Top Items:
Nate Silver / FiveThirtyEight:
Winning Ugly, but Winning — I don't care if you call it a win or a tie. In Iowa on Tuesday, Mitt Romney had a performance that looks ugly on the stat sheet , but which accomplished quite a bit when you consider it in its broader context. — The two most important things that Mr. Romney accomplished are as follows:
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Erick Erickson / Erick's blog:
Everything You Heard Last Night Was Bull, Perry Might Want to Stay In, & a Newtlear Attack — As you wake up this morning, Rick Santorum only lost to Mitt Romney by 8 votes. Santorum spent about a dollar per vote and Romney spent hundreds of dollars for his votes.
Discussion:
TalkLeft, Slate, The Huffington Post, National Review, The Politico, Democracy in America, Ballot Box, Patterico's Pontifications, Weekly Standard, Talking Points Memo, American Spectator, Ross Douthat, GOP 12, Campaign Stops, The Gateway Pundit, Pundit & Pundette, Riehl World View, BizzyBlog, Daily Pundit and New York Times
Ron Fournier / NationalJournal.com:
Bachmann Ends Presidential Run — Source — Rep. Michele Bachmann is suspending her presidential campaign, said a senior Republican official with direct knowledge of the lawmaker's plans. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Minnesota lawmaker, a favorite …
BuzzFeed:
McCain To Endorse Romney Tomorrow — The 2008 Republican nominee will endorse his former rival in New Hampshire, a source tells BuzzFeed. The move will give Romney some high-profile good news after a close and ambiguous finish in Iowa. — (Getty Images / Mark Wilson)
Jeff Zeleny / New York Times:
Romney Wins Iowa Caucus by 8 Votes — “Onto New Hampshire, let's get that job done!” Mitt Romney told supporters before being declared the winner. More Photos » — DES MOINES — Mitt Romney's quest to swiftly lock down the Republican presidential nomination with a commanding finish …
Discussion:
Firedoglake, ThinkProgress, The Caucus, The Politico, Washington Post, CNN, Campaign 2012, Associated Press, Ballot Box, Los Angeles Times, Guardian, Iowa Caucuses, ABCNEWS, Reuters, The Atlantic Online, Pressthink, Capital New York, Scared Monkeys, pandagon.net, Shakesville, No More Mister Nice Blog, Marbury, Outside the Beltway, Wake up America, Gothamist and The Page, more at Mediagazer »
Russell Goldman / ABCNEWS:
Michele Bachmann Drops Out of Presidential Race — Rep. Michele Bachmann will “suspend her campaign,” a senior campaign official told ABC News today, hours after placing last in the Iowa caucuses and vowing to continue in South Carolina. — Bachmann cancelled plans to travel to South Carolina …
Discussion:
Above the Law, The Other McCain and American Spectator
David Weigel / Slate:
Rickrolled: Three Lessons from Iowa … - Is the Virginia Law Keeping Perry and Gingrich Off the Ballot Constitutional? — The Real Threat to Marriage Isn't Gay Marriage—It's Straight Civil Unions — The App That Keeps You Going to the Gym by Charging You Money When You Don't
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, The Politico, The Mahablog, Washington Post, Austin American-Statesman, Balloon Juice, FrumForum, Political Mojo, Don Surber, The Daily Dish, Iowa Caucuses, The Spectacle Blog, Wonkette, The New Republic, LifeNews.com, Weekly Standard, RedState and Campaign 2012, more at Mediagazer »
Emily Schultheis / Reuters:
Bachmann ends campaign — Michele Bachmann announced Wednesday morning that she would drop her presidential bid following her sixth-place finish in the Iowa caucuses Tuesday. — “Last night, the people in Iowa spoke with a very clear voice, and so I have decided to step aside,” Bachmann told supporters in West Des Moines.
Discussion:
The Politico, The Political Carnival, Outside the Beltway and Atlas Shrugs
Kevinliptak / CNN:
BREAKING: Bachmann ends GOP presidential bid — (CNN) - Michele Bachmann ended her bid for the Republican presidential nomination Wednesday, hours after a disappointing sixth-place finish in the Iowa caucuses. — The Minnesota congresswoman suspended her campaign, a legal technicality …
Discussion:
Alan Colmes' Liberaland and Taylor Marsh
Paul Begala / The Daily Beast:
Iowa Results Show Romney's Weakness Even Against GOP ‘Unelectables’ — What can you say about an alleged frontrunner who could barely top the Man-on-Dog guy? If Mitt Romney can't beat Rick Santorum, he ought to find another party to run in. — You gotta love a party in which Mitt Romney …
Discussion:
CANNONFIRE and Saint Petersblog
Maggie Haberman / The Politico:
Bachmann cancels South Carolina trip — Per a tweet from the AP, Michele Bachmann has canceled her planned trip to South Carolina, and has called a press conference for 10 a.m. central time. — I've emailed a campaign spokeswoman and haven't heard back. — But after Bachmann's …
Discussion:
Mediaite, Weasel Zippers, Daily Kos, Nice Deb and PoliPundit.com
William A. Jacobson / Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion:
Rick Perry not suspending campaign, going to South Carolina (Reader poll added)
Rick Perry not suspending campaign, going to South Carolina (Reader poll added)
Discussion:
The Hill, Iowa Caucuses, Hot Air and Marathon Pundit
msnbc.com:
First Thoughts: What we learned from last night
First Thoughts: What we learned from last night
Discussion:
The Politico and Associated Press
Sarah Wheaton / The Caucus:
Bachmann Says She Will Not Continue in the Race
Bachmann Says She Will Not Continue in the Race
Discussion:
New York Times, Feministing and Poynter
Rick Manning / Pundits Blog:
The three-headed Republican Party emerges from Iowa
Igor Volsky / ThinkProgress:
Rick Santorum Compares ‘Social Welfare Programs’ Like Medicaid To Fascism In Iowa Speech
Allahpundit / Hot Air:
“We have nearly reached the Rubicon when the ‘not Romney’ crowd is pining for Jon Huntsman”
“We have nearly reached the Rubicon when the ‘not Romney’ crowd is pining for Jon Huntsman”
Discussion:
CNN, USA Today, Erick's blog, CBS News, Brilliant at Breakfast, americanthinker.com, The Daily Dish and Pirate's Cove
James Hohmann / The Politico:
Iowa caucus results: Reality check coming for Santorum
Iowa caucus results: Reality check coming for Santorum
Discussion:
The Daily Beast, New York Times, The Week, USA Today, Mediaite and ABCNEWS
Ronald Brownstein / NationalJournal.com:
Why Romney and Santorum Fought to a Draw in Iowa
Why Romney and Santorum Fought to a Draw in Iowa
Discussion:
Betsy's Page and CNN
Robert Stacy McCain / The Other McCain:
Santorum Surge in Precinct Numbers Exceeds Poll Projections
Santorum Surge in Precinct Numbers Exceeds Poll Projections
Discussion:
Associated Press, Datechguy's Blog, Los Angeles Times, The Moderate Voice, Outside the Beltway, American Prospect, Reaganite Republican, The Reaction, GayPatriot, Thoughts From A …, Saint Petersblog, Scared Monkeys, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Catholic Bandita, CNN, Weasel Zippers, Doug Ross, The Hinterland Gazette and Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog
Kasie Hunt / Associated Press:
Bachmann cancels SC trip after poor Iowa finish
Bachmann cancels SC trip after poor Iowa finish
Discussion:
Reuters, Guardian and The Raw Story
Associated Press:
AP sources: Obama bucks GOP, OKs consumer watchdog — WASHINGTON (AP) — In a defiant display of executive power, President Barack Obama on Wednesday will buck GOP opposition and name Richard Cordray as the nation's chief consumer watchdog even though the Senate contends the move is inappropriate …
Discussion:
The Politico, Washington Monthly, The Hill, The Hill, Business Insider, Weasel Zippers, The Raw Story, White House Dossier and ThinkProgress
RELATED:
Dan Pfeiffer / White House.gov Blog:
America's Consumer Watchdog — Today the President will appoint Richard Cordray to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. He has one important job: look out for the best interest of American consumers. He'll work on behalf of millions of families across the nation to ensure they're …
Discussion:
Washington Wire, Michelle Malkin, Washington Post, The Volokh Conspiracy and Outside the Beltway
Los Angeles Times:
Obama bypassing Senate to appoint Richard Cordray consumer chief
Obama bypassing Senate to appoint Richard Cordray consumer chief
Discussion:
The Hill, The Volokh Conspiracy and American Spectator
Jonathan Martin / The Politico:
Conservative elites to huddle — A group of movement conservatives has called an emergency meeting in Texas next weekend to find a “consensus” Republican presidential hopeful, POLITICO has learned. — “You and your spouse are cordially invited to a private meeting with national conservative leaders …
Discussion:
ThinkProgress and GOP 12
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Taegan Goddard's Political Wire:
Gingrich Floats Idea of Anti-Romney Alliance — In an interview with Laura Ingraham, Newt Gingrich raised the possibility of creating an anti-Mitt Romney alliance with Rick Santorum. — Ingraham: Can you see a scenario under which the two of you would align together to try to defeat the establishment candidate, Mitt Romney?
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, Wake up America and Michelle Malkin
Alicia M. Cohn / The Hill:
DNC chairwoman: Romney's Iowa caucus win is ‘a loss’
DNC chairwoman: Romney's Iowa caucus win is ‘a loss’
Discussion:
The Politico, CNN and Weasel Zippers
Amy Sullivan / The Atlantic Online:
Rick Santorum, Social Conservative Hero
Rick Santorum, Social Conservative Hero
Discussion:
neo-neocon and Outside the Beltway
Maureen Dowd / New York Times:
Oedipus Rex Complex
Oedipus Rex Complex
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice and Prairie Weather
Grace Wyler / Business Insider:
Ron Paul May Have Secretly Won The Iowa Caucuses — DES MOINES — Ron Paul may have officially come in third tonight, but if the campaign's caucus strategy went off as planned, then Paul may actually be the real winner of the first Republican voting contest.
Discussion:
NPR, Guardian, Hit & Run, The Politico, A plain blog about politics, americanthinker.com, New York Times and Truthdig