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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

Two Romneys: Wealthy Man, Thrifty Habits  —  BOSTON — Soon after Mitt Romney handed out eye-popping bonuses to top performers at his private equity firm in the early 1990s, a young employee invited him to ride in his brand-new toy — a $90,000 Porsche 911 Carrera.

Lessons From Europe  —  Let me return for a minute to Kevin O'Rourke's recent piece on the European summit.  Aside from pointing out just how bad an idea the new super-stability pact is, O'Rourke makes an important observation about what the European experience teaches us about macroeconomics:

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.