Newt expands South Carolina lead  —  Newt Gingrich heads into South Carolina election day as the clear front runner in the state: he's now polling at 37% to 28% for Mitt Romney, 16% for Rick Santorum, and 14% for Ron Paul.  —  Gingrich's lead has actually increased in the wake of his ex-wife's controversial interview with ABC.

America hates Newt Gingrich  —  Unlike Mitt Romney, who occasionally beats President Obama in general election poll match ups, Newt Gingrich trails far behind President Obama in every survey.  But just how bad are Gingrich's unfavorable among the general public compared to Obama and Romney?

Clemson Palmetto Poll finds Gingrich leading, 20% of S.C. voters still uncommitted  —  CLEMSON, S.C. — With polls opening in less than 24 hours for the important South Carolina presidential primary election, the final Palmetto Poll shows Newt Gingrich leading over Mitt Romney in a gritty battle fraught …

Fake CNN email used as dirty trick in South Carolina  —  CNN did not send out the email alert.  —  Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @politicalticker  —  It's not clear how many people received the fake email, though at least two members of the South Carolina GOP Executive Committee …

Newt Gingrich's three marriages mean he might make a strong president — really  —  Former Speaker of the House and Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich was attacked Thursday in an interview on ABC News by his second wife Marianne.  She accused him of beginning an affair …

Santorum now the Iowa winner, officially  —  This statement just landed from the Republican Party of Iowa, just about 20 minutes shy of midnight: … This is a switch from the party's stand yesterday morning, that the results were inconclusive and a winner couldn't be called because of a number …

Romney's National Lead Down to 10 Points  —  Romney 30%, Gingrich 20% in the latest Gallup Daily tracking  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Mitt Romney is a considerably weaker front-runner among Republican registered voters nationally than he was at the beginning of the week.

The Momentum of Ideas  —  During last night's Republican debate, the candidates were asked to name something from the campaign that they would have done differently.  Here was Newt Gingrich's answer: … I have, for my sins, watched Gingrich make his pitch across what feels …

Health plans ordered to cover birth control without co-pays  —  Most healthcare plans will be required to cover birth control without charging co-pays or deductibles starting Aug. 1, the Obama administration announced Friday.  —  The final regulation retains the approach federal health officials proposed …