What Stood Out This Week - 12/9-12/15

Just a few weeks before Iowans start caucusing. I had another particularly busy week at the job and therefore didn't do much consuming of political news. So let's see What Stood Out This Week...

I've got impressions of Obama tied with Hillary in various polls in early key states. Mr. Hillary Clinton even made a speech to lower expectations in Iowa, a marked change in attitude from the Inevitability Candidacy Hillary's been running to this point.

There was also some hubbub in New Hampshire with Hillary's campaign manager there telling people to be wary of Obama's former drug use (something he discussed openly in an early biography). Obama called it a desperate move for a desperate campaign, and Hillary immediately asked for the campaign manager's resignation and stepped carefully and far, far away from the statement.

Meanwhile, in Iowa, apparently it would be foolish to rule out Johnny Edwards. He has, after all, caucused before, and organization-wise he's better prepared than the other campaigns.

The AP did a getting-to-know-the-softer-sides of the candidates survey, which they seem to be releasing in short articles one personal question at a time. There was one about nicknames last week. Because I'm a big fan of coffee, this week I took interest in one about how the various candidates take theirs. Naturally, all that Stood Out from the coffee survey was that Mitt doesn't drink it (Mormons aren't allowed caffeine), and Obama takes his black. Coincidence, irony, or appropriate? You decide!

Another article featured answers to "What's your most prized possession?" I remember exactly one answer. Of all the candidates that responded to the survey, Fred Thompson took it the least seriously. For a question about nicknames, for example, he answered, "Mr. President." For most prized possession he answered, and I shit you not, "My trophy wife."

Huckabee and Romney seem to be going toe-to-toe on religious issues. An article in the Times has Huckabee wondering aloud about Mormonism: "Don't they believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers?" Romney's going on and on about how attacking religious beliefs crosses lines.

In the meantime, Huckabee has a new campaign manager who's declaring the Huckster to be "the Republican Obama." I'm not sure what that means. But Huckabee is certainly gaining in popularity. I'd dismiss him as nuts, except that this is a country that elected Bush (number two) twice.

And That's What Stood Out This Week in my pre-coffee, Sunday morning mind.