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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
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Washington Monthly, ABCNEWS, The Caucus, The Atlantic Online, The Hill, Outside the Beltway, Wake up America, Guardian, msnbc.com, Swampland, Booman Tribune, The Moderate Voice, Campaign 2012, Jay Bookman, Mediaite, National Review, Hot Air, Daily Kos, Scared Monkeys, Political Insider, Washington Post, Ricochet Conversations Feed, CNN, Pundit & Pundette, Rumproast, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion and The Page
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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 …
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The Daily Beast, Hot Air, Israel Matzav, Mediaite, News Desk, ThinkProgress, Erick's blog, Guardian, Gothamist, Questions and Observations, The Gateway Pundit, ABCNEWS, Campaign 2012, Outside the Beltway, Human Rights Campaign, The Right Scoop, The Political Carnival, Pirate's Cove, RedState, Conservatives4Palin, The Lonely Conservative, The Politico and Daily Kos

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:
ThinkProgress, Firedoglake, Michelle Malkin, CNN, Erick's blog, Feministing, Jihad Watch, Pat Dollard, Taylor Marsh, Weasel Zippers, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, The Page, Hit & Run, The Raw Story and Gawker

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.
Discussion:
National Review, Esquire, American Spectator, The Other McCain, msnbc.com, Big Government, Hot Air, Scared Monkeys, Wonkette, The Hill, The Politico, Poynter, Mitt Romney Central, No More Mister Nice Blog, Outside the Beltway, CNN, Weasel Zippers, Gawker, Campaign 2012, Talking Points Memo, Taylor Marsh, M.JOSEPH SHEPPARD'S …, Big Journalism, JOSHUAPUNDIT, New York Magazine, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, The Gateway Pundit, Pat Dollard, The Moderate Voice, TVNewser, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Boston Herald, Balloon Juice, Wake up America, The Daily Caller, Ricochet Conversations Feed and The Stranger …, more at Mediagazer »

Perry Ends Bid for Presidency — Mr. Perry speaking at a campaign event in Mason City, Iowa, on Dec. 30, 2011. Mr. Perry is poised to end his candidacy and endorse Newt Gingrich on Thursday. — Updated — NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. - Gov. Rick Perry of Texas dropped out of the Republican presidential race …

WATCH: Gingrich's Ex Says Newt Asked Her For An Open Marriage — WASHINGTON — Newt Gingrich's second ex-wife says the former House Speaker lacks the ‘moral character’ to be President. — In an interview with ABC's Brian Ross that was recorded last week and which will air in its entireity …


Exclusive: Gingrich Lacks Moral Character to Be President, Ex-Wife Says — Newt Gingrich lacks the moral character to serve as President, his second ex-wife Marianne told ABC News, saying his campaign positions on the sanctity of marriage and the importance of family values do not square …
Discussion:
Washington Wire, Washington Post, msnbc.com and Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog

As far back as the '90s, Marianne Gingrich has been saying she could end her ex-husband Newt Gingrich's political career with a single interview. So has she finally dropped that long-threatened bomb, just when the former speaker and GOP presidential hopeful is rebounding in polls?


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

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 …


POLITICO Poll: Newt closing in — 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:
The Politico, CNN, Political Insider, Colorlines, Weekly Standard, Trail Blazers Blog, msnbc.com, The Moderate Voice, Hot Air and ABCNEWS


Santorum finished 34 votes ahead of Romney in new Iowa tally; votes from 8 precincts missing — Republican front-runner Mitt Romney's narrow lead in the Iowa caucuses disappeared when officials certified the vote count, a Republican involved in the process said Thursday …
Discussion:
IowaGOP, The Political Carnival, Weasel Zippers, The Lonely Conservative and National Review

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:
CNN, The Reaction and Big Journalism

Cop Out for the Ages!! — The Republican party of Iowa …
Discussion:
Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Balloon Juice, Outside the Beltway, National Review, Washington Post and The Mahablog

Exclusive: 100 tea party leaders to announce support for Newt
Discussion:
The Political Carnival and nation.foxnews.com


1/19: Romney Leads Gingrich by 10 Points in South Carolina; 5 Points Post-Debate
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, Washington Wire, Political Insider and Ballot Box

Rick Perry ends presidential candidacy, endorses Newt Gingrich
Discussion:
Alan Colmes' Liberaland, The New Republic and msnbc.com

Rick Perry to quit presidential race
Discussion:
American Prospect, Wonkette and FP Passport

Gingrich Camp Responds to Ex-Wife's Interview
Discussion:
Media Decoder, Pat Dollard and Connecting.the.Dots

Playbook: 'Obama's world'
Discussion:
Lynn Sweet, The Boston Globe and Weasel Zippers

Gingrich: Decision to air interview with ex-wife ‘simply wrong’
Discussion:
Ballot Box and Hot Air

Certified Iowa results give Santorum win
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, Ballot Box, Lynn Sweet and Washington Post, more at Mediagazer »

Where are the Republican populists?
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, Prairie Weather, Fast Money and ThinkProgress

Santorum says the only woman he's ever sat on a couch with is his wife
Discussion:
New York Magazine and Indecision Forever

Bain gives more to Dems than GOP — Democrats have accepted more political donations than Republicans from executives at Bain Capital, complicating the left's plan to attack Mitt Romney for his record at the private equity firm. — During the last three election cycles …
Discussion:
Don Surber, National Review and Weasel Zippers
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Axelrod to head politics institute at University of Chicago — Obama chief strategist David Axelrod is spearheading a new Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago. — Axelrod announced the new institute at his alma mater on Wednesday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Discussion:
CNN
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Axelrod Going to Academia After 2012 Election
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Hotline On Call


Hedge Funds May Sue Greece if It Tries to Force Loss — LONDON — Hedge funds have been known to use hardball tactics to make money. Now they have come up with a new one: suing Greece in a human rights court to make good on its bond payments. — The novel approach would have the funds arguing …
Discussion:
TalkLeft, Balloon Juice, Felix Salmon and Guardian


Newt Gingrich: I would ignore supreme court as president — Republican presidential candidate would order military to defy judges' ruling extending legal rights to terror suspects — Newt Gingrich has pledged that on his first day as president he will set up a constitutional showdown …
Discussion:
Balloon Juice, Alan Colmes' Liberaland and The Raw Story


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.

Dems propose ‘Reasonable Profits Board’ to regulate oil company profits — Six House Democrats led by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) want to set up a “Reasonable Profits Board” to control gas profits. — The Democrats, worried about higher gas prices, want to set up a board that would apply a …
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers

Jobless benefits claims plunge to lowest level in nearly four years — Initial claims for jobless benefits plummeted by 50,000 to their lowest level in nearly four years, a positive sign the job market may be gaining strength. — The Labor Department reported Thursday that first-time claims …
Discussion:
CNN