memeorandum: It seems Captain Schettino panicked. Who's to say you wouldn't? (Bruce Hood/Guardian)

9:55 AM ET, January 19, 2012

Top Items:

Jennifer Jacobs / Iowa Caucuses:

REGISTER EXCLUSIVE: 2012 GOP caucus count unresolved — THE RESULTS: Santorum finished ahead by 34 votes — MISSING DATA: 8 precincts' numbers will never be certified — PARTY VERDICT: GOP official says, 'It's a split decision' — Rick Santorum - Final total: 29,839 Change: -168

A.Killough / CNN:

FIRST ON CNN: Sources: Perry dropping out of GOP race — Charleston, South Carolina (CNN) - Rick Perry is telling supporters that he will drop his bid Thursday for the Republican presidential nomination, two sources familiar with his plans told CNN. — The Texas governor will make the announcement …

Discussion: Washington Monthly, The Caucus, Mediaite, ThinkProgress, Erick's blog, Hot Air, Campaign 2012, The Political Carnival, Conservatives4Palin, Daily Kos and The Lonely Conservative

The Politico:

Rick Perry to drop 2012 campaign for president, endorse Newt, Sources say — Rick Perry is expected to drop out later this morning at an 11 a.m. press conference and endorse Newt Gingrich, two sources confirmed to POLITICO. — The news was first reported by CNN.

Discussion: Taylor Marsh, Weasel Zippers, Washington Post, The Daily Caller and Hit & Run

NBC's Mark Murray / msnbc.com:

NBC poll: Newt Gingrich gains ground on Mitt Romney in South Carolina — In the final days leading up to the South Carolina primary, Newt Gingrich attacked Mitt Romney's tax rate revelation. NBC's Chuck Todd reports. — By NBC's Mark Murray — Follow @mmurraypolitics

Discussion: CNN, Washington Post, Outside the Beltway, New York Times, Hardball Blog, The Moderate Voice, Taegan Goddard's …, The Politico and The Page

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:

Cop Out for the Ages!! — The Republican party of Iowa has finished it's recount of the January 3rd Iowa caucuses and the certified final results show Rick Santorum came out ahead by 34 votes. So he ‘won’, right? — Well, not according to the state GOP. According to the state party it's a “split decision” or a “tie.”

Discussion: Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Balloon Juice, Washington Post and National Review

James Hohmann / The Politico:

POLITICO Poll: Newt in striking distance — CHARLESTON, S.C. — Mitt Romney remains the clear front-runner in South Carolina, but the intensity of Newt Gingrich's support places him within striking distance going into Saturday's Republican primary. — A POLITICO Poll of likely voters shows …

Discussion: CNN, NY Daily News and ABCNEWS

Marist Poll:

1/19: Romney Leads Gingrich by 10 Points in South Carolina; 5 Points Post-Debate — As the Republican presidential candidates crisscross the Palmetto State in the days leading up to Saturday's South Carolina primary, Mitt Romney leads Newt Gingrich, 34% to 24%, among likely Republican primary voters including …

Discussion: Washington Wire and Ballot Box

Roz Helderman / Washington Post:
Santorum says the only woman he's ever sat on a couch with is his wife

Discussion: New York Magazine and Indecision Forever

CNN:
Report: Certified Iowa results give Santorum a narrow win over Romney

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Ballot Box and Washington Post

Wallacegw / CNN:
CNN/Time Poll: Race for South Carolina tightening

Discussion: The Politico, Weekly Standard, National Review, ABCNEWS, Trail Blazers Blog, Los Angeles Times, Hot Air, msnbc.com, The Moderate Voice, Campaign 2012, M.JOSEPH SHEPPARD'S … and Guardian

Erick Erickson / RedState:
Rick Perry's Final Act: King Maker?

Discussion: National Review, Balloon Juice, ABCNEWS, Hot Air, msnbc.com, Ballot Box, The Democratic Daily, CNN and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion

The Politico:
Anxious Mitt Romney lights into Newt Gingrich

Discussion: CNN

ABCNEWS:
New Orwellian-Themed Santorum Ad Takes Aim At ‘Establishment’ and Romney

Discussion: Hot Air, THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS, Politics, The Daily Dish and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion

Drudge Report:

NEWT EX-WIFE UNLOADS ON CAMERA; NETWORK DEBATES ‘ETHICS’ OF AIRING BEFORE SC PRIMARY — Marianne Gingrich has said she could end her ex-husband's career with a single interview. — Earlier this week, she sat before ABCNEWS cameras, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.

David Bauder / Associated Press:

AP source: ABC interviewed Gingrich ex-wife — NEW YORK (AP) - An ABC News executive tells The Associated Press that the network has interviewed Newt Gingrich's second wife and is likely to air the segment Thursday on “Nightline.” — That's two days before the South Carolina primary …

Discussion: Townhall.com, Betsy's Page, The Politico, The Lonely Conservative, Conservatives4Palin, The Right Scoop, Mediaite, Los Angeles Times, Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog, The Powers That Be, Political Mojo and The Other McCain, more at Mediagazer »

Maggie Haberman / The Politico:

Marianne Gingrich speaks — Matt Drudge first broke news that Marianne Gingrich, Newt Gingrich's second wife who he left after a lengthy affair with his current wife, Callista, has given an interview to ABC News, which appears to mark only the second time she's spoken this cycle.

Discussion: Big Journalism

The Caucus:

Gingrich Camp Responds to Ex-Wife's Interview — GREENVILLE, S.C. — Anticipating a potentially damaging interview with one of Newt Gingrich's former wives on the eve of the South Carolina primary, his campaign issued an open letter on Wednesday night to “ABC News leadership,” …

Discussion: Media Decoder, Pat Dollard and Connecting.the.Dots

Danny Yadron / Washington Wire:
Gingrich Camp Tries Damage Control Before Interview With Ex-Wife Airs

Discussion: Washington Post, Boston Herald, Christian Science Monitor and TalkLeft

Democracy in America:
Newt and the “food-stamp president”

Discussion: The Caucus, The Stranger … and Washington Post

Deborah Netburn / L.A. Times Tech Blog:

Google says 4.5 million people signed anti-SOPA petition today — When Google speaks, the world listens. — And today, when Google asked its users to sign a petition protesting two anti-piracy laws circulating in Congress, millions responded. — A spokeswoman for Google confirmed …

Discussion: Shakesville, US Politics, New York Times, GigaOM, TechCrunch, Techdirt, Threat Level and Guardian, more at Techmeme »

Nikki Finke / Deadline.com:
EXCLUSIVE: Hollywood Moguls Stopping Obama Donations Because Of President's Piracy Stand: “Not Give A Dime Anymore”

Discussion: Big Hollywood

Gautham Nagesh / The Hill:
Lawmakers rush to drop piracy bills as websites go dark

Discussion: The BLT

CNN:
SOPA/PIPA bills lose support on Capitol Hill

Discussion: BBC, more at Techmeme »

Megan Slack / White House.gov Blog:
By the Numbers: 103,785 — A total of 103,785 people signed …

Discussion: Lincoln Journal Star, Bits, L.A. Times Tech Blog, WTVM-TV, Mashable!, The Moderate Voice and New York Times, more at Techmeme »

Jonathan Weisman / New York Times:
In Fight Over Piracy Bills, New Economy Rises Against Old

Discussion: WPRI.com Blogs, Media Decoder, New York Magazine, Taylor Marsh, Slate, Firedoglake, The Mahablog, News Desk, Washington Post, Wonkette and Balloon Juice, more at Mediagazer »

Jim Puzzanghera / L.A. Times Tech Blog:
SOPA blackout: Bills lose three co-sponsors amid protests

Discussion: GigaOM, Company Town, Bits, Runnin' Scared, THEROOT.COM and Opinion L.A.

David Kravets / Threat Level:
A SOPA/PIPA Blackout Explainer

Discussion: Marvin Ammori, Techdirt, Hit & Run, Rumproast, AllThingsD, GigaOM and Overlawyered, more at Techmeme »

Wall Street Journal:

Bain Capital Saved America — In the 1980s, the resilient U.S. economy saved itself from becoming Europe. Bain was part of the rescue. — Not only did Bain Capital save America, but no matter what turn Mitt Romney's political career takes, Bain Capital may stand as the best …

Discussion: Mitt Romney Central and Betsy's Page

Alexander Bolton / The Hill: Dems receive more Bain dollars than GOP

John Melloy / Fast Money:
Stephen Schwarzman Hosting Private Party for Romney, Amid Criticism

Discussion: Washington Post, ThinkProgress, Financial Times and The Politico

Timothy B. Lee / Ars Technica:

PIPA support collapses, with 13 new Senators opposed — Members of the Senate are rushing for the exits in the wake of the Internet's unprecedented protest of the Protect IP Act (PIPA). At least 13 members of the upper chamber announced their opposition on Wednesday.

Discussion: Insert Coin, Threat Level, Gizmodo, Boing Boing, Erick's blog, The Spectacle Blog, Balloon Juice, The Huffington Post, American Spectator, Heritage Action for America and The Daily Caller, more at Techmeme »

New York Times:

Poll Shows Obama's Vulnerability With Swing Voters — President Obama opens his re-election bid facing significant obstacles from independent voters, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll, with the critical piece of the electorate that cemented his victory four years ago open to denying him a second term.

Discussion: JustOneMinute, Washington Post and The Caucus

Joy Lin / Fox News:

Group blasts Gingrich for limiting hires to Muslims who renounce Shariah law — The largest Muslim civil liberties group in the United States on Wednesday condemned Newt Gingrich for saying he would only hire Muslims to his administration if they renounced the use of Islam's Shariah law as a tool for U.S. government.

Discussion: CNNMoney.com, The Jawa Report, Jihad Watch, Mitt Romney Central, Weasel Zippers and Atlas Shrugs