Romney opens 21-point lead in South Carolina: Reuters/Ipsos poll  —  (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has opened a wide lead over his rivals in the South Carolina primary election race, trouncing Newt Gingrich and gaining momentum in his march toward the party's nomination, a Reuters/Ipsos poll shows.

Obama Administration Responds to We the People Petitions on SOPA and Online Piracy  —  The White House has responded to two petitions about legislative approaches to combat online piracy.  In their response, Victoria Espinel, Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator at Office of Management and Budget …

The 1 Percent Paint a More Nuanced Portrait of the Rich  —  KINGS POINT, N.Y. — Adam Katz is happy to talk to reporters when he is promoting his business, a charter flight company based on Long Island called Talon Air.  —  But when the subject was his position as one of America's top earners, he balked.

With ‘angry black woman’ remark, first lady addresses race head-on  —  Michelle Obama finally went there.  —  The first lady jumped head first into a discussion about racial issues.  —  She and her husband, the first African-American president, have mostly avoided addressing race except …

Romney Gives Unemployed Woman Cash on Ropeline  —  SUMTER, S.C. — Amid shaking hands and signing campaign posters, Mitt Romney did something he has never done before on the ropeline: He took out his wallet and handed a wad of cash to a woman waiting to shake his hand.

‘Occupy’ art a stinker  —  It's political dis-scent: An olfactory artist has transported the stench of Occupy Wall Street from Zuccotti Park to a Staten Island art gallery.  —  “The Smell of a Critical Moment,” which opened yesterday at Doorways on Van Duzer Street, features 99 T-shirts …

Israeli official: Report of Mossad agents posing as CIA spies ‘absolute nonsense’  —  Senior Israeli government official issues complete denial of Foreign Policy report that Mossad agents posed as CIA officers to recruit Pakistani terrorists to carry out attacks in Iran.  —  Get Haaretz on iPhone

White House signals more aggressive stance to protect homeowners  —  The Obama administration has signaled to allies that it will take a more aggressive role this year in protecting homeowners from foreclosure, a posture that fits with Obama's populist campaign stance.

S&P On Europe  —  S&P's downgrade of a bunch of European sovereigns was no surprise.  What was somewhat surprising — and which went unmentioned in almost all the news stories I've read — was why S&P has gotten so pessimistic.  From their FAQs: … And today we read about the response: