memeorandum: Gingrich faces rough February (Cameron Joseph/Ballot Box)

6:55 AM ET, February 2, 2012

Top Items:

Erick Erickson / Erick's blog:

The National Review's Candidate Won't Stop Digging — It is days like today that make me thankful I think they all suck. At least I'm thankful I'm in the firmly not Romney camp. — Having told us only Romney was viable (with half-nods to Huntsman and Santorum) and having trotted …

Discussion: The Daily Caller, The Daily Beast, Riehl World View, CNN, The Moderate Voice, The Right Scoop, ThinkProgress, National Review and New York Magazine

Jonah Goldberg / National Review:

What is Wrong With This Guy? — Congratulations to Mitt Romney for his big win last night. It was a win that, Romney supporters hoped, would help bury concerns about his ability to seal the deal to do what it takes. But I'm not so sure. If you're a straight-laced grown-up with money to burn …

Discussion: Ross Douthat, Business Insider, Washington Post, Hot Air, The Week, RedState, ABCNEWS, Pundit & Pundette, Little Green Footballs, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion and Political Insider

A.Killough / CNN:
Romney blasts Panetta after Afghanistan announcement

Discussion: The Politico

Jennifer Rubin / Washington Post:
Romney on the safety net; anti-Romney media still unhinged

Discussion: The New Republic, Daily Pundit, American Power, Instapundit and Weekly Standard

Kevinliptak / CNN:
Romney says ‘poor’ comment needs context

Discussion: The Caucus, The Maddow Blog, The Reid Report, Michelle Malkin, The Politico, RedState, Erick's blog and The Reality-Based Community

Elisabeth Bumiller / New York Times:
Panetta Sets End to Afghan Combat Role for U.S. in '13

Discussion: Washington Post, Bloomberg, USCatholic.org, Business Insider, Outside the Beltway, Daily Kos, Danger Room and American Power

Greg Sargent / Washington Post:
Romney: Context for me, but not for thee

Discussion: Firedoglake, ABCNEWS, Daily Pundit, The Loyal Opposition, The Caucus and Business Insider

seattlepi.com:
Romney supports automatic hikes in minimum wage

Discussion: The Hill, Hot Air, Whiskey Fire and Riehl World View

Mackenzie Weinger / The Politico:
Mitt Romney: 'I'm not concerned about the very poor'

Discussion: The Huffington Post

KLAS-TV 8 News Now:

BREAKING NEWS: Trump to Endorse Newt Gingrich Tomorrow — LAS VEGAS — An advisor to Donald Trump says he will make a major announcement in Las Vegas tomorrow. Sources tell the 8 News NOW I-Team Trump will endorse Newt Gingrich. — According to Trump advisor Michael Cohen …

Discussion: Washington Wire, The Gateway Pundit, Pat Dollard, Michelle Malkin, Sister Toldjah, CNN, Alan Colmes' Liberaland and HotAirPundit

Maggie Haberman / The Politico:

Sources: Trump to endorse Newt — Word started leaking out in Las Vegas earlier that Donald Trump's “major announcement” is to back Newt Gingrich, and sources are confirming it to POLITICO. — The announcement is expected to come at an 11:30 a.m. press conference tomorrow that The Donald is holding.

Discussion: The Right Scoop, All American Blogger, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Balloon Juice and Liberal Values

Cameron Joseph / Ballot Box:

Gingrich faces rough February — A tough electoral map, a lack of momentum and the scarcity of free media opportunities will likely have Newt Gingrich struggling through February in order to hold on until Super Tuesday in early March. — The former House speaker left Florida badly bruised and short on cash.

Discussion: Politico

Daniel Strauss / The Hill:
Trump to make ‘major announcement’ on presidential race

Discussion: Mediaite

Allahpundit / Hot Air:
Report: Trump to endorse Gingrich tomorrow in Nevada

Discussion: Weasel Zippers, The Politico, THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS and The Daily Caller

Carl Cameron / Fox News:

Florida primary might not be a done deal — TAMPA, Fla. — Florida's primary might not be over just yet. — The Newt Gingrich campaign is gearing up to challenge the results of the Florida Republican presidential primary based on the Republican National Committee's own rules which state …

Discussion: Hot Air, Frontloading HQ, Wake up America and Politics

Lydia Saad / Gallup:

Romney Now Leads Gingrich, 31% to 26% — Santorum in third place, ahead of Paul — PRINCETON, NJ — Mitt Romney has moved ahead of Newt Gingrich in national Republican registered voters' preferences for the 2012 GOP nomination, 31% to 26%, according to Gallup Daily tracking from Jan. 27-31.

Discussion: Washington Wire, Washington Post, CNN, Saint Petersblog and Ballot Box

Michael P. McDonald / The Huffington Post:
They're Just Not That Into You, Mitt

Discussion: The Maddow Blog, Los Angeles Times, Daily Pundit, Balloon Juice, FiveThirtyEight and RADAMISTO

Amy Gardner / Washington Post:
For Romney and Paul, a strategic alliance between establishment and outsider

Discussion: ABCNEWS, New York Times and Prairie Weather

Jonathan Martin / The Politico:
Florida fight rattles GOP leaders

Discussion: New York Times, Daily Kos and US Politics

Ann Coulter:

THREE CHEERS FOR ROMNEYCARE! — If only the Democrats had decided to socialize the food industry or housing, Romneycare would probably still be viewed as a massive triumph for conservative free-market principles — as it was at the time. — It's not as if we had a beautifully functioning free market …

Discussion: Campaign 2012, The Right Scoop, Riehl World View, Mark America, iOwnTheWorld.com, Hot Air, The Gateway Pundit, THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion and Patterico's Pontifications

Laura Bassett / The Huffington Post:

Susan G. Komen Loses Support After Planned Parenthood Decision … Video , Susan G. Komen , Susan G. Komen For The Cure , Komen , Komen For The Cure , Komen Planned Parenthood , Planned Parenthood Breast Exams , Planned Parenthood Susan g Komen , Susan g Koman Planned Parenthood , Susan g Komen Planned Parenthood , Politics News

Discussion: TBogg, Political Mojo, TheDenverChannel.com, The Maddow Blog, Washington Post, Balloon Juice, ThinkProgress, NPR and UrbanGrounds

Pete Kasperowicz / The Hill:
House Dem abandons Susan G. Komen after Planned Parenthood decision

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Jezebel, The Politico, Wizbang and Weasel Zippers

Brian Tashman / Right Wing Watch:
Religious Right Praises Komen for Cutting off Breast Exams at Planned Parenthood but Demands Further Capitulations

Discussion: Daily Kos, CBS News, Firedoglake, Hullabaloo, Jezebel, NY Post, Pharyngula and ThinkProgress

Matthew Boyle / The Daily Caller:

Bribery, compromised officials leave indicted financial-crime suspects free from prosecution under Holder's DOJ — A U.S. Justice Department source has told The Daily Caller that at least two DOJ prosecutors accepted cash bribes from allegedly corrupt finance executives who were indicted …

Discussion: Doug Ross, The Right Scoop, Ricochet Conversations Feed, Patterico's Pontifications and The PJ Tatler

Glenn Reynolds / Instapundit:

NO SEX PLEASE, WE'RE JAPANESE: Japan Population Decline: Third Of Nation's Youth Have ‘No Interest’ In Sex. … There's no future in this. — UPDATE: Reader Jeff Johnson writes: “That statistic is shocking - but what causes people to go against their basic instincts, procreation in this situation?

Discussion: Daily Pundit, Vox Popoli and Althouse

Rod Dreher:

Actually, it won't be 1972 — Noah Millman says George Packer has it wrong, that the GOP is not, in fact, going to have a McGovern moment anytime soon. I think these are good observations: … This is an underappreciated point. Can you find a single significant point on which Romney …

Discussion: Eunomia and The Daily Dish

Shelby Grad / L.A. NOW:

Accused teacher's behavior was reported decades ago, students say — Two former students of a teacher accused of bizarre acts of lewd conduct in his classroom said school officials were informed about his questionable behavior two decades ago. — School officials and Sheriff's Department investigators …

Discussion: ABCNEWS, msnbc.com, Jezebel and Business Insider

Fox News:

Family of murdered Border Patrol agent files $25M claim against ATF — The family of murdered Border Patrol agent Brian Terry has filed a $25 million wrongful death claim against the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives claiming Terry was killed with AK-47s that were knowingly sold under …

Discussion: Nice Deb, americanthinker.com, Fox News Insider and The Gateway Pundit

Igor Volsky / ThinkProgress:

Gay Activists Glitter Bomb Romney, He Calls It ‘Confetti’ To Celebrate Florida Victory — Mitt Romney was “glitter bombed” by an advocate protesting the former governor's flimsy record on equality for gay and lesbian Americans as he took the stage at a campaign event in Eagan, Minnesota this afternoon.

Discussion: ABCNEWS, Gay Star News, The Raw Story, Mediaite and Towleroad News #gay

BuzzFeed:
Watch Mitt Romney's Hair Sparkle After He Is Glittered In Minnesota

Discussion: Politics, GOP 12 and Washington Post

Ryan Jaslow / CBS News:

Sugar should be regulated like alcohol, tobacco, commentary says — (CBS) Should the government regulate sugar, just like it regulates alcohol and tobacco? — A new commentary published online in the Feb. 1 issue of Nature says sugar is just as “toxic” for people as the other two …

Discussion: Hot Air and Guardian

Reuters:

Egypt soccer violence kills 74, fans turn on army — (Reuters) - Seventy-four people were killed when supporters clashed at an Egyptian soccer match, prompting fans and politicians on Thursday to turn on the ruling army for failing to prevent the deadliest incident since Hosni Mubarak was ousted.

Discussion: Big Peace

Zach Carter / The Huffington Post:

‘Gasland’ Journalists Arrested At Hearing By Order Of House Republicans (UPDATES) … House GOP , Environment , Gop , Politics , Republicans , Video , Brad Miller , First Amendment , Josh Fox , Arrest , Documentary , Fracking , Gasland , Hearing , Journalist , Politics News