Photo Op '08: Ghosts Of The Past

We've all had regrettable photographs taken of us. So have the Clintons and the Huckabees. Last week Hillary Clinton had to answer questions on The Today Show about an old photograph (above left) of the Clintons posing with sketchy Chicago developer Tony Rezko. The photo seems to have been leaked to NBC and The Drudge Report right after Clinton attacked Barack Obama for working with Rezko in the past. (And now this: Rezko arrested?)

And as if Mike Huckabee needs any further pummeling, we're still seeing that photo of his years-ago Christmas card (above right) used to get a laugh at his expense. It's kicking around on Web sites and Internet videos.

- The Florida primary is tomorrow, and it matters mainly to Republicans since the Democratic delegates don't count. (Can this process get any more complicated?) Hedging its bets, Time places John McCain on this week's cover under the headline "The Phoenix." (A photo credit for this cover was unavailable on Time's web site this morning, but I'll add it here as soon as I figure it out. UPDATE 1/29: The McCain cover is a portrait for Time by Joe Pugliese.)

- Obama, of course, won the South Carolina primary Saturday, which got him great play in the Sunday papers. Local newspapers have been running pictures of people at Obama speeches being moved to tears. Here's one by C. Aluka Berry of The State.

- Mitt Romney held a photo op in Florida outside a... Texaco? Hello gas prices!

- Speaking of laughing at Huckabee's expense, here he underneath a giant "Bite Me!" sign.

- Recognize any of the photographers in this shot?

- How many photographers does it take to get the same shot of Obama speaking to reporters on his plane? One, two, three, four...

- Next week, in advance of the Super Tuesday primary Feb. 5, we will be attempting to compile a list of which photographers are traveling with each of the major candidates. Our main source for this info will be bylines in major publications, but if you can help fill in the gaps, please e-mail dlang@pdnonline.com.

- Our weekly charts are below. (Methodology explained here.) Gone this week are Dennis Kucinich (who dropped out Friday) and Mike Gravel (who has won no delegates and is getting virtually no coverage).