Starting Gate: The Present As Prologue

(AP/Charles Dharapak)

In just the past week we've begun to see the kinds of incidents that appear to guarantee that we're in for a wild ride over the next seven weeks. But while campaigns jostle for position and advantage in the primary contests, they're also opening themselves and their parties to dangers in the general election.

We got a taste of things to come starting last week, when voters in Iowa and New Hampshire reported receiving phone calls which pushed questions about Mitt Romney's Mormon faith. It was not an unexpected development. Romney's religion has been a major topic of discussion since he entered the race last winter. But it did signal that tactics have begun moving in a new direction in the unpredictable GOP contest.

Over the weekend, the Democratic race was dominated by an item by conservative columnist Bob Novak, who reported that "agents" of Hillary Clinton's campaign are "spreading the word" that Clinton's camp has "scandalous information" about Barack Obama but will not disseminate it. Obama took the rare step of personally responding and insisting that there is no such information. Clinton's campaign said they knew nothing about Novak's item and publicly wondered whether Obama was demonstrating some thin skin.

Much of this is posturing, of course, and meant to build on themes and narratives already established for most of the candidates. Despite the fact that most voters say they reject attacks on Romney's religion, there could well be some impact among some, especially evangelicals, who view his faith negatively. Obama sought to capitalize on some long-held perceptions about Clinton's bare-knuckled, even underhanded, tactics. Clinton's campaign, in turn sought to portray Obama as too inexperienced and green to take on the GOP next year.

Perceptions are one thing, but what happens once those are amplified by solid facts or events is that they take hold. In the heat of these primary battles, specific stories will be formed that are almost certain to echo far into the general elections. While the candidates are focused on winning the nomination, operatives are watching – and keeping detailed notes. When John Edwards was asked about Clinton's claims that his criticisms of her were "mudslinging" and came right out of the "Republican playbook" on yesterday's "Face the Nation," he said she hadn't seen anything yet. ""If anybody, including Senator Clinton, thinks this is mudslinging … this is milquetoast compared to what we're going to see next fall."

Much of what we will see next fall is probably going to emerge this winter. It's a well-established pattern of hotly contested primaries. In 1988, Al Gore raised concerns about then-Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis and his state's prison furlough system. While the charge was barely noticed at the time, the country was well-acquainted with the name Willie Horton by the time Dukakis face voters in the general election.

9/11 Commission Chair Kean On McCain: CBS News has learned that John McCain today will receive the endorsement of 9/11 Commission co-chair Tom Kean. The two are expected to appear at a news conference in Boston. The former New Jersey governor could help add more national security luster to McCain's campaign. Perhaps more importantly for the Arizona senator, Kean's backing is not going to Rudy Giuliani.

"Chuck Norris Approved:" Mike Huckabee and actor Chuck Norris are teaming up in the former Arkansas governor's first television ad, which will begin running in Iowa today. Candidate Huckabee provides the humor to Norris' straight-man in the ad, which features the two men providing the other's resume highlights. Known for his humor on the stump and in the debates, Huckabee's financially-challenged campaign may be taking a bit of a risk playing it funny at this point in the process. Here's part of the script:

Huckabee: "My plan to secure the border? Two words: Chuck Norris"

Norris: "Mike Huckabee's a lifelong hunter who will protect our 2nd Amendment rights"

Huckabee: "There is no chin behind Chuck Norris's beard, only another fist."

Norris: "Mike Huckabee wants to put the IRS out of business"

Huckabee: "When Chuck Norris does a push-up, he isn't lifting himself up, he's pushing the earth down."

Norris: "Mike's a principled, authentic Conservative"

Huckabee: "Chuck Norris doesn't endorse - he tells America how it's gonna be."

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