How low can he go?  —  Everyone has probably heard the corny “I once caught a fish this big” joke.  A guy boasts about the size of the fish he reeled in, but when pressed, he gradually reduces the actual size of his catch.  The little comedic routine is about exaggeration.  —  I wonder if Mitt Romney has heard it.

First Thoughts: Best of times (and worst of times) for Romney  —  NBC's David Gregory talks to TODAY's Matt Lauer about whether fierce attacks on Republican presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney will backfire against his rivals or stop what seems to be Romney's inevitable march to the nomination.

Rick Perry Lists 3 Departments He'd Cut, But Adds One, Misses Another  —  BLUFFTON, S.C. - Oops he did it again.  When asked to name and provide the number of federal departments he'd eliminate as president, Texas Gov. Rick Perry managed to list three, but they weren't the three agencies …

New Romney Ad Defends Candidate's Record at Bain  —  GREENVILLE, S.C. — Mitt Romney's campaign plans to release its latest television ad in South Carolina Friday, geared to combat the growing attacks — from both Republicans and Democrats — on Mr. Romney's career at Bain Capital as a corporate buyout specialist.

Mitt Romney no stranger to tax breaks, subsidies  —  Bain Capital profited from a steel company that got them, and he used them to attract business when he governed Massachusetts  —  A Steel Dynamics plant in Butler, Ind. Bain Capital, the former private equity firm of Mitt Romney …

What Really Happened In Gaffney?  —  The Left is carrying out a coordinated attack on Mitt Romney's business career.  One sees exactly the same allegations, often phrased identically, whether you look at the Daily Kos, the Associated Press, Slate or Think Progress, or listen to Newt Gingrich or Rick Perry.

Oops, He Did It Again: Perry Forgets The Three Federal Agencies He Wants To Abolish  —  During a November debate, Rick Perry inexplicably forgot the name of the third federal agency he wants to eliminate.  He struggled for cringe-inducing 53 seconds, before acknowledging that he couldn't remember with an infamous “oops.”