Perry raises $17 million  —  Siren, as they say: … The $17 million figure, which a Perry spokesman confirms to me, is almost as much as Mitt Romney raised in his first quarter as a declared presidential candidate this year.  —  It's also more than Rudy Giuliani and John McCain raised …

Herman, Cain, Rick Perry, Jon Huntsman, Michele Bachmann, Mitt Romney to boycott Univision debate over Rubio report  —  Five Republican presidential candidates are boycotting a proposed Univision debate due to allegations that the Spanish-language media giant tried to strongarm Sen. Marco Rubio …

Christie Exit Shifts Focus to Romney  —  New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's decision to sit out the presidential race removes one of the last big unknowns from the 2012 Republican nomination fight and opens the path for Mitt Romney, the GOP front-runner for most of the year.

Senate Democrats forced to block Obama's jobs bill  —  Senate Republicans tried to make Democrats hold a quick vote on President Obama's jobs-stimulus bill Tuesday, but were blocked by Senate Majority Harry Reid, the Nevada Democrat who is sponsoring Mr. Obama's bill but who said other matters take priority.

Reid considers surtax on millionaires  —  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is eyeing a tax on the nation's highest earners as a way to defray some of the $447 billion price tag for the White House-written jobs package-a move that would shift attention away from its underlying policies and more towards party politics.