A slew of new polls are expected to come out of both New Hampshire and South Carolina today. Early reports indicate they will all tell pretty much the same story: Rick Santorum is surging in New Hampshire and South Carolina, but unless Rick Perry and Newt Gingrich drop out, he will not overtake Mitt Romney.
For example, Public Policy Polling reports that in their first night of calls in South Carolina, Mitt Romney is up 10 points on Rick Santorum in South Carolina. Newt Gingrich’s 31% of the vote from late December has apparently all but vanished. But PPP also reports that the race between Romney and Santorum would be much closer if Gingrich and Rick Perry dropped out.
The Washington Examiner‘s Michael Barone speculates today that Rick Perry wants to stay in the race so he doesn’t regret getting out like Tim Pawlenty probably does.
But what about Gingrich? He has made it clear that his new mission in life is to destroy Romney. If this is true, then his best move would be to swallow his pride and get out of the race. Which will he choose? The emotional satisfaction of attacking Romney on the campaign trail everyday, or dropping out and giving Santorum a real shot at defeating Romney.
Campaign 2012
Santorum: The Washington Examiner‘s Susan Ferrechio reports that Rick Santorum’s second-place finish in Iowa has turned formerly small gatherings at Santorum events into overflow crowds. “The polling is looking really good,” Bill Cahill, Santorum’s New Hampshire co-chairman told Ferrechio. “It’s happening. It’s trending upwards.” But The Washington Examiner’s Phil Klein supports that Santorum got booed off the stage of an event filled with college students. But outside of New Hampshire, Santorum has raised $2 million since the Iowa caucuses, and plans a major ad buy in South Carolina.
Huntsman: The Boston Globe endorsed Jon Huntsman today, writing: “With a strong record as governor of Utah and US ambassador to China, arguably the most important overseas diplomatic post, Huntsman’s credentials match those of anyone in the field. He would be the best candidate to seize this moment in GOP history, and the best-prepared to be president.”
National: Republican Governor’s Association Chairman Bob McDonnell, R-Va., outraised his Democratic rival, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, $44 million to $20 million in 2011. The RGA now has $26.6 million on hand compared to the DGA’s $12.2 million.
Around the Bigs
Associated Press, GM to call back 8,000 Chevy Volts: General Motors is recalling all 8,000 Chevy Volts it sold in the United States, after three Volt batteries caught fire following crash tests done by federal safety regulators.
Atlanta Journal Constitution, Georgia ethanol plant sold, at taxpayers’ loss: In yet another failure for President Obama’s green jobs program, a wood-to-ethanol factory in southeastern Georgia was sold for pennies on the dollar yesterday, guaranteeing that U.S. taxpayers will not see most of their $64 million investment back.
The Washington Examiner, Defense chief admits there is ‘some risk’ to slashing military: Defense Secretary Leon Panetta admitted that President Obama’s draconian defense cuts expose the U.S. to “acceptable risk,” over the next decade.
Politico, SCOTUS expected to weigh Montana campaign finance appeal: A Montana state Supreme Court decision upholding a state law regulating corporate speech has been appealed to the Supreme Court.
The New York Times, In Act of Defiance, Democrat Stalls Obama Choice for Court: Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey is holding up President Obama’s nomination of a judge to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, reportedly because the nominee has been in a relationship for more than two decades with the head federal prosecutor of the public corruption unit in New Jersey that investigated Menendez.
The Los Angeles Times, Obama rule would let undocumented stay in U.S. during application: The Department of Homeland Security will announce a proposed new regulation Friday, that would allow illegal immigrants to remain in America indefinitely as long as they also apply for legal status.
The Washington Examiner, D.C. Councilman Harry Thomas Jr. resigns, will plead guilty: D.C. Councilman Harry Thomas Jr. resigned Thursday night, and said he would plead guilty to charges of stealing $365,000 from federal grants meant for youth baseball programs.
Righty Playbook
RedState‘s Erick Erickson identifies another Santorum vote that should trouble conservatives: he joined former-Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., and only one other Republican, to vote for giving felons the right to vote.
The Heritage Foundation‘s James Sherk looks at what the NLRB will do to business now that Obama has installed three new recess appointments.
AEI’s James Pethokoukis says that the latest White House denial about a possible mortgage bailout only shows that the Obama administration has been considering the option.
Lefty Playbook
ThinkProgress‘ Pat Garofalo notes that while corporate profits are up, corporate income tax revenue is still low.
Talking Points Memo exposes what it describes as Mitt Romney’s “Job Creation Myth.”
The New Republic‘s Jonathan Cohn makes the case that Obama’s new recess appointments are all constitutional.
