Strong language

At Wednesday night's pre-caucus rally for supporters, Mitt Romney searched for a strong word to describe his reaction to Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards' assertion that there are two Americas that need to be united. Whenever he hears that phrase, Romney said, "I'm tempted to offer an expletive like baloney."

Young politician

Romney's grandson, Parker Mitt, is getting some political experience on the campaign trail. According to the 18-month-old's father, Craig Romney, Parker Mitt likes to walk down the aisle of airplanes and shake the hands of his fellow passengers. "People say he's going to run for president someday. They have no idea," Craig Romney told a Mason City crowd gathered at the local airport Wednesday to cheer on his father.

Mitt "surrogate"

Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, is on the list of Romney campaign "surrogates" available to the national and international media in Iowa to cover tonight's caucuses. Utah's junior senator is also set to address the Dallas County Caucus at Waukee High School in Waukee, a suburb west of Des Moines. Also, Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, will speak to the Jasper County GOP caucus at the Berg Middle School in Newton, a town about a half-hour east of Des Moines.

Hairy situation

Romney spoke Thursday morning to employees of the Principal Financial Group, Iowa's Fortune 500 company, about the campaign. "Tensions are getting high and comments are being made that are really quite questionable," Romney said, noting he'd heard the chairman of GOP rival Mike Huckabee's campaign had said he'd "like to knock my teeth out. My only comment on that is, 'Don't touch the hair .' " The downtown Des Moines audience burst out laughing.