Quotations of the day
By The Associated Press

"Tonight I think we must get used to the idea that we are the Republican Party front-runner for the nomination of president of the United States. And I don't really mind it one bit.'' -- Arizona Sen. John McCain after winning several key states during the Super Tuesday Republican primaries.

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"It ripped the warehouses apart. The best way to describe it is it looks like a bomb went off.'' -- Desoto County, Miss., Sheriff's Department Cmdr. Steve Atkinson describing damage from a tornado that hit the area.

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"I am extremely concerned about the toll the current pace of operations is taking on them and on their families, on our equipment and on our ability to respond to crises and contingencies beyond ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.'' -- Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, saying soldiers should be limited to yearlong combat tours, instead of 15-month deployments.

AP-ES-02-06-08 0450EST