Conservative Endorsements: Sam Youngman, The Hill: "[Texas Governor Rick] Perry's endorsement brings significant conservative credibility to Giuliani's campaign just as the former mayor's rival, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, looks to do the same by announcing he has secured the endorsements of Rep. Connie Mack (R-Fla.) and Bob Jones III." Million Dollar Man: Katy Byron, CNN: "Sen. Barack Obama raised nearly $1 million in just over one day, his campaign announced Wednesday." Read My Lips: David Espo, AP: "Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani ruled out a tax increase Wednesday to help shore up Social Security, a slight shift in position designed to reassure anti-tax conservatives." Skeleton in the Closet?: Eric Schelzig, AP: " Members of the anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church are urging Fred Thompson to support their stance on homosexuality -- a position on which they say the Republican presidential candidate once "saw eye to eye" with them. ... The Topeka, Kan.-based church is now best known for protesting at soldiers' funerals, claiming their deaths are retribution for the nation's acceptance of homosexuality." Dark Horse: Jacques Steinberg, The New York Times: "Stephen Colbert -- who announced plans to run for the presidency, at least in South Carolina, on his Comedy Central show Tuesday night -- is apparently serious enough that his staff reached out to the state's Democratic and Republican committees in advance of his announcement." --Ben Crair