Quick hits on 2008:

Despite the recent brouhaha with FOX News over whether he's running or not, Bill Richardson is still testing the waters.

Clinton pollster Mark Penn looks (or spins, if you prefer) the results of the latest '08 poll and finds proof Hillary can win. Penn also made a mark about John McCain that elicited a smack back from John Weaver:

"There are very few people who want to send more troops right now. He certainly is going out on a limb suggesting that is the right thing to do right now," Penn said.

Asked about the comment, McCain aide John Weaver responded sharply, "It must be so alien for them - the Clinton advisers - to actually observe someone say and do what they believe to be right and good for the country without polling on it first."

Rudy Giuliani is set to address the California GOP at the state party convention in February. His first '08 fundraiser will take place tomorrow night in New York City.

Joe Biden told a crowd of 100 people in Southern New Hampshire that "we are tilting at windmills" in Iraq. Biden also said, ""I'm afraid the President, and others who support the troop surge, have it completely backwards."

Newt appeared on Meet the Press yesterday and said he's content to wait and see what happens:

MR. RUSSERT: You said you won't announce your presidential plans until September.

FMR. REP. GINGRICH: Right.

MR. RUSSERT: Isn't that too late? Won't the other candidates be so well financed, so well organized?

FMR. REP. GINGRICH: You are a great student of this business. When we were young, I think you were younger than me, but when we were young, John F. Kennedy announced on January 2nd, 1960, the year of the election. In 1975 and again in 1979, Ronald Reagan announced in November, OK? My view's this. If--and you--and you put up the numbers. Romney's had a good year. He's emerging as a serious player. Giuliani is wildly popular for national security reasons. John McCain has built a base for years of hard work. If one them seals it off by Labor Day, my announcing now wouldn't make any difference anyway. If none of the three having from now to Labor Day can seal it off, the first real vote is in 2008. And there's plenty of time in the age of television and e-mail between Labor Day and 2008.

Paul Bedard of US News & World Report writes that the Dems think Republican Mike Huckabee is well positioned as the GOP darkhorse.

John Fund thinks the current frenzy over Barack Obama looks a lot like Powell mania.

Michael Barone wonders about Obama's lack of experience.

Scott Shepard of the Washington Times takes note of the diversity of the '08 field.

Nedra Pickler of the Associated Press looks at the new role Nevada will play in the Dems' nominating process.

And Eli Lake of the New York Sun writes that Dems want to make sure we've started the process of getting out of Iraq before the 2008 political season gets into full swing.