Political bits

Let's start with the Romney quote. When asked about his son's not serving in the military at a forum in Iowa, Mitt Romney ended up here,

"And one of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping me get elected because they think I'd be a great president."

The AP story on this incident is quickly climbing up the charts. (Romney claims it's out of context, but watch the video.)

(ABC) Romney blasts Giuliani over NYC "sanctuary" for immigrants.

(Swamp) With all the effort and money Romney is putting in, he'd better win the Iowa Ames straw poll convincingly on Saturday. (Especially with no Giuliani, McCain, or Thompson.) Is the Romney effort defensive, or are they reacting to internal polling?

(Also: Whose the Ames darkhorse? Ron Paul? Brownback?)

(DesMoinesRegister) Giuliani is trying hard to draw strict lines around his weaknesses, like his religion,

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani drew a line Tuesday on public discussion of his religion, telling a Bettendorf audience that it is between him and his priest as to whether he's a "good or not-so-good Catholic."

and his personal life,

"I believe that things about my personal life should be discussed personally and privately," he said. "It's just sort of gossip. I've never been big on gossip."

That may work in Iowa in August, but not in the real campaign.

(CNN) Early, early polling, and it's Quinnepac, but Clinton inching ahead in battleground states is significant. As is this quote,

“Not only does she lead by a nose in two of the most important swing states in the Electoral College, but she is turning around independent and Republican voters who previously viewed her negatively.”

.