All Eyes on Hawkeye

Mitt Romney hits Iowa today, fielding questions from voters at a series of “Ask Mitt Anything” sessions.

But more interesting is Sam Brownback’s hit on Romney for his abortion stance.

Wooing social conservatives, Brownback’s campaign is sending automated phone calls, which slam Ann Romney’s donations to Planned Parenthood, to Republican households.

Today’s Des Moines Register tracks this tit for tat:

"If anything we're saying is untrue, I will issue an apology," Brownback told reporters at his campaign headquarters in West Des Moines. "But nothing I'm saying is untruthful. They haven't been hesitant about pointing these issues out on me."

…Romney spokesman Tim Albrecht said the former governor has stood against abortion for years: "It's particularly troubling that a campaign has resorted to attacking Ann Romney personally with these despicable phone calls," he said. "It's time for them to show some decency."

Meanwhile, John Edwards is checking out his backside – for sores, that is.

The former North Carolina Senator is biking the RAGBRAI trail with Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong:

"This is actually not hard, this is fun," Edwards said as he climbed a hill on a black Trek road bike he borrowed for the day. "The biggest problem is my butt hurts. Is that normal?"

Edwards is not alone:

Democrat Joe Biden's wife, Dr. Jill Biden, was scheduled to ride Wednesday, and Republican Mitt Romney's sons are planning to ride Friday. Democrat Chris Dodd will host an event on the route in Dyersville on Friday.

And if anyone’s interested, Chris Dodd is throwing some house parties today in Marion and Waterloo.

Anyone?