memeorandum: Gingrich Camp Responds to Ex-Wife's Interview (The Caucus)

10:10 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

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.

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: Hot Air, ThinkProgress, Guardian, ABCNEWS, Mediaite, The Gateway Pundit, Erick's blog, Campaign 2012, The Political Carnival, Pirate's Cove, Conservatives4Palin, The Lonely Conservative and Daily Kos

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, The Daily Caller, Hit & Run and The Raw Story

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, The Politico, Betsy's Page, Conservatives4Palin, The Lonely Conservative, 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 »

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

Jeff Zeleny / The Caucus:

Perry to End Bid for Presidency — CHARLESTON, S.C. — Gov. Rick Perry of Texas is poised to end his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, according to two Republicans close to Mr. Perry, a decision that comes two days before the South Carolina primary.

Discussion: Washington Monthly, Washington Post and The Moderate Voice

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

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

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

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

Discussion: Washington Wire and Ballot Box

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

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Ballot Box and Washington Post

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

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

E.J. Dionne Jr / Washington Post:
Where are the Republican populists?

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Prairie Weather and Daily Kos

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

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

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

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

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

Discussion: The Caucus, The Stranger … and Washington Post

The Politico:
Anxious Mitt Romney lights into Newt Gingrich

Discussion: CNN

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

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Financial Times, Washington Post 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 »

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

Deborah Netburn / L.A. Times Tech Blog:
Google says 4.5 million people signed anti-SOPA petition today

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

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.

Alexander Bolton / The Hill:

Dems receive more Bain dollars 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 and Weasel Zippers

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

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