memeorandum: Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich spar over moon mining, child labor (Kim Geiger/Los Angeles Times)

1:25 PM ET, December 11, 2011

Top Items:

First Read / msnbc.com:

Gingrich opens up big leads in South Carolina and Florida — Newt Gingrich's surge in the polls isn't limited to just the early presidential-nominating contest of Iowa. — According to new NBC News-Marist polls, the former House speaker has now opened up commanding leads in South Carolina and Florida …

Discussion: Outside the Beltway, americanthinker.com, Scared Monkeys, Taegan Goddard's … and Balloon Juice

David Weigel / Slate:

The Iowa Debate: Newt Wins the Dress Rehearsal — \Newt Gingrich speaks while Mitt Romney and Ron Paul look on during the Saturday's debate in Des Moines, Iowa. — When he talks to Republicans, especially to Republican voters who may not be inclined to back him, Newt Gingrich wins them over with a promise.

Discussion: Eunomia, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Mediaite and Daily Pundit

New York Times:

Race Reshaped, Rivals Target Gingrich in G.O.P. Debate — DES MOINES — Newt Gingrich offered a robust defense of his views on the Middle East, his lucrative work after leaving Congress and his conservative credentials during a spirited debate here on Saturday night as his Republican …

Discussion: FiveThirtyEight, The Caucus, The Politico, Reuters, ABCNEWS, Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog, The Iowa Republican, The Page, American Power and Balloon Juice, more at Mediagazer »

Gschwarzcnn / CNN:

Debate 2.0: Romney and Gingrich surrogates attack — (CNN) - A Mitt Romney surrogate downplayed the negative impact of his proposed $10,000 bet during Saturday's GOP presidential debate as a “figure of speech.” — Former New Hampshire Gov. John Sununu, a supporter of the former Massachusetts governor …

Discussion: ABCNEWS, The Raw Story and Outside the Beltway

Michael Barone / Campaign 2012:

Thoughts on the ABC/Drake debate — In the first hour or so of the Republican presidential candidates debate conducted by ABC News at Drake University in Des Moines, we saw the most contentious, negative debate of the campaign. It is just 24 days from the Iowa precinct caucuses …

Discussion: americanthinker.com, Iowa Caucuses, Los Angeles Times and National Review

Kim Geiger / Los Angeles Times:

Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich spar over moon mining, child labor — Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich are on stage at the presidential candidates debate at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, Dec. 10, 2011. (Jeff Haynes / Reuters) — In the first GOP debate featuring Newt Gingrich …

Discussion: No More Mister Nice Blog and Guardian

Gschwarzcnn / CNN:

TRENDING: Santorum: Look at Gingrich's record — (CNN) - Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum criticized the leadership qualities of rival candidate Newt Gingrich on Sunday, suggesting voters contrast Gingrich's record with his own ahead of the Iowa caucuses.

Discussion: The Lonely Conservative

Richard Adams / Guardian:
GOP presidential debate in Iowa: as it happened

Discussion: Iowa Caucuses, The Impolitic, Sky Dancing, NO QUARTER, ABCNEWS, Balloon Juice, Gawker and The Caucus

Washington Post:
Gingrich comes under attack in GOP debate

Discussion: Outside the Beltway, The Other McCain, New York Times, Campaign 2012 and Daily Kos

Christian Whiton / Fox News:
Why Washington Is Shocked, Shocked By Newt Gingrich's Rise Over Mitt Romney

Discussion: Outside the Beltway, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion and Daily Pundit

Frances Martel / Mediaite:
Glenn Beck: The Tea Party Supporting Gingrich Over Obama ‘Must Be About Race’

Discussion: Catholic Bandita, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, The Right Scoop, iOwnTheWorld.com, The Moderate Voice, The Raw Story and The Lonely Conservative

Jason Clayworth / Iowa Caucuses:

Rick Perry campaign clarifies context on Supreme Court count — Rick Perry's campaign today said the Texas governor's reference to eight U.S. Supreme Court justices Friday was in regard to a ruling where all but one voted differently than what he thought was appropriate.

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Campaign 2012, Towleroad News #gay, The Raw Story, Burnt Orange Report and Washington Post

Chris Cillizza / Washington Post:
The ABC/Yahoo Iowa Debate: What to Watch For

Discussion: Reuters, Iowa Caucuses, ABCNEWS, Booman Tribune, Althouse, msnbc.com and The Moderate Voice

Robert Stacy McCain / The Other McCain:
Rick Santorum Will Score Upset Win in Tonight's ‘Pivotal’ ABC Debate in Iowa

Discussion: ABCNEWS, The Spectacle Blog, The Lonely Conservative and Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog

New York Post:

Rev. Al deep in the red — The Rev. Al Sharpton's nonprofit paid him nearly $242,000 — even as it carried $1.6 million in debt, according to documents obtained by The Post. — In all, the controversial activist and his empire, including the National Action Network and two for-profit companies …

Discussion: Jammie Wearing Fools, The Gateway Pundit and Weasel Zippers

Brian Bennett / Los Angeles Times:

Police employ Predator drone spy planes on home front — Unmanned aircraft from an Air Force base in North Dakota help local police with surveillance, raising questions that trouble privacy advocates. — A Predator drone spy plane helped police make arrests after a North Dakota family's run-in with a local sheriff.

Discussion: Global Guerrillas, msnbc.com and Newshoggers.com

CBS News:

Obama: Not redistributing wealth — In a “60 Minutes” interview with Steve Kroft, President Obama disputes the notion he is trying to redistribute wealth with his plans to treat the country's economic ills. He tells Kroft he's just attempting to deliver the “American Deal” of a strong middle class …

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit, Weasel Zippers and americanthinker.com

John T. Bennett / The Hill:

McConnell: Keystone is ‘shovel ready,’ pushes for linking payroll tax, pipeline — Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kent.) continued Sunday to press for legislation that links extending a payroll tax break with the Keystone Pipeline project. — McConnell predicted Congress …

Discussion: CNN

Miriam Elder / Guardian:

Russians protest over ‘election fraud’ — Tens of thousands defy bitter cold and fear of crackdown in challenge to victorious party of Vladimir Putin — Up to 50,000 people braved the cold and snow on Saturday to turn out for the largest ever protest against the rule of prime minister Vladimir Putin.

Discussion: Balloon Juice and Truthdig