We've been talking about a meaningful Texas primary for about a year, starting way back when it seemed like it might be moved up by legislation. Now it seems like the field may force the finalization of the nominee later and later, and Texas is beginning to loom for the Democratic candidates.

The Huffington Post's Mayhill Fowler tell us that California may turn into more of a Democratic battleground than had originally been expected, and Eric Kleefield from TPM Election Central has a breakdown of the Super Tuesday outlook for the GOP candidates, showing McCain being heavily favored to make out well.

U.S. employers dropped 17,000 jobs in January, the first net month reduction since all the way back in 2003. This kind of thing will put even more pressure on lawmakers to cut a deal and get the stimulus package done.

The big money story a few days ago was Obama's big January haul. The FEC reports are in today from the campaigns, and Clinton has a big story of her own: she outraised Obama last quarter, $27 million to $23.5 million. To put it lightly, Democrats are outperforming the GOP in fundraising.

From Talking Points Memo comes this nugget from Roll Call about the NRCC: "The National Republican Congressional Committee said Friday that it has contacted the FBI about possible financial improprieties at the committee." That sounds like something with the potential to be pretty bad. More as we hear it.

Obama and Clinton both have enough money to swim around in it like Scrooge McDuck. On the flipside, Romney had to loan himself a cool $18 million to keep the plane in the air last quarter, and John McCain literally had to bet his life on his campaign: he took out a $3 million loan, which had to be secured with a life insurance policy. Republican politics is now officially a hard dollar.

Remember when, during one of the recent Republican debates, Mitt Romney was asked how much of his own money he's spent on his campaign, and he coyly said he wasn't going to reveal that until he had to? Well, the FEC says he had to by today, so now we know the answer (so far) is $35 million.

Taking on hecklers is nothing new for Bill Clinton — historically, he wins. Today was no exception. Video after the jump.

Following suit with his original pick for President, Texas Governor Rick Perry will join Rudy Giuliani in endorsing John McCain for the GOP nomination.

AP is reporting that the Obama campaign brought in $32 million in January.