Newsweek’s Lisa Miller brings up the Mormons on “Belief Watch”.  She brings up Mitt, Harry Reid, Orrin Hatch, and Ross Anderson.  (No, I’m not going to refer to that empty-suited, spineless embarrassment of a Mayor as “Rocky”) Miller would like you to believe Anderson and Reid represent a strong undercurrent of Mormon politics.  They don’t.  The circles in which Mitt would be the “Mormon” poster boy are light years bigger than those where the same could be said of Anderson.
 
CBS carries an unsigned AP report as to how Mitt is spending his money.  Sadly, it seems the AP author has little or no understanding of the time and money it takes to run a start-up organization.  Bottom line, Mitt knows how to make and raise money as well as spend it.  He’s not going at this campaign on four cylinders.  He’s got all eight roaring.
 
The Deseret Morning News’ Lee Davidson and Bob Bernick report that Mitt has raised eight times as much cash in Utah as all other candidates – combined.  There’s a simple reason for this.  Most other candidates are unaware of Utah’s status as a state.
 
You all remember the Junior Senator from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, John Kerry?  Yeah, he’s the one who ended up a few million votes shy of the Oval back in 2004.  Well, he emerged from his Beacon Hill estate yesterday to deliver this whopper on what sank his presidential ship:

Let’s be very clear. I had not changed my positions and they played a game with that.

As if that wasn’t enough, he saw fit to level a broadside at Mitt:

He’s changed on abortion, he’s changed on gay rights and he’s changed on marriage.  He’s changed on guns and he’s changed on the war. That’s pretty significant. I think people are asking the question out there, ‘Who is he, really?’

John Kerry lives in a world of his own imagination.  Mitt’s spokesman Eric Fehmstrom wasted no time in firing back with a broadside that left the SS Kerry leaking at the waterline: 

This is a textbook case of Freudian projection.  John Kerry is projecting his own undesirable traits onto other people. It’s a mild form of personality disorder. Usually, it’s not a cause for concern unless it shows up in a U.S. senator.

Other than the obvious smackdown laid on Kerry, it should be noted that the Mitt Campaign isn’t pulling any punches here.  There will be no attack – no matter how miniscule in size or origin – that will not be responded to immediately and forcefully.  Don’t think just because he has a spit and polished image that he won’t turn around and lay out an opponent with a well placed right cross.
 
Opinion Editorials’ Phil Gallagher wonders how Mitt will do when the political temperature rises.  Memo to Phil:  This is a guy who brokers more billion dollar deals before lunch than most guys do in a career.  He dealt with the extremely hostile and aggressive Boston press corps very effectively.  I wouldn’t look to see him sweat anytime soon.  End Memo.
 
Politico’s Kenneth Vogel reports that Mitt spent $300 in “makeup consulting”.  The reality is, appearance matters.  The Kennedy-Nixon debates proved that, and Al Gore’s clown makeup job at the 2000 debate series sealed it.   So far I bet Mitt’s entire “appearance budget” doesn’t even begin to touch the cost of a single John Edwards haircut.  The American Thinker’s (and RightWingNutHouse’s) Rick Moran agrees with me.  Congrats on the new gig, Rick.
 
Political Derby’s Ethan Boivie looks at Mitt’s spending record and believes Mitt’s star is falling.  His solution?  Mitt should stop spending and shut up.  Yeah, that’s the ticket.  Let your opponents (both Democratic and Republican) define you.  Mitt is a patient, detail oriented politician.  He’s spending money where it needs to be spent and wisely not paying attention to the worthless national polls.  The Republican primary race will be largely affected by who wins Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina – at least two of the three.  Mitt leads in Iowa and New Hampshire.  Thanks for the advice, Ethan.  Don’t hold your breath on Mitt taking it.
 
And finally, Howlin Mad Howie Dean’s Head Mitt Hitt Man, the ever self-quoting Damien LaVera, puts forth yet another sorry excuse for a press release.  The DNC talking about credibility holds about as much water as Hillary decrying the President’s commutation of Scooter Libby’s jail sentence.