trade tensions and mild winter weather boosted a resilient labor market, according to data released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)." http://bit.ly/2vbXZu0

For context: "The January jobs gain was far beyond the projections of economists, who expected the U.S. to add between 150,000 and 160,000 workers."

The unemployment rate: "The unemployment rate ticked higher to 3.6 percent as the labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percent to 63.4."

NOTABLE TWEETS

Classic combo:

Spotted in New Hampshire: a snow removal vehicle ... and C-SPAN pic.twitter.com/Dqg9mUhMgg — Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) February 6, 2020

Happening outside the debate venue:

Watch: http://bit.ly/37aA8Ie

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH TONIGHT:

Will Buttigieg and Sanders clash? Will centrists go after one another — or Sanders? Warren and Sanders are sharing the stage again Does Bloomberg hover over the debate? Will anyone actually be watching? It is on a Friday night...

Context and details for each from The Hill’s Max Greenwood: http://bit.ly/2S8pcqm

ON TAP

The House is in. The Senate is out. President Trump is in Charlotte, N.C. and Vice President Pence is in Washington, D.C.

11 a.m. EST: President Trump leaves for Charlotte, N.C.

11 a.m. -- 12 p.m. EST: First and last votes in the House. The House's full schedule today: http://bit.ly/3bgk8HX

11:30 a.m. EST: Vice President Pence and Karen Pence Karen Sue PenceThe Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Biden, Pence elbow bump at NYC Sept. 11 ceremony The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by National Industries for the Blind - Trump seeks to flip 'Rage' narrative; Dems block COVID-19 bill Pentagon, Trump, Biden to mark 9/11 anniversary MORE host a lunch for governors.

1:20 p.m. EST: President Trump speaks at the North Carolina Opportunity Now Summit in Charlotte.

4 p.m. EST: President Trump gets back to the White House.

7:30 p.m. EST: President Trump speaks at the Republican Governors Association Finance Dinner in Washington, D.C.

3 p.m. EST Monday: The Senate returns. The Senate's full schedule: http://bit.ly/2H1goMA

WHAT TO WATCH

8 p.m. EST: The Democratic presidential debate at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H. Details and how to watch: https://nyti.ms/31z91FH s

Sunday morning: Former Sen. John E. Sununu (R-N.H.) will appear on NBC's "Meet the Press."

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Bubble Gum Day. Its' also National Fettuccine Alfredo Day.

Why would you EVER?:

Via Washingtonian's Jane Recker, "What's It Like to Hit All 91 Metro Stops in a Single Trip?: We gave the Metro Challenge a shot." How it went: http://bit.ly/2OztlSb

And to get your weekend off to the right start, here's a little girl trying out for the part of Elsa in the next 'Frozen' movie: http://bit.ly/376cmx1