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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

UNIONS GAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 25 YEARS.  —  Some good news today as fresh numbers come out showing, for the first time in 25 years, union density actually increased over the previous year, inching up from 12 percent to 12.1 percent.  The gains were concentrated among white women and black men …

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 …