Top Items:
Justin Sink / Ballot Box:
Poll: Romney slipping in South Carolina, holds just 2 point lead over Gingrich — Despite a historic sweep of the first two nominating contests in the GOP field, Mitt Romney holds just a two percentage point lead in South Carolina, his smallest lead of 2012.
Discussion:
The Politico, The Reaction, Hot Air, CNN, Indecision Forever, Politics, The Political Carnival, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion and msnbc.com
RELATED:
Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
‘When Mitt Romney Came to Town’ — We knew the short film from Newt Gingrich's Super PAC, targeting Mitt Romney's private-sector work, was on the way. We didn't know just how devastating it would be. — Probably the easiest-to-see version of “When Mitt Romney Came to Town” …
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, CNN, Feministing, The Other McCain, Democratic Strategist, American Prospect, News Desk, Smartypants and The Daily Dish
Publius / Big Government:
BREAKING: Palin Urges Romney to Release Tax Returns, Provide Proof of 100,000 Jobs Created at Bain Capital — Former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin has called for Gov. Mitt Romney to release his tax returns, as well as the data that could substantiate his claim of having created 100,000 jobs as CEO of Bain Capital.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, Erick's blog, GOP 12, The Raw Story, The Daily Dish, Riehl World View, Pirate's Cove and Conservatives4Palin
Rasmussen Reports:
Florida GOP Primary: Romney 41%, Gingrich 19%, Santorum 15% — Mitt Romney is now running away with the race in the latest Rasmussen Reports' survey of the end-of-the-month Florida Republican Primary. — Coming off his decisive win in Tuesday's New Hampshire Primary …
Discussion:
GOP 12, LifeNews.com, The PJ Tatler, Campaign 2012 and National Review
Reid J. Epstein / Reuters:
Mitt Romney readies Bain Capital counterattack — COLUMBIA, S.C. - Mitt Romney's done defending his Bain Capital record. He's going on offense. — The former Massachusetts governor arrived here Wednesday fresh off his New Hampshire primary win armed with a new plan for a multi-pronged response …
Benjy Sarlin / 2012.talkingpointsmemo.com:
TPM2012 — Dems Prepare To Hammer Romney With The REAL Bain Onslaught — Thanks to Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry, Bain Capital is all over the news this week, prompting an upset MItt Romney to accuse his rivals of turning to “the bitter politics of envy” in order to halt his momentum.
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, New York Times, Taegan Goddard's …, Campaign 2012, The Caucus, The Moderate Voice and GOP 12
Felicia Sonmez / Washington Post:
Newt Gingrich: South Carolina will be ‘Armageddon’ — GOP primary campaigns have a history of turning ugly once the campaign trail heads to South Carolina. — And to hear former House speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) tell it, this year will be no exception. — Former House speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.).
Discussion:
Guardian, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Daily Kos, Booman Tribune and ABCNEWS
Karl Rove / Wall Street Journal:
Romney Makes History — South Carolina is the last chance for most of his rivals, but the front-runner needs to better answer the Bain attacks. — In an open race for the GOP nomination, no Republican has won both Iowa and New Hampshire, as Mitt Romney has.
Discussion:
The Daily, The Politico, The State, New York Times, St. Petersburg Times and The PJ Tatler
Reuters:
Newt Gingrich: I crossed the line — SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Newt Gingrich signaled Wednesday that he believes his criticism of Mitt Romney's record at Bain Capital is a mistake — and that he's created an impression that he was echoing Democratic rhetoric. — Gingrich conceded the problem …
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, CNN, The Huffington Post, USA Today, Politics, The Moderate Voice, msnbc.com, Don Surber, Shakesville, Mediaite, The Politico, Guardian, The Lonely Conservative, Washington Post, The Caucus, GOP 12, The Gateway Pundit, Wonkette, Hot Air, Daily Kos, Outside the Beltway, The Page, Weasel Zippers, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, YID With LID, Sky Dancing, New York Times, Indecision Forever, Swampland, The Hill, Los Angeles Times, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, The Impolitic, Hullabaloo, Fox News Insider and RedState
NBC's Andrew Rafferty / msnbc.com:
Santorum: Attacks on Romney are attacks on capitalism
Santorum: Attacks on Romney are attacks on capitalism
Discussion:
WFAA-TV, Wonkette, The Lonely Conservative and New York Times
Karl / Patterico's Pontifications:
A bigger problem than Bain?
A bigger problem than Bain?
Discussion:
Sabato's Crystal Ball, Sky Dancing, Riehl World View, The Politico, CNN, The Caucus, New York Times and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion
Donald Johnson / The Politico:
Mitt Romney's Bain Capital days: A black box
Mitt Romney's Bain Capital days: A black box
Discussion:
Fortune, Right Wing News and THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS
Wallacegw / CNN:
Gingrich: South Carolina will be ‘Armageddon’ of attacks
Gingrich: South Carolina will be ‘Armageddon’ of attacks
Discussion:
The Caucus, The Politico and Washington Post
Keach Hagey / The Politico:
Mitt Romney's Bain Capital days: A black box
Mitt Romney's Bain Capital days: A black box
Discussion:
Washington Post, CNN, The Raw Story, The Mahablog, New York Times, National Review, New York Times and Daily Kos
Michael Isikoff / msnbc.com:
The latest political headlines powered by NBC News and msnbc.com
The latest political headlines powered by NBC News and msnbc.com
Discussion:
The Hill
Arthur S. Brisbane / The Public Editor's Journal:
Should The Times Be a Truth Vigilante? — I'm looking for reader input on whether and when New York Times news reporters should challenge “facts” that are asserted by newsmakers they write about. — One example mentioned recently by a reader: As cited in an Adam Liptak article on the Supreme Court …
Discussion:
Poynter, Balloon Juice, emptywheel, US Politics, The Awl and Boing Boing, more at Mediagazer »
Kenneth P. Vogel / The Politico:
3 billionaires who'll drag out the race — Meet the three billionaires who could drag out the GOP presidential primary, bloody up front-runner Mitt Romney and weaken the odds of defeating President Barack Obama: Sheldon Adelson, Foster Friess and Jon Huntsman, Sr.
Discussion:
CNN, Hot Air, Time, Christian Science Monitor, Applesauce, Washington Wire, Media Decoder, ABCNEWS and Taylor Marsh, more at Techmeme »
Mark Hosenball / Reuters:
Homeland Security watches Twitter, social media — (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's command center routinely monitors dozens of popular websites, including Facebook, Twitter, Hulu, WikiLeaks and news and gossip sites including the Huffington Post and Drudge Report, according to a government document.
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Glenn Thrush / The Politico:
Obama's 2011 fundraising haul: Bush's league — The Obama campaign and Democratic National Committee raked in a combined $68 million in the fourth quarter, bringing their total 2011 haul to $250 million — an impressive take but not quite up to the blistering pace set by the Bush-Cheney reelection machine over the same period.
Discussion:
CNN and Big Journalism
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Michael D. Shear / The Caucus:
Obama Campaign Raises $42 Million in Fourth Quarter
Obama Campaign Raises $42 Million in Fourth Quarter
Discussion:
Outside the Beltway
BBC:
Afghan leader Karzai condemns ‘US Marines body desecration’ video — Afghan President Hamid Karzai has condemned a video that appears to show US Marines urinating on the bloodied corpses of several Taliban fighters. — The Taliban has also criticised the video as “shameful” but said it would not derail attempts at peace talks.
Discussion:
FP Passport, Biased BBC and Joe. My. God.
RELATED:
Jeremy Wallace / HT Politics:
Laura Bush wanted Jeb to run for president in 2012 — SARASOTA — Former first lady Laura Bush wishes there were one more candidate in the Republican presidential primary: Jeb Bush. — Speaking to a sold-out Sarasota audience on Wednesday, Bush said she had hoped that her brother-in-law …
Discussion:
The Politico and Taegan Goddard's …
Rana Foroohar / Swampland:
Warren Buffett Ready to Take Republicans' Tax Challenge — Updated, 6:10 p.m. E.T. — Warren Buffett is ready to call Republicans' tax bluff. Last fall, Senator Mitch McConnell said that if Buffett were feeling “guilty” about paying too little in taxes, he should “send in a check.”
RELATED:
Reuters:
Buffett to Republicans: if you pay, so will I
Buffett to Republicans: if you pay, so will I
Discussion:
Maggie's Farm and Michelle Malkin
U.S. Chamber of Commerce:
The State of American Business 2012, Address by Thomas J. Donohue President & CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce — Washington, D.C. — Thank you very much, and good morning ladies and gentlemen. Let me begin by expressing my appreciation to the National Chamber Foundation for organizing …
Discussion:
Washington Wire and ThinkProgress
Daily Mail:
Click to rate Rating (0) — Reply to ‘fly over country’ What garbage. Do you get your information from a loudmouth uninformed Republican Senator. The National Health Service doesn't keep tally on how much is spent on each patient. It doesn't let people die.
Discussion:
Ricochet Conversations Feed, The Lonely Conservative and ParaPundit