WE HEAR

"I like to say that I'm only consumed by very, very few things, and politics is not one of them" -- Fred Thompson, really making sure that we know he doesn't care (Des Moines Register).

Asked at a town hall today to contrast himself with Mitt Romney, Barack Obama said when it comes to "swear words," Obama uses the "really harsh ones, the really good ones" ("The Swamp").

"One person even brought their pet goat out" to meet John McCain 12/29. And FYI, Dutch TV is "the consistently best dressed news outlet on the campaign trail" ("McCain Blogette").

At an event with his wife in IA today, a voter shouted to Romney: "She's cuter than you are." Romney agreed, saying: "She's a cute girl. She's hot, too." And then he mocked the motion with a lick of the finger and a "sss" (NBC/National Journal).

Bill Richardson spoke to 300 people in Des Moines where he said: "I am honored to be in this huge crowd. Thank you for giving up your Sunday. It is Sunday, right?" (“Real Clear Politics”).

Asked what he was doing the night of the caucuses, Rudy Giuliani said today: "We'll be in Florida. We'll be at a rally in Florida I believe" (NBC/National Journal).