Former Romney Aide Killed In Iraq
The Associated Press points out that the death in Iraq of 27-year old Army 1st Lt. Andrew J. Bacevich, a son of an anti-war academic, has a connection to the current White House field: Bacevich served as a legislative aide to Mitt Romney in Massachusetts. "I got to know Andrew as a legislative aide in my office, and before he left we met and talked about his plans," Romney said in a statement. "He was driven by a desire to serve, first as part of our team and then as a member of the military. His loss is a deep personal loss for me and for all of those who knew him."

Rudy and Edwards Disclose Wealth — Rudy Made $16 Million Last Year
The New York Times reports that Rudy Giuliani and John Edwards have disclosed their assets. Edwards, who is worth about $30 million, made about half a million dollars last year at global hedge-fund Fortress Investment Group, and $40,000 directing at a poverty studies program at the University of North Carolina. Rudy, meanwhile, has a net worth of $30 million, most of it from paid speeches since he left office as Mayor of New York City — a big change from his divorce six years ago, when he claimed having assets of only $7,000. The Boston Globe notes that Rudy made about $16 million last year alone.

Obama The Poorest Major Candidate — And He's Worth Millions
The Chicago Tribune reports that Barack Obama's financial disclosures show him to be the poorest of the top tier of Presidential candidates, with a paltry family net worth of $1.14 million, plus the equity in a home he bought two years ago for $1.65 million. This compares to other candidates like Rudy Giuliani and John Edwards — both worth around $30 million — or Mitt Romney worth in the low hundreds of millions range. Most of Obama's income came from sales last year of his two books, The Audacity Of Hope and Dreams From My Father.

Brownback Divests From Sudan
The Associated Press reports that Senator Sam Brownback has divested from stocks in companies that do business in Sudan, in protest of the genocide in Darfur. Brownback dumped investments values between $50,000 and $100,000 from mutual funds, due to the discovery of Sudan-related investments being done by the investment firms

Richardson Rolling Out NH Organization
The New Hampshire Union Leader reports that Bill Richardson has been steadily building his campaign organization in the state, and will announce his 34-member state steering committee today. His committee will include nine state Representatives, plus several public officials and activists in Manchester.

Huckabee: I'd Have Trouble Working With Pro-Choice Republican
The Pine Bluff Commercial reports that Mike Huckabee is uncertain about whether or not he could work with a pro-choice Republican. "This is an issue to me that is very critical. It's one of the reasons that I got into politics because I believe the manner in which we treat innocent life and the matter in which we respect human life, at whatever stage ... is an incredibly powerful statement about who we are as a people," Huckabee said. "It's something I would have to think long and hard about."

Dem Aides Registered Herseth Domain Name When Tim Johnson Fell Ill
The Argus Leader reports that Democratic Senate aide Doug Landry, who now works for DSCC head Chuck Schumer, registered the domain name www.HersethForSenate.com after Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) became sick in December — hoping to lock down the address in case South Dakota Democratic Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin ran to replace Johnson. Landry, who at the time worked for Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA), says he acted on his own and without telling anyone else. "I had only the best intentions in reserving the address, but in retrospect, I shouldn't have done it and I am sorry that I did," Landry said in a statement released by Schumer’s office.

Menendez In Line For DSCC Chairmanship
Roll Call reports that Senator Chuck Schumer has named New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez as vice chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Committee, where Schumer has amassed much power and prestige since helping Democrats take the majority in the last election. Roll Call speculates that Chuck Schumer may be laying the groundwork for a successor at the DSCC in the 2010 election cycle, when Schumer would likely step down to focus on his own re-election. "Over the next year and a half, [Menendez] really has the chance to audition for the position," said a Democratic leadership aide. "There’s no doubt he would have the inside track."

Dems Targeting Musgrave, Graves In GOP Strongholds
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will be actively targeting Reps. Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO) and Sam Graves (R-MO), in districts where President Bush won the past elections with healthy majorities, but Democrats have begun making progress. Musgrave had a close race in the last election, and first-term state Sen. Brandon Shaffer has told Democratic leaders that he will run, and there are other potential Democratic candidates. Graves' district was carried by newly-elected Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) last fall, and former Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes has declared her candidacy.

McNerney Gets A Challenger
The Hill reports that former California state Assemblyman Dean Andal has announced his candidacy against freshman Democratic Congressman Jerry McNerney, who won an upset victory in a usually Republican district over powerful GOP incumbent Richard Pombo. "Dean Andal is a political heavyweight and the kind of top-tier candidate we have been looking for," said National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Ken Spain. "He is a proven vote-getter with close ties to the community, and we believe that he has what it takes to put the seat back in the Republican column."

GOP Chairs Want Less Candidates At Debates — And Definitely Less Ron Paul
The Hotline reports that several Republican state chairs are hoping to cut out the lesser Presidential candidates from future debates — and one chair from a large state specifically cited Ron Paul, calling his behavior "embarrassing."