Politics

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With less than a week before the nation's first presidential primary, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney arrives on a GOP presidential campaign stop at Manchester Central High School in Manchester, N.H., on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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Rep. Michele Bachmann departs from West Des Moines, Iowa, on her campaign bus on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012, following her announcement that she will end her bid for the Republican presidential nomination after finishing sixth in Tuesday's Iowa Republican caucuses. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Rep. Michele Bachmann's campaign staff poses for a photo behind her bus on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012, in West Des Moines, Iowa, after Mrs. Bachmann announced the end of her Republican presidential campaign following a sixth-place finish in Tuesday's Iowa Republican caucuses. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Rep. Michele Bachmann waves from her campaign bus on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012, in West Des Moines, Iowa, after announcing she will end her bid for the Republican presidential nomination after finishing sixth in Tuesday's Iowa Republican caucuses. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Marcus Bachmann stands next to his wife, Rep. Michele Bachmann, as she announces the end of her GOP presidential campaign in West Des Moines, Iowa, on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Rep. Michele Bachmann's mother, Arlene "Jean" Amble Lafave (right), stands close as her daughter (left) announces on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012, in West Des Moines, Iowa, that she will end her Republican presidential campaign. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Rep. Michele Bachmann, with her husband, Marcus, announces in West Des Moines, Iowa, on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012, that she will end her Republican presidential campaign after finishing sixth in Tuesday's Iowa Republican caucuses. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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A member (right) of Rep. Michele Bachmann's campaign team wipes away tears as Mrs. Bachmann hugs family and staff members after announcing in West Des Moines, Iowa, on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012, that she will end her Republican presidential campaign. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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A member of Rep. Michele Bachmann's team wipes tears from his eyes as the former Republican presidential hopeful hugs family and staff members after announcing in West Des Moines, Iowa, on Wednesday that she would end her campaign. She finished sixth in Tuesday's Iowa Republican caucuses. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Dan Liljenquist, who is challenging six-term Sen. Orrin G. Hatch in Utah's Republican primary. (Associated Press)

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He's gaining momentum: There is a slim chance that Republican hopeful Buddy Roemer could make it into the ABC News candidate debate on Saturday. (Photograph provided by Buddy Roemer)

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"The situation on the ground now, in humanitarian terms, is grim. Because people fled town, they didn't take anything with them. They've been in the bush for up to a week. They haven't had food, they haven't had access to clean water, in a number of cases their people are wounded." - Lise Grande, U.N. deputy humanitarian coordinator for South Sudan.

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Newt Gingrich's girth surely could be a target in the race to be the Republican presidential nominee. Will it cost him? "Study after study after study shows the same thing. Weight bias is a highly prevalent form of discrimination, more common than other forms that have protection within our laws," says Yale University's Rebecca Puhl (Associated Press)

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President William Howard Taft was the heaviest of American presidents and had a 54-inch waist, but he was elected in 1908 and subsequently installed an extra-large bathtub in the White House to little fanfare. More than a century later, can a heavy-set candidate win?

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In a 2009 poll of likely New Jersey voters, 19 percent said they were less likely to vote for Chris Christie because of his weight. Nevertheless, the Republican garnered 49 percent of the vote and was elected governor of New Jersey over two other candidates.

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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas could pay a heavy price among Palestinians if he returns to formal peace negotiations without an Israeli settlement freeze. (Associated Press)

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Exulam Holman, 32, was arrested Jan. 4, 2012, on a charge of aggravated domestic battery on Dec. 31, 2011, when he is accused of gouging his 62-year-old uncle's eyes out during a fight over a remote control. (Associated Press/Will County Sheriff's Office)