|| The Republicans: Romney leads big in Colorado, Minnesota appears to be a toss up. ||
Next for the Republicans…
After double digit wins in both Florida and Nevada, can Mitt Romney make it three in a row? The latest polls say yes he can.
In Colorado Mitt Romney looks primed for another big Western win to match his one in Nevada. He leads with 40% there to 26% for Rick Santorum, 18% for Gingrich, and 12% for Ron Paul.
Colorado Republican Presidential Poll:
- Mitt Romney — 40%
- Rick Santorum — 26%
- Newt Gingrich — 18%
- Ron Paul — 12%
Four in a row may be a little less likely. Minnesota appears to be a real Republican horse race.
Minnesota looks like a toss up with any of the four candidates having some shot at winning. Santorum holds a small edge there with 29% to 27% for Romney, 22% for Gingrich, and 19% for Paul.
Minnesota Republican Presidential Poll:
- Rick Santorum — 29%
- Mitt Romney — 27%
- Newt Gingrich — 22%
- Ron Paul — 19%
These two polls show exactly why, even after a distant third in Florida and last place in Nevada, Rick Santorum is not even thinking about quitting the Republican presidential race. Over the next two contests he can make the argument that he’s the conservative alternative to Mitt Romney, not Newt Gingrich.
Gingrich, for his part, is staying in the race no matter what.
One would expect that the Minnesota poll numbers may move a bit once Mitt Romney’s massive money and negative ad campaign hit the state.
And Ron Paul is still just fishing for the delegates. Even he doesn’t believe he’ll be president.
|| It appears that Donald Trump's endorsement hurt Mitt Romney with Nevada voters. ||
Ouch.
Although Mitt Romney won the Silver State Caucuses going away, Donald Trump’s endorsement wound up hurting more than helping with Nevada voters.
Donald Trump’s endorsement of Mitt Romney may have consumed the news cycle on Thursday, but Nevada Facebook users see the endorsement as a net negative for Romney, according to a Facebook/POLITICO poll.
Forty-one percent of those surveyed said Trump’s endorsement gave them a more negative view of Romney, compared with just 10 percent who said they now view him more positively. Forty-nine percent said the endorsement had no effect.
The results only represent the sentiments of Nevada users on Facebook, not registered voters or likely GOP caucus voters that tend to be more reliable barometers of caucus elections. The Facebook poll, for instance, doesn’t exclude Democrats or independents.
Facebook and POLITICO are running a daily poll to gauge Facebook users’ opinions about the 2012 presidential primaries. The first poll, of South Carolina Facebook users, was released on Jan. 12.
The poll surveyed 1,150 adult Facebook users in Nevada on Friday.
Sure he won Nevada, but at what cost? In the long run both the Trump endorsement and the “poor” soundbite will wind up hurting Mitt Romney more than helping.
|| Amid rumors that he might consider quitting, Gingrich was defiant, "I'm not going to withdraw." ||
Not Going Away.
Amid speculation that he might be ready to end his struggling presidential campaign, Newt Gingrich held a defiant press conference in Nevada last night. “I ‘m not going away.”
“I’m not going to withdraw,” he said. “I’m actually pretty happy with where we are.
“We will go to Tampa.”
Last night’s presser was classic Newt Gingrich. Much like he has done in the debates, Gingrich artfully used his mental judo skills to turn the tough press questions into attacks on the elite media and his chief opponent, Mitt Romney. As he has said before, unless Mitt Romney drops out of the race sooner, Newt Gingrich is going to take the fight all the way to Tampa.
And Gingrich needed to come out and strike this tone. After big defeats in Florida and Nevada, the next few races may be even tougher for the former Speaker. He’ll be struggling for third place rather than second. Gingrich needed to assure voters and supporters that he is in this thing for the long haul.
|| The judge ruled Obama "became a citizen at birth and is a natural-born citizen." ||
Birther Bummer.
Even though President Obama has released his long form birth certificate, some have continued to question his citizenship. But a Georgia judge dealt the birther movement a major blow this weekend, officially ruling that Barack Obama is a “natural-born citizen.”
President Barack Obama’s name will remain on the Georgia primary ballot after a state law judge flatly rejected legal challenges that contend he can not be a candidate.
In a 10-page order, Judge Michael Malihi dismissed one challenge that contended Obama has a computer-generated Hawaiian birth certificate, a fraudulent Social Security number and invalid U.S. identification papers. He also turned back another that claimed the president is ineligible to be a candidate because his father was not a U.S. citizen at the time of Obama’s birth.
The findings by Malihi, a judge for the State Office of Administrative Hearings, go to Secretary of State Brian Kemp, who will make the final determination. Last month, at a hearing boycotted by Obama’s lawyer, Malihi considered complaints brought by members of the so-called “birther” movement.
With regard to the challenge that Obama does not have legitimate birth and identification papers, Malihi said he found the evidence “unsatisfactory” and “insufficient to support plaintiffs’ allegations.”
A number of the witnesses who testified about the alleged fraud were never qualified as experts in birth records, forged documents and document manipulation and “none … provided persuasive testimony,” Malihi wrote.
Addressing the other claim that contends Obama cannot be a candidate because his father was never a U.S. citizen, Malihi said he was persuaded by a 2009 ruling by the Indiana Court of Appeals decision that struck down a similar challenge. In that ruling, the Indiana court found that children born within the U.S. are natural-born citizens, regardless of the citizenry of their parents.
The final ruling:
Obama “became a citizen at birth and is a natural-born citizen,” Malihi wrote. Accordingly, Obama is eligible as a candidate for the upcoming presidential primary in March, the judge said.
Will Judge Malihi’s decision finally put the birther question to rest? Probably not. But it looks like President Obama will be on the ballot in all 50 states.
|| With 70% of the vote in Mitt Romney has a decisive 15 point lead in Nevada. ||
US News:
Romney Wins Nevada GOP Caucuses by 15 points. Gingrich 2nd, Ron Paul takes 3rd.
Breaking From Past Years’ Big Parties, Obamas Plan Low-Key Super Bowl Sunday.
75% of Democrats Believe Patriots Will Win Superbowl. Republicans Favor Giants.
More flag burning. ‘Occupy’ Protesters March Through Oakland Streets.
2 Florida cruise ships riddled with norovirus. More than 200 people sick.
World News:
The slaughter continues. Russia, China Veto UN Resolution on Syria.
Protesters attack 7 Syrian embassies around world. Set the embassy in Cairo on fire.
9 killed, 19 wounded as Car bomb explodes in the Afghan city of Kandahar.
Sports News:
Packers QB Aaron Rodgers named NFL MVP. Terrell Suggs wins defensive player of the year.
Hall of Fame 2012: Dermotti Dawson, Curtis Martin. Also Doleman, Kennedy and Roaf.
Entertainment News:
“Addictive personality.” Daniel Radcliffe admits being drunk during ‘Harry Potter’ scenes.
L.A. Reid Signs On for Season Two of The X Factor. Only judge Simon Cowell brings back.
“Individualized addiction treatment.” Demi Moore Checks Into Utah Rehab Center.
|| Demi Moore has been checked into a Utah detox center. ||
“For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.”
|| Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers won the 2012 NFL MVP award. ||
“I know that you can do all things;
no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”
|| It's Super Bowl Sunday, who are you cheering for? ||
