On this day in 1854, the Republican Party is founded in Wisconsin. On to today's top stories:

"Bloomberg Says He Won't Run but Will Be Active" (Diane Cardwell, New York Times) He's said it before, if not in so many words nor so definitively. But I think publishing an op-ed for the NYT, in which he writes "I am not -- and will not be -- a candidate for president," closes the door.

"Clash on Iraq Could Be McCain-Obama Preview" (Michael Shear and Shailagh Murray, Washington Post) Poor Hillary. The debate is already moving beyond her. The two likely -- though not equally so -- nominees got after it over Iraq and the presence of al Qaeda yesterday, with John McCain criticizing Obama's debate answers and Obama responding forcefully.

"Presidential Campaigns Joust Across Texas" (Lisa Sandberg and Alan Bernstein, Houston Chronicle) But that doesn't mean Hillary is giving up yet. With polls showing Obama taking the lead in this important primary state, husband Bill, unleashed once more, did his duty on the populist front, something quite different than the tune he was singing during his own candidacy.

"McCain's Canal Zone Birth Prompts Queries About Whether That Rules Him Out" (Carl Hulse, New York Times) Does McCain have a potential constitutional obstacle barring him from the White House because he was born outside the United States -- as opposed to being "natural born" as the Constitution says? No, he doesn't. But it's an interesting legal question nonetheless as is the question of whether Democrats try to pursue this.

"Lewis Says He's Supporting Obama" (Bob Kemper, Atlanta Journal-Constitution) Explaining his choice of Obama over Clinton, Rep. John Lewis said, "It's a movement. It's a spiritual event." (And here we thought this was just a presidential campaign.) Lewis' support is nice boost to Obama, adding yet another sought-after superdelegate, but at this stage it probably doesn't matter all that much for general voters.

"Young America May Lift Democrats, Shape Agenda" (Elizabeth Holmes, Wall Street Journal) As reporter Holmes notes, across 18 states this primary season, youth turnout made up 13% of the total vote in the Democratic races, up from 9% four years ago. It must be all that free college education Obama is offering.

"McCain Retools Immigration Stance" (Julie Davis, Associated Press) That McCain has somewhat altered his immigration position isn't necessarily a new story. That immigration will likely figure heavily in the coming election, however, and McCain's transformation a large part of it, is just one of the burgeoning undercurrent to watch.

"Clinton Links Her Fate to Economy" (Mike Glover, Associated Press) While Bill was in Texas, Hillary was in Ohio, preaching a similar economic message on which she is betting her March 4 chances.

"Insults, Apologies Fuel Obama's Rise" (Ben Smith, The Politico) Reporter Smith notes the following: "In the course of the primary campaign, and perhaps in a preview of the fall election drama, Senator Barack Obama has accepted the apologies of three United States senators, a former senator, CNN and various lower-level supporters of Senator Hillary Clinton."

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

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