From MSNBC and ABC News

Does anyone know if CBS has a daily political newsletter? It is the only one I am missing right now!

MSNBC First Read reports some good stuff today. Here goes:

The Boston Globe writes up the highlights of the one and only on-the-record session at Harvard's IOP conference with the presidential campaign managers, which kicked off last night

At Harvard, the AP has Kerry campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill saying she "regrets underestimating" the impact of the Swift Boat ads. Cahill also said "if she could change one thing about the campaign it would be the timing of the conventions. By scheduling their convention about five weeks after the Democrats, the Republicans gained a fund-raising advantage and dominated the news going into the final stretch.”

Another Democratic entertainer is running for office. Greg--what do you know of this guy?

"Texas musician and author Kinky Friedman plans to formally launch his candidacy for Texas governor on live television in February, he announced Wednesday. Friedman said he expects to appear outside the Alamo on MSNBC's 'Imus in the Morning' on Feb. 3 or 4. He plans to be joined by the band 'Asleep at the Wheel' and a group of child fiddlers. Friedman told the San Antonio Express-News in Wednesday's online edition that he chose the program because Imus is an old friend and 'a lot of geezers watch his show in Texas.

For some 2008 news, we look at the state of Virginia:

Virginia Gov. Mark Warner (D) raised about $2 million for his PAC at a 50th birthday fundraiser last night, according to the Washington Post. "Last night's event was made possible by Warner's repeated attempts to move beyond the Democratic Party's traditional base of support in fundraising." The money could go toward travel should Warner explore a run for president.

Moving on to the ABC Political Note

It's the second day of talk, talk, talking about the campaigns' strategies and tactics in "Campaign for President: The Managers Look at 2004" at Harvard University's Institute of Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government — starring Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign manager Ken Mehlman, Kerry-Edwards 2004 campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill, and many other key players.

This morning features sessions on the Democratic nomination fight and convention and Republican early strategy and convention, then a discussion of the general election in the afternoon.

The Boston Globe's Ann Kornblut reports Cahill conceded a campaign mea culpa on the way it handled attacks on Kerry's war record in a "rare public appearance" at Harvard Wednesday night. "In hindsight, maybe we should have put him out earlier," she said, while Ken Mehlman admitted they should have put down allegations about a reinstatement of the draft.

Some former military lawyers are kicking around ways to oppose the nomination of White House counsel Alberto Gonzales for attorney general, based on his decisions and comments with regard to detainees, the New York Times reports.

Former Texas Democratic Party chair Molly Beth Malcolm is mulling over running for the DNC's chief post after the petition drive to nominate her.

Meanwhile, in the Granite State, Dem Party chair Kathy Sullivan is running again.

Updates will come as needed.