UPDATE: ‘No way of knowing’ who whispered, MSNBC says  —  The whisper that could be heard just before an answer from Mitt Romney at Thursday's Republican debate was the result of a microphone malfunction, an MSNBC spokesman tells RAW STORY, but its source remains a mystery.

Transcript: John Kerry On Barack Obama, Hillary Rodham Clinton And More  —  National Journal's Linda Douglass sat down with John Kerry for “National Journal On Air."  This is a transcript of their conversation.  —  Q: I'd like to introduce Sen. John Kerry, former Democratic presidential candidate in 2004, United States senator now.

Breaking Up Is Hard to Do  —  We begin, as one always must now, again, with Bill Clinton.  The past week he has traveled South Carolina, leaving discord in his wake.  Barack Obama, that “fairytale,” is low, sneaky.  “He put out a hit job on me."  The press is cruelly carrying Mr. Obama's counter-jabs.

CLINTON TRIES TO REINSTATE MICHIGAN AND FLORIDA'S DELEGATES.  —  This is a very, very, very big deal.  From the Clinton campaign: … This is the sort of decision that has the potential to tear the party apart.  In an attempt to retain some control over the process and keep the various states …

Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby Poll: Obama's Lead Shrinks in SC  —  Edwards continues to advance, nips at Clinton's heels  —  UTICA, NY - Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's lead over New York Sen. Hillary Clinton narrowed yet a little more in South Carolina with just two days to go before the primary …

The Illustrated President  —  W.H.D. Koerner, “A Charge to Keep” (1916)  —  George W. Bush is famous for his attachment to a painting which he acquired after becoming a “born again Christian."  It's by W.H.D. Koerner and is entitled “A Charge to Keep."  Bush was so taken by it …

John McCain's open-borders outreach director: The next DHS secretary?  —  Dr. Juan Hernandez, McCain Hispanic outreach director: “We must not only have a free flow of goods and services, but also start working for a free flow of people."  —  Last month, I received an e-mail from a concerned reader.

Union Byte  —  Union Rates Increase in 2007  —  For the first time in the past quarter of a century, in 2007 U.S. unions increased their share of membership among workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) annual union membership report released today.

Hillary On The Morning Shows: Surprised By Photo Of Her And Rezko  —  Hillary hits all the morning shows, gets hit with a surprise on NBC: An old photo of her and Bill next to disgraced Obama associate Tony Rezko.  NBC's Matt Lauer says that the network “received” the photo and that its date is uncertain …

A Revealing Poll  —  The latest SurveyUSA Florida poll shows McCain at 30 percent, Romney at 28 percent, Rudy at 18 percent and Huckabee with 14 percent.  Some interesting internal numbers jump out.  First, with Hispanic voters, McCain leads 60 percent to 16 percent over Rudy, while Romney draws only 10 percent.

Attorney General Edwards?  —  An Inside Report by Robert Novak  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — Illinois Democrats close to Sen. Barack Obama are quietly passing the word that John Edwards will be named attorney general in an Obama administration.  —  Installation at the Justice Department …

Feingold Rips Edwards Again, Urges Dem Candidates To Take On Rove  —  As one of Congress' foremost progressive figures, Sen. Russ Feingold is a coveted endorsement for any of the Democratic presidential nominees.  But if those seeking the White House are waiting for his call …