Russia's putative Napoleon, Alexander Lebed, an ex-general who is the other main rival for the presidency (the next election is in 2000) arrived in Moscow from his Siberian base on August 18th.

ECONOMIST: Russia��s nightmare

Earlier, Romney appeared to go after a perceived a gulf between McCain and the Republican party's conservative base -- much of which has distrusted him since he ran against Bush in 2000.

CNN: McCain, Romney spar before Super Tuesday

Starting from a much lower base, the high school dropout rate among whites also declined during that period (from 7% in 2000 to 5% in 2011), but did not fall by as much.

WSJ: Best of the Web Today: The New Nixon

Then despite his efforts over the last six years or so to woo the base of the Republican Party, including making up with the Reverend Jerry Falwell whom he had attacked during the 2000 campaign, the conservatives have not forgiven him for that campaign, the statements he made against the leaders of the religious right.

NPR: Presidential Campaigning Heats Up Early