Friday has finally arrived. The Phillies and Yankees find themselves in early holes, while the Arizona Diamondbacks continue to inspire the phrase: "Who?" Given that the Nationals are busy honing their golf games, here's what else Washington is paying attention to today:

-- The House and Senate will not take up legislative business today, ahead of a week-long recess to honor Columbus Day. Conservatives meet in Washington today on for the Americans for Prosperity Foundation's Defending the American Dream summit. Guests include several presidential candidates and conservative stalwarts Sens. Tom Coburn (who makes two appearances) and Jim DeMint, and Reps. Jeff Flake, Mike Pence (also twice), John Shadegg and Jeb Hensarling, among others.

-- A clever tactic: Campaigns for both Fred Thompson and John McCain released preliminary fundraising numbers earlier this week -- $8 million and $5 million for the quarter, respectively. Later in the week, the same day front-runners Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani announce their impressive eight-figure hauls, Thompson and McCain revised their numbers up. Thompson now says he will report raising $9.3 million, with $7 million on hand, while McCain revised his number up to $6 million, with $3.6 million cash on hand and a $1.5 million debt. Both stories are different from the early narratives, and each candidate benefits from getting their names in two news cycles.

-- As if DNC opposition researchers didn't already have their hands full with Rudy Giuliani, the New York Times today reminds them of his infamous radio call in show, while he was mayor. While on the air, Giuliani was, as the Times puts it, "uncensored and unbowed," a polite way to point out that he insulted any number of citizens who called up. Should the Mayor make it through to the general election, the tapes of his radio show will prove a treasure trove for ads reminding the rest of the country that pre-September 11th Rudy Giuliani was not the most popular of mayors.

-- Blake Dvorak yesterday posted a very clever ad aimed at derailing Romney's bid. Listen to it, and it sure sounds like a positive piece. But then consider that the praise for having "fought conservatives and religious extremists," and consider that the ad will run on Fox News. Clever Log Cabin Republicans. Now, Jonathan Martin gets his hands on an email sent around by someone who doesn't seem to be a Romney fan touting an "endorsement" for Romney from the same Log Cabin group. The kicker, from Iowa.team.romney@gmail.com: "We are proud to welcome the gay and lesbian group to our growing list of endorsements!" The email purportedly went to many Romney supporters in the Hawkeye State.

-- House and Senate Republicans who back an expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) privately admit that a vote to override the president's veto is great politics, and that appearing to be against health care for low-income children could hurt the party. Still, for the four leading Republican presidential candidates, for whom spending is becoming a bigger issue, backing the veto is a no-brainer. All four told the New York Times they support the veto. The issue is part of a larger debate over which candidates would hold the line on federal spending. Look for more on that later today.

-- Iowa and New Hampshire residents and their attendant media are a little touchy on the subject of their primaries. See today's Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, which spends more than 230 words reviewing an article in the latest "American Prospect" magazine critical of Iowa's first-in-the-nation status. Meanwhile, members of both states' congressional delegations authored a letter to House leaders criticizing legislation establishing a regional presidential primary. The letter, signed by all seven House members from Iowa and New Hampshire, warned House leaders that Congress would be overstepping its bounds. There has been no indication that leadership plans to bring the bill to the floor.

-- Power Player Of The Day: Speaking of Iowa and New Hampshire, the latter's long-time Secretary of State, Bill Gardner, is beginning to feel the pinch. Iowa doesn't want to hold their primary in December, while the DNC may allow South Carolina to move its primary up and Nevada to move its caucus up. A condensed primary calendar, even with New Hampshire going second, would drastically impede New Hampshire's abilities to influence the process, and that's something Bill Gardner can't have. Still, time is running out. Gardner, no wallflower, could decide to make a drastic move and skip well ahead of Iowa. He alone has discretion over the date on which the state holds its primary.

-- Today On The Trail: Ron Paul, Mike Huckabee, Sam Brownback, Thompson, Giuliani and Romney address the Defending the American Dream summit today in Washington, while John McCain raises cash in Arizona. Rep. Tom Tancredo will call for the removal of the Iowa judge who overturned the state's gay marriage ban at a press conference in Des Moines. On the Democratic side, Joe Biden, John Edwards and Barack Obama are all in Iowa. Biden makes stops in Fort Madison, Keosauqua and Mount Pleasant; John Edwards is in Cresco, Waukon, Elkader and Fayette; and Obama meets voters in New Hampton, Charles City and Mason City. Bill Richardson addresses the Southern Congressional Black Caucus and the Georgia Association of Democratic County Chairs.