1930 EST (Dem) and 2000 EST GOP Saturday marked 120 hours (five days) to the Iowa caucuses. You could accurately say at 1530 EST tomorrow that the Iowa caucuses “begin in 100 hours.”

Obama unveiled a new argument for his candidacy today: He beats all the GOPers in head to head matchups. A small problem: It isn’t true if you go by the RCP averages But he is not resting on that dubious claim. His stump now includes two five minute sections: one to rebut HRC’s “only experience makes change” argument; one for Edwards’ “change comes from confrontation” theme.

HRC offers a harrowing tale to let everyone know she is none too thrilled that Obama “tea”ed off on her yesterday. Watch her remarks at Aaron Brun’s post in the FNC Embed Blog.

And Edwards, perhaps feeling a tad bit of pressure from the Obama campaign’s relentless criticisms of third party efforts, takes a pledge.

Huckabee is still defending all that “Pakistan illegal immigrant” stuff but he has really found a groove with his Romney attacks. McCain’s NH crowds are B-I-G, BIG. Seeing reports that some of the press and staff were stuck outside (literally out in the cold) listening through open windows today (that’s good advance work). He did not push against Romney but, after yesterday’s ad, perhaps he feels like he has made his point (for now).

Romney on the other hand isn’t finished with either of them yet. An IA mailer hit mailboxes today on Huckabee’s law & order record and a NH TV ad focusing on McCain’s immigration record filled the airwaves.

Rudy is still out there somewhere plotting. Though announcing that he will spend Caucus night in Florida indicates he doesn’t expect a surprise showing in Iowa. Or maybe that is what he wants us to think.

Okatie, SC — Rudy Giuliani brushed off reporter questions today about a controversial news report detailing potential financial misconduct during his time as New York City mayor, simply telling reporters “we’ve already explained it.”

Hours before Wednesday’s GOP debate, the Politico newspaper reported that “obscure” city offices were billed for NYPD security costs related to Giuliani’s trips to the Hamptons in the summer of 2001, where he was then conducting an extra-marital affair. (See more here and here.)

One day after conducting several interviews about the subject, where Giuliani called the story a “political hit job” given the debate timing and his conduct in office “perfectly appropriate,” he refused to respond to multiple questions as his usually accommodating campaign staff aggressively attempted to prevent access to him as he exited a South Carolina town hall meeting.

While Giuliani does not usually hold a formal q and a period after town halls, the media traditionally are allowed to film him shaking hands with voters following his events and he will sometimes answer reporter questions. But today, campaign staff repeatedly told reporters to keep away from Giuliani–sometimes physically getting in the way of journalists attempting to film or shout questions at the GOP candidate.

Regardless of the fact that Giuliani took a pass today, the campaign says they are confident with their defense of Giuliani’s conduct and made staff available to the media for comment hours after the story was released Wednesday. They maintain:

1. There was no fiscal mismanagement or impropriety.
2. The NYPD reimbursed city offices for any initial costs.
3. Given that he already received 24/7 NYPD security as mayor, there was no need to hide security costs despite the nature of his visits.

The bottom line of course is that they don’t want to keep the negative story alive by having him comment further, but given media interest, it is inevitable that Giuliani will continue to get questions about the matter. Giuliani heads to New Hampshire tonight where he will conduct a weekend swing through the Granite State.

Backup tonight for Rudy Giuliani and his argument countering yesterday’s Politico story, which alleges that he billed “obscure” city offices to hide NYPD costs associated with trips to the Hamptons. (See Carl’s earlier Vlog)

The office of current New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg issued a statement Thursday night stating, “during the Giuliani Administration, we believe that security expenses that were originally paid by the Mayor’s office were ultimately reimbursed by the Police Department.”

Giuliani asserts that he received 24/7 NYPD security as mayor and they followed him regardless of where he went, so there would have never been a need to hide security costs. For budgeting reasons, the mayor’s office would sometimes temporarily pay security expenses after which the NYPD would then reimburse his office, Giuliani explained yesterday. With this latest Bloomberg statement, Camp Rudy can continue to fend off charges of any fiscal impropriety.

Sources in Bloomberg’s office also tell Fox News that they take issue with Politico’s characterization of some of the offices that were billed by the NYPD as “obscure.” While current officials can’t explain why the NYPD would have initially billed offices like the City Loft Board and Office for People with Disabilities for police costs, they assert that the offices fall within the mayor’s budget and are not “disparate” or “obscure.” In sum, if a mayor was trying to cover up costs, he would not use those offices.

But, even as the Giuliani campaign continues to refute any wrongdoing, they are still left tacitly acknowledging the former mayor’s then extra-marital affair with Judith Nathan, whom he would visit on these trips to the Hamptons. (See today’s NY tabs here and here.) Turmoil from his personal life is not quite the part of his New York City record the campaign wants to be discussing with just a little more than a month to go before the first primaries.