Huckabee Directly Equates Homosexuality With Bestiality  —  At some point you'd think Mike Huckabee's views would be seen as so controversial that there's no way he could possibly be a contender for the nomination of one of America's two main political parties.  —  Especially now.

Heated Exchange At Romney Press Conference  —  From CBS News' Scott Conroy:  —  COLUMBIA, S.C. — There was an ice storm in South Carolina this morning, but it was even colder inside a Staples store where a Mitt Romney press conference suddenly went sour.  —  Romney was in the middle …

McCain Parries a Reprise of 2000 Smear Tactics  —  COLUMBIA, S.C. — Volunteers making telephone calls for Senator John McCain in South Carolina last weekend noticed something odd: Four people contacted said in remarkably similar language that they opposed Mr. McCain for president …

Judge OKs casino caucuses in Nevada  —  LAS VEGAS (CNN) — The Democratic Party can go ahead with a plan to let casino workers take part in Saturday's Nevada caucuses in “at-large” precincts set up in their workplaces, a federal judge ruled Thursday.  —  The state teacher's union went …

Even at Home, Backers Worry About Giuliani  —  For months, the Republican establishment in New York and New Jersey marched nearly in lock step behind Rudolph W. Giuliani, the former hometown mayor they were confident would become their party's nominee for president.

Edwards Jabs Obama and Clinton  —  From CBS News' Aaron Lewis:  —  HENDERSON, NEV. — John Edwards ripped Barack Obama for praising the way Ronald Reagan brought about change when he was President of the United States.  —  “When you think about what Ronald Reagan did to the American people …

Stewart to Jonah: 'I don't know what you're saying.'  —  Jonah Goldberg appeared on the Daily Show last night to tout his new book, “Liberal Fascism."  Jon Stewart spent 18 minutes disputing the premise of Goldberg's book (which was condensed down into a six-minute clip) …

Joke leaves 'em gasping  —  Obama quip stuns Citizen of the West banquet crowd  —  A Greeley businessman apologized Wednesday after a joke about Illinois Sen. Barack Obama fell flat during the National Western Stock Show's annual Citizen of the West banquet.

RJ says Romney, Clinton leading  —  The RJ, ever-fearful that the Internet-illiterate newspaper will be scooped on its own information by someone who knows about new media, put out its results early of its poll that will be released Friday.  The RJ indicates in an email to subscribers shows …

When Ross Perot Calls...  The former presidential candidate blasts John McCain, and gets an education about Barack Obama's religion.  —  The phone rang and it was Ross Perot, who hasn't given an interview in years.  Perot, who won 19 percent of the vote in the 1992 presidential election …

No Ifs, Ands or Butts: Hitchens Calls It Quits  —  That bit of hell frozen over?  Courtesy of raffish provocateur Christopher Hitchens, who's given up his beloved cigarettes — cold turkey.  —  In an interview with the Financial Times published last week, Hitchens casually announced he'd quit smoking …