Abortion remains the dominant issue on the Republican side of the presidential race today as Rudy Giuliani stakes out pro-choice territory, Mitt Romney handles his wife's donation to Planned Parenthood and Planned Parenthood attacks John McCain's campaign.

The New York Times' Adam Nagourney and Marc Santora report that Giuliani is "planning to offer a forthright affirmation of his support for abortion rights in public forums, television appearances and interviews" over the next few days. Strategically, the campaign will put less emphasis on early states where "abortion opponents wield a great deal of influence," focusing instead on the large Feb. 5 states like California, New York, New Jersey, and Florida which is scheduled to vote in January. Yesterday in Huntsville, Alabama Giuliani said, "Ultimately, there has to be a right to choose."

Yesterday, ABC News' Rick Klein reported that Ann Romney donated $150 to Planned Parenthood in 1994, at a time when Romney considered himself pro-choice. Mr. Romney responded to the revelation yesterday in Iowa, saying, "Her contributions are for her and not for me, and her positions I do not think are terribly relevant to my campaign. My positions are what I think is relevant for my campaign." Mrs. Romney is the co-chair of Massachusetts Citizens for Life, which the Romney's foundation donated $15,000 last year.

The Politico's Jonathan Martin reports Planned Parenthood attacked McCain strategist John Weaver for calling the group "one of the most radical pro-abortion groups in the country." Planned Parenthood noted that its Arizona chapter was "founded by Republicans," including the wife of former senator (and McCain hero) Barry Goldwater.

Meanwhile, McCain was in Michigan yesterday working a group of Michigan Republicans including the state's attorney general after attending a fundraiser, reports the Detroit News' Doug Guthrie. While near the Motor City, McCain said he may support a bill raising fuel-mileage requirements for cars and that he'd be willing to sit down with automakers.

McCain's New York operation has been reduced to an all-volunteer effort after its one paid staffer in the state was fired, reports the New York Daily News' Elizabeth Benjamin. "Sources said the McCain campaign has pulled back to consolidate its resources in five early contest states."

Down in Tennessee, Fred Thompson supporters are planning to publish a 200-page book about Thompson, hopefully pushing him into making an official announcement, reports the Nashville City Paper's Jared Allen.

On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton's advisers traced her widening lead over rival Barack Obama to her performance in last month's Democratic debate and "the way Obama faltered in answering a key question about what he would do if America were the target of another 9/11-type attack," reports U.S. News' Kenneth Walsh. Clinton's lead stands at 12.8 percent in the RCP Average.

Bloomberg's Rich Miller and Matthew Benjamin report that Obama's economic brain trust breaks with the "status quo" in economic policy by offering "innovative solutions" to problems like paying automakers for increasing investment in hybrids and reimbursing doctors not for the services they provide but "for the improvements they make to patients' health."

Get these and today's other elections stories at RCP's Politics and Elections page.