DODD OFFICIALLY ENTERS THE RACE

Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd offically announced his bid for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination this morning.

That is if telling Don Imus on his radio show that you're running is an official announcement.

Actually, Dodd told Imus that he'd officially file later this morning.

GILMORE FORMS EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE

We're really late on this, but life sometimes gets in the way of blogging.

Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore filed papers (scroll down after you click) to form an exploratory committee as he mulls a run for the GOP nomination.

Gilmore hopes to be the elusive "true conservative" in the race.

RASMUSSEN POLL BAD NEWS FOR ROMNEY

Another hopeful for the coveted "true-conservative" niche in the GOP race got some bad news in a recent Rasmussen Reports poll.

Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney is viewed favorably by 29% of those polled and unfavorably by 35%, while 35% say they don't know enough about Romney to have an opinion.

Romney trails all Democrats in head-to-head pairings by Rasmussen.

OBAMA SHINES IN RASMUSSEN POLL

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, a likely Democratic candidate is the star of the Rasmussen poll. His favorable/unfavorable rating is 52% to 31% and he leads all the major GOP candidates in head-to-head polling.