OBAMA KICKS TIRES IN IOWA, COURTS EVANGELICALS

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama is dipping a toe in the political waters in Iowa.

The Des Moines Register reports Obama, who has jumped quickly into the top tier of Democratic possibles for '08, has been seeking the advice of some of Iowa's top Democratic politcos.

Obama has already been picked up by the radar of political junkies in the U.K.

The Sunday Times (London) has taken notice of Obama and reports today on the Senator's plans to appear this week at one of the U.S's largest evangelical churches, in Lake Forest, Calif.

BROWNBACK CLOSE TO DECISION

Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback is nearing a decision on whether to join the hunt on the Republican side.

"I think there is room on the Republican side for somebody that's a full-scale conservative, that's an economic and fiscal and social conservative," Brownback said today on ABC's "This Week" as quoted by the Associated Press.

FOUR REASONS HILLARY CAN WIN: PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

The Philadelphia Inquirer today debunks the conventional wisdom that Hillary Clinton will make a great primary candidate and a lousy standard bearer against the GOP.

ROMNEY FOLLOWS THROUGH ON SAME-SEX MARRIAGE PLEDGE

Masachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, mentioned as one of the likely candidates for the GOP presidential nomination in '08, threatened recently to try to force a vote by the state legislature on same-sex marriage.

On Friday, in the quiet of the long holiday weekend, Romney followed through on his intentions by filing suit asking Masachussets' highest court to force the state legislature to vote on a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage or place the question before voters in the state.