memeorandum: Report: Obama camp researching Gov. Christie (Sean J. Miller/Ballot Box)

10:45 AM ET, May 23, 2011

Top Items:

Josh Margolin / New York Post:

Obama digging up dirt on potential opponent Chris Christie — President Obama's re-election campaign is trying to dig up dirt in the Garden State. — Despite New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's repeated pronouncements that he will not seek the GOP presidential nomination …

Discussion: GOP 12, The Other McCain, Betsy's Page and JammieWearingFool

The Politico:

Behind the Daniels family veto — On Friday, the pieces were coming together nicely for a Mitch Daniels-for-president campaign. Some top potential staffers were told they would have a job, and to keep their powder dry just a little bit longer. Several Washington Republicans expected a declaration in the next few days.

Discussion: The Note, Taegan Goddard's …, AMERICAblog Elections, ABCNEWS, The BLT, White House Dossier, Wall Street Journal, FrumForum, Indianapolis Star and Ben Smith's Blog

New York Times:

Daniels Is Out, in Another Jolt to G.O.P. Field — WASHINGTON — The announcement Sunday by Gov. Mitch Daniels of Indiana that he would not run for the Republican presidential nomination ended one major chapter of uncertainty in the race but ignited new debate over whether the current field contains …

Discussion: The Politico, ThinkProgress, Ben Smith's Blog, The Moderate Voice, Politics, Washington Post, Taegan Goddard's …, Taylor Marsh, Blue Mass Group and The Impolitic

William Kristol / Weekly Standard: The Next President Isn't Currently Running (Updated)

Sean J. Miller / Ballot Box: Report: Obama camp researching Gov. Christie

Mitch Daniels / Washington Post:
With Daniels out, GOP presidential field takes clearer shape

Discussion: msnbc.com and Ballot Box

Sen. Scott Brown / The Politico:

Why I don't back Ryan Medicare plan — As part of the 2012 budget discussions, Congress is dealing with Medicare reform. This debate is long overdue, since its increasing cost must be addressed if we are serious about the nation's growing $14 trillion debt and $1.6 trillion annual deficit.

Discussion: CNN, Washington Times, msnbc.com, TPMDC, Weasel Zippers, The Daily Caller, Balloon Juice, National Review, Taegan Goddard's … and AmSpecBlog

The Politico:

Republicans ignored warnings on Paul Ryan plan — It might be a political time bomb — that's what GOP pollsters warned as House Republicans prepared for the April 15 vote on Rep. Paul Ryan's proposed budget, with its plan to dramatically remake Medicare. — No matter how favorably pollsters …

Discussion: Taegan Goddard's …

Jordan Fabian / The Hill:
Scott Brown a ‘no’ on Ryan budget

Discussion: AMERICAblog News and New York Times

Theo Emery / Boston Globe: Brown: I didn't mean to say I would vote for Ryan plan

Jennifer Rubin / Washington Post:

Obama double downs at AIPAC — The president just finished speaking to a packed convention room at the AIPAC policy conference. He was not booed when he entered; most stood and offered brief applause. Still, the crowd during the speech had long periods of stony silence …

Discussion: Nice Deb, The Reaction, Pajamas Media, Maggie's Farm, Power Line, Taylor Marsh, The Hill and Ben Smith's Blog

Mike Lillis / The Hill:
Cantor blames Arab ‘hatred’ for impasse

Discussion: Weasel Zippers and msnbc.com

Pamela Geller / Atlas Shrugs:
AIPAC 2011: Obama's Speech to Jews

Discussion: Jesus' General

Helene Cooper / New York Times:
Obama Presses Israel to Make ‘Hard Choices’

Discussion: The Caucus, Bloomberg, Commentary Magazine, Jack & Jill Politics, The Atlantic Online, FrumForum, Outside the Beltway and The Hill

The Atlantic Online:
Netanyahu Continues to Needlessly Alienate

Discussion: Yglesias, Elder of Ziyon, Outside the Beltway and The Reality-Based Community

The Note:

Is Donald Trump Back in the 2012 Race? — ABC News' Sheila Marikar and Rick Klein report: Perhaps Donald Trump didn't really bow out after all. — The billionaire business mogul phoned into Fox News' “Fox & Friends” this morning to lament the state of the Republican field.

Discussion: Weigel and Outside the Beltway

Juana Summers / Reuters: Donald Trump: Late entry still possible

Associated Press:

Joplin tornado death toll soars to 89 … UPDATED at 5:40 a.m. with death toll at 89; at 6:10 a.m. with information from fire chief. — JOPLIN, Mo. • A massive tornado that tore through the southwest Missouri city of Joplin killed at least 89 people, but authorities warned …

Discussion: Associated Press, Gothamist, Taylor Marsh, The Gateway Pundit and Gawker

Noam Cohen / New York Times:
Death Toll Rises to 89 From Missouri Tornado

Discussion: The Hill and The Lede

Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blog:

Biden tells donors: Keep me in mind for 2016 — Vice President Joe Biden surprised a gathering of donors in Cincinnati last week when he floated the prospect of his succeeding President Barack Obama in the White House. — Biden, who started in the Senate young and would be just 70 in 2012 …

Discussion: Weasel Zippers and Pundit Press

ABCNEWS:

Harold Camping ‘Bewildered’ After Apocalypse Comes and Goes Quietly — Harold Camping speaks while holding the Bible, in San Leandro, Calif., in this Dec. 12, 2002 file photo. A loosely organized Christian movement has spread the word around the globe that Jesus Christ will return to earth on Saturday, May 21, 2011, to...

Discussion: The Daily Caller, Associated Press, FrumForum and HotAirPundit

Will Kane / San Francisco Chronicle:
Harold Camping ‘flabbergasted’; rapture a no-show

Discussion: Simply Left BehindThe …, Runnin' Scared and Gawker

Neil Rosekrans / StateBrief Blog:

Pictures of Sarah Palin's Rumored Scottsdale House — Photos of Rumored Palin Arizona House — The rumors are still just rumors and we don't know for sure yet whether or not Sarah Palin and family have purchased a North Scottsdale house. The paper trail says that the property in question …

Discussion: Scared Monkeys, Reaganite Republican, Althouse, Pajamas Media, Pundit Press and Arizona Republic

Paul Krugman / New York Times:

When Austerity Fails — I often complain, with reason, about the state of economic discussion in the United States. And the irresponsibility of certain politicians — like those Republicans claiming that defaulting on U.S. debt would be no big deal — is scary.

Discussion: Northern Reflections, Questions and Observations, Wall Street Journal and Paul Krugman

Tom Jensen / Public Policy Polling:

Hochul continues to lead in NY-26 — Democrat Kathy Hochul continues to appear poised for an upset victory in Tuesday's special election for Congress in New York's 26th Congressional District. She is polling at 42% to 36% for Republican nominee Jane Corwin and 13% for Tea Party candidate Jack Davis.

Discussion: Firedoglake, Ballot Box, The Politico, The Nation, Daily Kos, Balloon Juice, National Review and Blue Mass Group

Minneapolis Star Tribune:

Deadly tornado crashes through north Minneapolis — Powerful storm blew into metro, killing 1, injuring 30 and putting North Side under curfew. — Two days of threatening skies turned furious over the Twin Cities on Sunday, unleashing at least three tornado touchdowns in the metro area …

Discussion: Crooks and Liars

Associated Press:
Tornadoes Batter Central United States

Discussion: FrumForum

Mark Franchetti / TheAustralian:

Putin decides to retake presidency — RUSSIAN Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has decided to run for the presidency next year, raising the possibility of a power struggle with his protege Dmitry Medvedev, the incumbent Kremlin leader, say highly placed sources.

Discussion: Politics, Outside the Beltway, Hot Air, National Review and Weasel Zippers