Romney On Bush: Americans Need To "Get Our Mind-Set Out Of Just Iraq."
At a campaign stop in Iowa yesterday, Mitt Romney praised President Bush's performance in office, saying that Americans need to "get our mind-set out of just Iraq" and also look at the president in terms of the economy, judicial appointments and other issues. Romney also invoked the words of Theodore Roosevelt. "I want to carry the big stick," Romney said of his proposal to increase the size of the military. "I hope I don't have to use it, but I want to make sure we have it so that people understand we are a nation of strength."

Leppert Wins Dallas Mayoralty
Businessman Tom Leppert defeated City Councilman Ed Oakley in the runoff for Dallas Mayor yesterday, winning by a 58%-42% margin. Had Oakley been elected, it would have made Dallas the largest city to elect an openly gay mayor. Oakley was supported by the Democratic Party, while Leppert had donated thousands of dollars to President Bush's past campaigns.

Biden Hits Lieberman On Iran Talk
Joe Biden lashed out at Joe Lieberman this morning on ABC's This Week, over Lieberman's talk of attacking Iran in retaliation for their government's alleged involvement in sending weapons to militias in Iraq. "Now if Joe could come up with me and tell me how he’s going to, not even being able to quell things in Iraq, how he’s going to go into a country of 72 million people, attack and not have our problems metastasize well beyond what they are now, I’d like to know what that is." Biden said defiantly.

Edwards Calls For Better Relationships With International Institutions
John Edwards attacked President Bush for showing disdain of international institutions at an Iowa event yesterday, and said that as president he would take a greater role in reaching out to the international community, such as supporting groups like the International Criminal Court. "If America wants to be a leader in the world and we want to be respected by other countries and treated in a way we like to be treated, Edwards said, "then we're going to have to show that we're willing to engage with the international community."

Poll: Obama, F. Thompson Lead In South Carolina
A new Mason-Dixon poll shows Barack Obama and Fred Thompson leading their respective primary fields in South Carolina. On the Democratic side, Obama has 34%, Hillary Clinton 25%, and John Edwards 12%. Obama leads due to a strong lead among black voters, with 41% for him to only 18% for Hillary. In the Republican primary, Thompson takes 25%, Rudy Giuliani 21%, Mitt Romney 11%, John McCain 7%, and Mike Huckabee 5%. To see a full archive of South Carolina polls this cycle, check out our Election Central Poll Tracker's South Carolina listing.

NYT: Romney Campaign Disciplined, But Sometimes Detached
The New York Times has a look at Mitt Romney's campaign style: "By any measure, Mr. Romney, who is seeking the Republican presidential nomination, is a master pitchman and presenter, bred in politics (his father, George, was the governor of Michigan), enriched in business and battle-tested in the Republican pariah colony of Massachusetts." But the reporter wonders if Romney is perhaps a little too perfect: "While he is climbing in the polls, some people who have seen him close up at recent events describe him as impressive but somewhat detached. He struggles at times to convey a sense that he is an accessible mortal — that he can be spontaneous, that he bears scars and can appreciate at gut-level the struggles of ordinary Americans."

Draft Shaheen Effort Mounting
In New Hampshire, powerful Democratic state Senator Peter Burling has endorsed non-candidate Jeanne Shaheen, a former governor and unsuccessful 2002 nominee for U.S. Senate, for the 2008 race against the incumbent Senator and 2002 winner John Sununu. Current candidates are Portsmouth Mayor Steve Marchand, Democratic activist Katrina Swett — wife of former Congressman and 1996 Senate nominee Richard Swett — and Dartmouth medical school professor and former astronaut Jay Buckey.

New York Fire Fighters And Rudy — A Rocky Relationship
The New York Times has a feature on the views of various New York City fire fighters regarding Rudy Giuliani's candidacy. Beyond his image as a hero of 9/11, fire fighters also remember disputes with Giuliani over contracts and other policies throughout his tenure as Mayor of New York City. Many of them are especially harsh, such as John Walsh, a veteran fire fighter for 21 years. "He’s been riding our coattails since 9/11 like he did something," Walsh said. "He did nothing. He showed up to funerals. So what? He’s a self-promoter. I told my wife, 'Anything that ever happens, I don’t want him at my funeral.'"