memeorandum: Romney up in Florida — PPP finds the same thing in its newest … (Tom Jensen/Public Policy Polling)

9:30 AM ET, January 29, 2012

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Romney up in Florida — PPP finds the same thing in its newest Florida poll that all surveys of the state have found in the last few days: strong movement away from Newt Gingrich and toward Mitt Romney. Romney now leads with 40% to 32% for Gingrich, 15% for Rick Santorum, and 9% for Ron Paul.

Discussion: The Politico, msnbc.com, Reuters, Outside the Beltway, FiveThirtyEight and Naked Politics

Josh Lederman / Ballot Box:

As Florida race turns personal, GOP insiders fear for party unity — TAMPA, Fla. —Gingrich and Romney may be headed toward mutually assured destruction, and both are refusing to unilaterally disarm. — TAMPA, Fla. — Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney may be on a path toward mutually assured destruction …

Discussion: Prairie Weather

Nate Silver / FiveThirtyEight:

Consensus of Polls Shows Romney Up in Florida — You can find pretty much every species of poll in Florida right now. — There are traditional polls and automated polls, Internet polls and partisan polls, academic polls and commercial polls. — There are polls where voters checked a box.

Discussion: The Caucus, Examiner, Saint Petersblog and Don Surber

Niall Stanage / Ballot Box:
Gingrich camp confronts visiting Romney surrogates

Discussion: Washington Wire, CNN, The Caucus, The Politico, Hot Air, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion and Hullabaloo

Josh Lederman / Ballot Box:

Santorum's daughter hospitalized — DESOTO, Fla. — Rick Santorum's 3-year old daughter has been hospitalized in Philadelphia, his campaign said Saturday. — “Rick and his wife Karen are admitting their daughter Bella to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia this evening,” Santorum spokesman Hogan Gidley said in a statement.

CNN:

Santorum cancels events after admitting daughter to hospital — (CNN) - Rick Santorum's three-year-old daughter Isabella, who suffers from a chromosomal condition called Trisomy 18, was admitted to a Philadelphia hospital Saturday. — In a statement, Santorum spokesman Hogan Gidley …

Discussion: Crooks and Liars

Philly.com:

Santorum daughter admitted to hospital — The three-year-old daughter of Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum has been admitted to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the candidate has cancelled his Sunday morning campaign events to be at her side.

Discussion: Michelle Malkin, The Right Scoop and Atlas Shrugs

Kevinliptak / CNN:

TRENDING: Herman Cain endorses Gingrich — (CNN) - Former Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain endorsed Newt Gingrich Saturday at an event in West Palm Beach, Florida. — “I hereby officially and enthusiastically endorse Newt Gingrich for president of the United States,” …

Discussion: The Other McCain, The Moderate Voice, Reuters, The Politico and The Political Carnival

The Shark Tank:
Breaking News- Herman Cain To Endorse Newt Gingrich for President

Discussion: The Right Scoop, msnbc.com, Naked Politics and The Gateway Pundit

Associated Press:

Romney would rank among richest presidents ever — WASHINGTON (AP) - Just how rich is Mitt Romney? Add up the wealth of the last eight presidents, from Richard Nixon to Barack Obama. Then double that number. Now you're in Romney territory. — He would be among the richest presidents …

Discussion: Outside the Beltway, The Political Carnival and Saint Petersblog

Josh Lederman / Ballot Box:

NBC, Tom Brokaw ask Romney to take down ad made with news footage — ORLANDO, Fla. — Mitt Romney may have hoped that by featuring former NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw in his new campaign ad, he could lend to his attacks on Newt Gingrich the credence of one of the country's most eminent journalists.

Discussion: Outside the Beltway, iOwnTheWorld.com, Pat Dollard, Firedoglake, Hot Air, Wake up America, CNN and National Review

Maggie Haberman / The Politico:
NBC asks Mitt to remove Brokaw ad

Discussion: Mediaite, Taylor Marsh, Althouse, National Review, Mail Online and CNN

Jeremy W. Peters / The Caucus:
NBC News Asks Romney Campaign to Remove Ad

Discussion: The Political Carnival, more at Mediagazer »

New York Times:

The Calculations That Led Romney to the Warpath — MIAMI — Facing the unthinkable here just seven days ago — a second loss in a row to Newt Gingrich — Mitt Romney's campaign team hatched a two-part plan to win in Florida: make Newt mad and Mitt meaner. — In a call last Sunday morning …

Discussion: Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion

Russell Berman / The Hill:

Obama hosts the Bushes at White House — Former President George H. W. Bush and his son Jeb made an unannounced visit to the White House on Friday, meeting in the Oval Office with President Obama. — The White House released a photo of the meeting via Twitter Friday evening, with the elder Bush shown sitting in a wheelchair.

Maureen Dowd / New York Times:

Tension on the Tarmac — WHAT is it with Barack Obama's penchant for getting in tangles with blond politicians on airport tarmacs? — Usually, tarmacs are for joyous welcomes or teary goodbyes. But No Drama Obama saves his rare tempests for the runway.

Discussion: The Moderate Voice

Gilbert Kreijger / Reuters:

Dutch plan ban on Muslim face veils next year — (Reuters) - The Dutch minority government plans to ban Muslim face veils such as burqas and other forms of clothing that cover the face from next year. — The ban would make the Netherlands, where 1 million out of 17 million people are Muslim …

Discussion: Jihad Watch