memeorandum: On eve of Iowa vote, Santorum focusing attacks on Romney (Niall Stanage/Ballot Box)

2:55 PM ET, January 2, 2012

Top Items:

Headed for a Photo Finish in Iowa — The Republican caucus in Iowa is headed for a photo finish, with the three leading contenders all within two points of each other. Ron Paul is at 20%, Mitt Romney at 19%, and Rick Santorum at 18%. Rounding out the field are Newt Gingrich at 14% …

Roger Simon / The Politico:

Mitt don't need no surges — DES MOINES — If Mitt Romney wins the Iowa caucuses, the race for the Republican nomination is over. — If Mitt Romney comes in second in Iowa, the race for the Republican nomination is over. — And if Mitt Romney comes in third in Iowa, the race for the Republican nomination is over.

Discussion: CNN, Mediaite, The Week, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Talking Points Memo, Taegan Goddard's …, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Telegraph, Catholic Bandita and The Other McCain

Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:

For no reason, Santorum ‘singled out blacks’ — Over the weekend, Rick Santorum told an Iowa audience, “Diversity creates conflict. If we celebrate diversity, we create conflict.” It seemed like an odd thing for a presidential candidate to say. — The line does, however …

Discussion: NPR, The Hinterland Gazette and Booman Tribune

Niall Stanage / Ballot Box:

On eve of Iowa vote, Santorum focusing attacks on Romney — POLK CITY, Iowa — Rick Santorum took several shots at Mitt Romney during his first Monday campaign event here, seeking to neutralize the appeal of the former Massachusetts governor's business background, and implying that he lacks principle.

Discussion: RedState and Sister Toldjah

Gschwarzcnn / CNN:

‘Iron Lady’ goes back up on Iowa TV — Des Moines, Iowa (CNN) - One day before Iowa's caucuses, Rep. Michele Bachmann touts her Hawkeye State roots and conservative credentials in a new TV commercial. — The congresswoman's Republican presidential campaign says the ad, titled “Iron Lady …

Discussion: PolitickerNY, The Politico, Towleroad News #gay and Ballot Box

Nate Silver / FiveThirtyEight:

Iowa Race Tightens in Final 48 Hours — A new Public Policy Polling survey in Iowa, conducted Saturday and Sunday, shows a virtual three-way tie in advance of the Iowa caucuses. Ron Paul has a nominal lead with 20 percent of the vote in the poll, followed by Mitt Romney at 19 percent and Rick Santorum at 18 percent.

Discussion: The Huffington Post, Los Angeles Times, Iowa Caucuses, CNN, Associated Press, Ricochet Conversations Feed, Washington Post and Balloon Juice

New York Magazine:
Battered in Iowa, Gingrich Plans to Rip Romney in New Hampshire and Beyond

Discussion: Daily Kos and Guardian

Michael D. Shear / New York Times:
Frenetic Push for Votes as Iowa Campaign Wraps Up

Discussion: The Caucus and Truthdig

msnbc.com:
First thoughts: Romney vs. Santorum

Discussion: Pat Dollard, Iowa Caucuses and Poynter

Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:

Cantor can't handle the truth about Reagan — CBS's “60 Minutes” ran a good profile on House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) last night, but there was one portion of the interview that was especially important. — In this video, it starts at about the 10:19 mark.

Discussion: PERRspectives, Balloon Juice, Outside the Beltway, The Raw Story, Connecting.the.Dots, The Mahablog and The Political Carnival

CBS News:
The Majority Leader: Rep. Eric Cantor

Discussion: Outside the Beltway

Jim Hoft / The Gateway Pundit:
“60 Minutes” Grills Eric Cantor on Why He's Republican in Sunday Night Hit Piece (Video) …

Discussion: THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS

Paul Krugman / New York Times:

Nobody Understands Debt — In 2011, as in 2010, America was in a technical recovery but continued to suffer from disastrously high unemployment. And through most of 2011, as in 2010, almost all the conversation in Washington was about something else: the allegedly urgent issue of reducing the budget deficit.

Discussion: neo-neocon, The Other McCain, The Moderate Voice, National Review, Daily Kos, Cafe Hayek and Ricochet Conversations Feed

Nick Allen / Telegraph:

Americans buy record numbers of guns for Christmas — Americans bought record numbers of guns last month amid an apparent surge in popularity for weapons as Christmas presents. — According to the FBI, over 1.5 million background checks on customers were requested by gun dealers …

Discussion: The Reaction, The Gateway Pundit, Big Government, No More Mister Nice Blog, Pat Dollard and The Hinterland Gazette

Robert Pear / New York Times:

After Three Decades, Tax Credit for Ethanol Expires — WASHINGTON — A federal tax credit for ethanol expired on Saturday, ending an era in which the federal government provided more than $20 billion in subsidies for use of the product. — The tax break, created more than 30 years ago, had long seemed untouchable.

Discussion: Campaign 2012, New York Magazine, Democracy in America, Outside the Beltway and americanthinker.com

Sam Quinones / L.A. NOW:

‘Person of interest’ detained in L.A. arson fires — Los Angeles police this morning detained and are questioning a “person of interest” in the spate of arson fires occurring around the city since Friday. — The individual, believed to be the man seen in a video police released Sunday …

Discussion: Hot Air, Pat Dollard and americanthinker.com

Ta-Nehisi Coates / The Atlantic Online:

The Roots Of Glenn Beck — Mark Lilla doesn't really like Corey Robin's new book on conservatism: … Better though, is his own perspective on the roots of conservatism and its current flight into the apocalyptic and reactionary: … It's interesting that Lilla raises Buckley here.

Associated Press:

68 Occupy protesters arrested in NYC on New Year's — NEW YORK (AP) - Dozens of Occupy Wall Street protesters were arrested on New Year's Eve as they tore down barricades surrounding New York City's Zuccotti Park, the former home of their encampment that was dismantled several weeks ago.

Discussion: Wonkette, Right Wing News, Simply Left BehindThe … and americanthinker.com

Annie Karni / New York Post:
Columbia offers ‘Occupy 101’

Discussion: Michelle Malkin, Big Government, Ed Driscoll, Questions and Observations, The Raw Story, Gothamist, American Glob, Weasel Zippers and City Room

Angel Jennings / L.A. NOW:

Rose Parade 2012: Occupy activists form ‘peacekeeping’ team — Occupy the Rose Parade activists said they had assembled a “peacekeeping” team to thwart members who might try to cause trouble during the event. — A team of about 36 Occupy protesters will, in three groups …

Discussion: Weasel Zippers

Sharon Otterman / New York Times:

Obscuring a Muslim Name, and an American's Sacrifice — He was buried after the Sept. 11 attacks with full honors from the New York Police Department, and proclaimed a hero by the city's police commissioner. He is cited by name in the Patriot Act as an example of Muslim-American valor.

Discussion: Simply Left BehindThe …

Tim Lister / CNN:

Islamist militants in Nigeria warn Christians to leave north within 3 days — The devastating scene outside St Theresa Catholic Church near the Nigerian capital Abuja on Christmas day — (CNN) — The militant Islamist group Boko Haram has issued an ultimatum giving Christians living …

Discussion: Weasel Zippers and msnbc.com

Edward-Isaac Dovere / The Politico:

Iowa officials brace for Occupy protests — Republicans across Iowa are bracing for trouble on Tuesday, concerned that caucus sites will be the next stop for the Occupy protesters who've staged demonstrations and disruptions at election events across the state.

Discussion: IntoxiNation

CBS News:

60 Minutes/Vanity Fair Poll: January Edition — Welcome to the 60 Minutes/ Vanity Fair Poll for January 2012. The beginning of a new year can be a wonderful time. We can close out our account with 2011 and start 2012 with a renewed enthusiasm to create fresh goals and ideas for personal improvement.

Discussion: Taegan Goddard's … and Saint Petersblog

Ilan Grapel / Washington Post:

In Egypt, jailed but not broken — Five months in an Egyptian jail gives a person a lot of time to think. When you are not pacing or trying to catch an hour of afternoon sun through the barred window, there are thoughts of home, family, the freedoms Westerners take for granted …