Political Intrigue, Drama Await as Primaries Are Mere Weeks Away

"Despite his sunny demeanor, when the time came, Governor Mike Huckabee wrote the first negative ad of the 2000 primary season, and it was against the future Republican president," Kochel said.

Full disclosure: Kochel was a longtime adviser to former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and is working for him in Iowa now. But one of the ads, "Auction," does seem, well, Huckabee-esque. It's negative, but in a folksy sort of way.

It starts off as a fake news report, with a reporter announcing, "This just in: The Iowa caucuses have been canceled. An auction is under way on the White House lawn." Then an auctioneer pipes in, "Twenty-five, now 30, now 35, 40 million bid here. . . . Sold for 50 million dollars." Alexander appears on screen and laments, "The presidency ought to be about raising children and farm prices and standards, not just raising money."

Chip Saltsman, who is managing Huckabee's campaign and served as the chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party, says Kochel is flat wrong. Any insinuation that Huckabee is the main author of ads run by Alexander, including "Auction," is wishful thinking.

"Governor Huckabee is flattered for [being] given credit for the creative efforts, but was a part of a large team which supported Lamar, who he will always hold in the highest esteem as an honorable man and mentor," Saltsman said. He said Alexander told him he had approved every ad that went on the air with his name on it.

"It looks like Governor Romney is more than happy to be the first Republican in the 2008 cycle to break Ronald Reagan's 11th commandment and attack Governor Huckabee in Iowa," Saltsman added.

Bonding Over Their Troubles

Barry Bonds gets indicted and becomes a baseball leper. He ought to run for Congress, where a little legal action isn't such a career killer. Hey, Barry, take heart: These guys are all in hot water with the feds but are still voting members of the House of Representatives and, at least officially, candidates for reelection in 2008:

- Rep. Don Young (R) -- One of the champions of the "Bridge to Nowhere," Young has been linked to at least three corruption cases, including a state probe that is winnowing the Alaska GOP.

- Rep. Jerry Lewis (R) -- Investigators are examining his ties to a lobbyist and former congressman, Bill Lowery, but Lewis says he's staying put.

- Rep. William J. Jefferson (D) -- Feeling the heat, congressman? That's New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin trying to get you tried and convicted ASAP, so he can run for your seat next November.

- Rep. John Doolittle (R) -- Under scrutiny in the Abramoff case, this California conservative has resisted calls to step aside, but some informed Republicans believe he is on the verge of calling it quits.