Five Democratic candidates debated in Iowa last night at the AARP forum. On the scene, Tom has his write-ups here and here.

There were some sharp rhetorical barbs, many coming from Joe Biden, even though most agreed on the central issues of health-care reform and saving Social Security and Medicare. (Tony Leys, Des Moines Register; Christopher Cooper, Wall Street Journal)

Did Barack Obama hurt his campaign by not attending? (David Yepsen, Des Moines Register)

Meanwhile, the Republican candidates are addressing the NRA conference in Washington today. Reporting from the scene is NRO's Jim Geraghty, who notes that John McCain received a warm welcome from the crowd and even took a shot at frontrunner Rudy Giuliani: "[A] group of big city mayors thought it was more important to blame gun manufacturers than to deal with the actual violent crime on their streets."

Those comments were an echo of what McCain said about Giuliani last night to the Palmetto Family Council's stump and straw poll via telephone. Mike Huckabee, who was there in person, won the straw poll. (Jim Davenport, AP)

"I really have no comment." Fred Thompson shrugs off criticism from James Dobson. (Paul Weber, AP)

"I'm not engaging in any of that." Hillary Clinton shrugs off comments from supporter former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack about Giuliani's family life. (Katherine Seelye, New York Times)

Clinton also distanced herself from Norman Hsu, who was charged in federal court yesterday. (CNN)

You don't say. Analysts say Clinton's health-care plan will cost more than she says. (Donald Lambro, Washington Times)

Two big Giuliani profiles in two big papers today. (Michael Powell, New York Times; Dan Balz, Washington Post)

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