Only One GOP Candidate — McCain — Endorses Bush Strategy At Iowa GOP Event
The Des Moines Register reports that nine GOP candidates spoke at last night's Iowa Republican Party Lincoln Day fundraising dinner — and John McCain was the only one to explicitly endorse Bush's strategies in Iraq. "We have a new strategy, and we have a new general, and we can and we will succeed in Iraq," McCain said.

McCain Campaign Draining Their War Chest
The Arizona Republic reports that John McCain's campaign has already spent $8.4 million of the roughly $13 million that they raised in the last quarter. And after $1.8 million in debts are taken into account, the McCain camp has a next worth of only $3.4 million.

Hillary Fields Question About American Idol Contestant Sanjaya
The Associated Press reports that Hillary Clinton fielded an unusal question during a stop at a New Hampshire radio show — not about policy, but about people voting for the less-than-stellar American Idol contestant Sanjaya Malakar. "That's the best question I've been asked in a long time," Clinton said. "Well, you know, people can vote for whomever they want. That's true in my election, and it's true on American Idol."

Obama Succeeding In Traditional, Big-Money Fundraising
The Washington Post reports that Barack Obama's fundraising strength has come not simply through the new donors giving small amounts that have received so much publicity — he's done a good job in traditional, big-money fundraising as well. For example, Hollywood mogul Jeffrey Katenberg set a persona goal of raising half a million dollars for the campaign, only to find himself easily bringing in $1.7 million.

Rudy: GOP "Has To Get Beyond" Social Issues"
The Des Moines Register reports that Rudy Giuliani gave a contrversial message to the Iowa GOP faithful at last night's Lincoln Day fundraising dinner: "Our party is going to grow, and we are going to win in 2008 if we are a party characterized by what we’re for, not if we’re a party that’s known for what we’re against." And on the subject of social issues like abortion and gay rights, "Our party has to get beyond issues like that,"" Rudy said.

Obama Campaign Returns Lobbyists' Donations
The New York Times reports that the Barack Obama campaign has returned over $50,000 in contributions after learning that the donors were federal lobbyists. The campaign had previously pledged not to take money from lobbyists. “As we’ve said and as this illustrates, this policy isn’t a perfect solution to the problem of money and politics and special interest sway in Washington,” said campaign spokesman Bill Burton. “But it is an important symbol of the kind of administration that Obama will have in the White House.”

Novak: Rove To Be Kept Out Of Immigration Policy Talks
Robert Novak writes that Karl Rove will be kept out of Bush Administration efforts to pass an immigration reform bill, as his overtly partisan approach would clash with Bush's efforts to work with the Democratic majority for a bill accomodating immigrants already living in the country. "Consequently, he probably would not be helpful in trying to find a middle ground on the immigration problem, which will require bipartisan cooperation," Novak writes.