Subject: POLITICO’s Morning Score: Consensus that Santorum lost debate--McCaskill's new ad--Rove says brokered convention won't happen--Romney raising less from small donors than in 2008--6 new polls--RNC hits Obama on gas prices
From: "Morning Score" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 23 Feb 2012 07:09:22 -0600

By James Hohmann (
mailto:[email-masked] 
[email-masked] ; Twitter: @jameshohmann)

SANTORUM LOST - There's consensus across the mainstream and conservative media that Santorum performed poorly in last night's debate. The question is how much he damaged himself going into next Tuesday's contests in Arizona and Michigan.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING -

NATIONAL REVIEW editor Rich Lowry:"Rick Santorum's night was defined by explaining why he voted for things he opposed (NCLB, Title X). He's right that politics is a 'team sport' (at least most of the time), but that's not the best posture to be defending when you're occupying his slot in a Republican presidential primary. He didn't know when to let go on the earmark discussion, which he couldn't possibly win. He gave the best possible defense of his Specter endorsement, but as Romney said it was convoluted. Again and again Santorum got tangled up in his Senate record. Overall, he was too defensive, too insider, too complicated. Per usual, Romney came loaded to bear with oppo and was deft
 enough to use it effectively, catching Santorum, for instance, apparently having it both ways on Title X."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=806144c70d4410be8982036e990edd955900b77fe57b119984620956346318ca 
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POLITICO's Maggie Haberman:"The former Pennsylvania senator, who has been an agile debater with a surprising ability to take the fight to Romney in past debates, seemed nervous, tired and uncomfortable at the outset."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=806144c70d4410be8d495ac19ef28ce0dae4c0d21e6b93dcb2866ab6d1941951 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=806144c70d4410be8d495ac19ef28ce0dae4c0d21e6b93dcb2866ab6d1941951 

THE ATLANTIC's Molly Ball:"That was not the debate Rick Santorum needed. In what may have been the last debate of the Republican primary, it&#39;s a win for Romney -- anda major missed opportunity for Santorum."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=806144c70d4410be72a9f2fa11da37e6bf06385c1a36e971957a2fc5d223498a 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=806144c70d4410be72a9f2fa11da37e6bf06385c1a36e971957a2fc5d223498a 

SLATE's John Dickerson:"Santorum used to complain about being left out of debates. He was in the center of this one and he missed his moment to shine. He fared better when he was on the periphery, jockeying for position and demanding attention. He was in a defensive crouch for much of tonight's debate, fending off attacks on his tenure in Washington and his conservative credentials.Depending on how voters process the debate, it was either a middling night for Santorum or a bad one."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=806144c70d4410be7ddfa1dc15d6bdf926d0ef55be093c88ad4650e39db5c59b 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=806144c70d4410be7ddfa1dc15d6bdf926d0ef55be093c88ad4650e39db5c59b 

BUZZFEED's Zeke Miller:"Romney won by not losing."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=806144c70d4410be33f97976bc019edadafae53d0a32dc361f12d23ee65871a4 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=806144c70d4410be33f97976bc019edadafae53d0a32dc361f12d23ee65871a4 

MARK HALPERIN's report card:Romney, B-; Gingrich, C+; Paul, C-; Santorum, D+.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=806144c70d4410bef62117e3c807f4afab1387a65f487c18187b1d64006c8eb6 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=806144c70d4410bef62117e3c807f4afab1387a65f487c18187b1d64006c8eb6 

ABC's Amy Walter:"Maybe it was the fact that the candidates were forced to sit in an odd, uncomfortable configuration. Or, maybe it was that after twenty of these debates, these four candidates are just really tired of the routine. Or, maybe it was the Arizona sun that sapped the candidates of the energy and verve they have shown in previous debates. Whatever it was, this final - maybe - GOP primary debate was not a particularly strong one for any candidate. It generated a lot of light, but very little heat. And, it did produceONE SURE LOSER: Rick Santorum." Amy's winners: Romney, Gingrich, Obama, Phoenix. Her losers: Santorum, Jan Brewer (whose endorsement won't matter).
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=806144c70d4410be223c36db0cc3199d7316482666000ef54988c8d8a280487e 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=806144c70d4410be223c36db0cc3199d7316482666000ef54988c8d8a280487e 

CBS's Brian Montopoli:Santorum is the only candidate he put in his losers category.He puts Romney, Gingrich, Paul and Obama in the winners' category.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=806144c70d4410becd074c7bcbcc42327b03b8bf3aba6dd9af569b14ea579ca9 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=806144c70d4410becd074c7bcbcc42327b03b8bf3aba6dd9af569b14ea579ca9 

CHRISTIAN BROADCASTING NETWORK's David Brodydoesn't think it was as bad as others:"Considering he had to deal with a fiscal tag team between Mitt Romney and Ron Paul, he got out of there withjust a few scratches. It was refreshing to see Santorum stay principled on the question of earmarks...Santorum did strike gold when he weaved his pro-family message into his answer about birth control. Very effective and should play very well with Michigan's social conservatives."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8d11a6cee7e5fd74635acd5104d83e420faaa2f1d12a41fd4aa8932c02c41fb9 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8d11a6cee7e5fd74635acd5104d83e420faaa2f1d12a41fd4aa8932c02c41fb9 

TOP SOCIAL CONSERVATIVE Maggie Gallagher:"No knockouts, no train wrecks. Good Newt was back! Mitt Romney hung tough. Rick Santorum spent too much time defending himself and his record, which inevitably makes you look and sound defensive.We need Iowa Rick back on the stage. Ron Paul seems to be having an awfully good time, given how bleak his view of the country is."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8d11a6cee7e5fd74445cd8258f5753be4c1a8ebddabd9679d0d52c59bbb07426 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8d11a6cee7e5fd74445cd8258f5753be4c1a8ebddabd9679d0d52c59bbb07426 

HOW IT'S PLAYING-

WALL STREET JOURNAL:"SantorumDRAWS FIREin fight for GOP lead."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8d11a6cee7e5fd74864abbac1a1a0b06bfe6515e376be283a8b05873471a54d4 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8d11a6cee7e5fd74864abbac1a1a0b06bfe6515e376be283a8b05873471a54d4 

USA TODAY:"SantorumGETS HIT from all sides in debate."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8d11a6cee7e5fd74a20993a172478eac0b80d1cd3206c9eeeeb46fc03312f281 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8d11a6cee7e5fd74a20993a172478eac0b80d1cd3206c9eeeeb46fc03312f281 

WASHINGTON POST:"Romney and PaulSUCCESSFULLYCALL Santorum's conservatism INTO QUESTION."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8d11a6cee7e5fd74d3153adb3e43eb65a310cc1c73c8164c285fdcd40a2b4e20 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8d11a6cee7e5fd74d3153adb3e43eb65a310cc1c73c8164c285fdcd40a2b4e20 

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS:"GOP rivalsSLAM Santorum as Paul labels him a fake."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8d11a6cee7e5fd74051d0d3debb87080fb54212b6ee1b8854c0d6fc3fd263fe6 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8d11a6cee7e5fd74051d0d3debb87080fb54212b6ee1b8854c0d6fc3fd263fe6 

DRUDGE:"Still Standing" is the banner headline under a photo that looks a lot likeRomney flexing his muscles. It links to a CNN story, headlined "Romney jabs at Santorum's record." CNN:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8d11a6cee7e5fd7457be9fbf2b3f3ce112d5f712c9d2f0bf8c000d9d585ce2cb 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8d11a6cee7e5fd7457be9fbf2b3f3ce112d5f712c9d2f0bf8c000d9d585ce2cb . Seven items about the debate are linked above the picture, including "Santorum BOOED by audience" (
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8d11a6cee7e5fd74123445a4d16fcaf990d4462bdb28bb746660112ec0c93d7d 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8d11a6cee7e5fd74123445a4d16fcaf990d4462bdb28bb746660112ec0c93d7d ) and "Mitt to Rick: 'Four years ago, you endorsed me...said really conservative, can trust him'"(
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8d11a6cee7e5fd744a10ea730a77bfa93cff4e29e10411a43cb4f7153581460f 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8d11a6cee7e5fd744a10ea730a77bfa93cff4e29e10411a43cb4f7153581460f ). Drudge homepage:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8d11a6cee7e5fd74a94d4c1cf09b25eac47b3f9540c6aa5a0808fd6cb06aa8c4 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=8d11a6cee7e5fd74a94d4c1cf09b25eac47b3f9540c6aa5a0808fd6cb06aa8c4 .

REUTERS:"RomneyCLAWING HIS WAY back."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=61c4264b063adfefbeca005890d747a63035ea1211d2c54ffdaf1be805b082d0 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=61c4264b063adfefbeca005890d747a63035ea1211d2c54ffdaf1be805b082d0 

NEW YORK TIMES:"Romney, seeking traction, duels with Santorum."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=61c4264b063adfefc9004db799f83512184cb58857580aceb70d7e93c81062c2 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=61c4264b063adfefc9004db799f83512184cb58857580aceb70d7e93c81062c2 

POLITICO:Romney and SantorumGET PERSONAL in Arizona.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=61c4264b063adfefcff7b64ded62780549742cc0977af21961f45690ee9d4f46 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=61c4264b063adfefcff7b64ded62780549742cc0977af21961f45690ee9d4f46 

LOS ANGELES TIMESlead:"Days before a pair of crucial primaries, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum clashed Wednesday night in a testy debate that MAGNIFIED SMALL DIFFERENCES and underscored the big stakes in their neck-and-neck presidential fight."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=61c4264b063adfef785dec655eddb1c6a423f569fd14c6a472e7f5c1803af5b0 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=61c4264b063adfef785dec655eddb1c6a423f569fd14c6a472e7f5c1803af5b0 

GAME CLOCK - SANTORUM GOT 3.5 MINUTES MORE CAMERA TIME THAN ROMNEY:A University of Minnesota Smart Politics analysis of the Republican debate finds Santorum got 25 minutes, 15 seconds of speaking time, or 30.8 percent of all the time afforded to the candidates. Next up was Romney with 21:53 (26.7%), Gingrich at 16:57 (20.7%), and Paul at 15:26 (18.8%).
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=61c4264b063adfef30359b324acd1e5dbe2e21399f620e03db978b47b4f3e74e 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=61c4264b063adfef30359b324acd1e5dbe2e21399f620e03db978b47b4f3e74e 

OOPS - SANTORUM MADE ZERO MENTION OF JOBS:"In total, the four GOP contenders mentioned the word "jobs" only 10 times over the span of two hours - and former senator Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) uttered the word a grand total of zero times," Felicia Sonmez notes.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=61c4264b063adfefd6119154cf0a1173a92cd2f5653d278ca63b93b939c23b04 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=61c4264b063adfefd6119154cf0a1173a92cd2f5653d278ca63b93b939c23b04 

SANTORUM SUGGESTS COORDINATION - A ROMNEY-PAUL ALLIANCE?:'You have to ask Congressman Paul and Governor Romney what they&#39;ve got going together,' Santorum told reporters in the spin room in Mesa, Arizona. 'Their commercials look a lot alike and so do their attacks.' Toby Harnden writes on his blog for The Daily Mail that "Santorum&#39;s top strategist John Brabender went even further, charging that the two men had 'joined forces' and were coordinating attacks against his man. 'Clearly there&#39;s a tag team strategy between Ron Paul and Mitt Romney.For all I know, Mitt Romney might be considering Ron Paul as his running mate. Clearly there is now an alliance between those two and you saw
 that certainly in the debate...It was interesting to me that if you watch Ron Paul when he came into the debate, he wrote negative things about Rick Santorum down because when he started to get questions he would immediately pick up his paper and start mentioning Santorum stuff." Stuart Stevens, Romney&#39;s chief strategist, called this "whiney silliness." This comes after Rand Paul said earlier yesterday that "it would be an honor" if Romney asked him to be his running mate:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=61c4264b063adfef673e143208efb269c06af9068606855eeba6dfbb2429ed8d 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=61c4264b063adfef673e143208efb269c06af9068606855eeba6dfbb2429ed8d . Toby's dispatch from the spin room:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=61c4264b063adfef5fb4f769b4e71e382f64a6524e23bfb5abb0e7f3c7c644d9 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=61c4264b063adfef5fb4f769b4e71e382f64a6524e23bfb5abb0e7f3c7c644d9 

IN A WORD: Each candidate described himself in one word. Paul: Consistent. Santorum: Courage. Romney: Resolute. Gingrich: Cheerful.

FACT CHECKS:The New York Times checked 12 different statements made during the debate:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=61c4264b063adfef0faf80363e70da891ec031b33f4349f3fa4b03d625030f64 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=61c4264b063adfef0faf80363e70da891ec031b33f4349f3fa4b03d625030f64 .

A KEY MOMENT - ROMNEY, SANTORUM BLAME EACH OTHER FOR OBAMACARE:"Romney and Santorum&#39;ssharpest exchange was on Obama&#39;s health care plan," per the Associated Press. "Santorum said Romney used government money to 'fund a federal takeover of healthcare in Massachusetts' ...Santorum said that law was a precursor to a federal overhaul by Obama and said Romney&#39;s plan was used as the basis for Obama&#39;s federal law mandating people have insurance. Romney, in turn, said Santorum shared some of the blame for Obama&#39;s plan - even though Santorum wasn&#39;t in office at the time the law was passed in 2010. Romney said that Santorum&#39;s support in a 2004 primary battle for then-Sen.
 Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania helped ensure his re-election. Specter eventually voted for Obama&#39;s health care law."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=61c4264b063adfef556176e066f0d8e1b5b51ecc5a05907c6af0f97a23478124 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=61c4264b063adfef556176e066f0d8e1b5b51ecc5a05907c6af0f97a23478124 

FROM THE INBOX:"Club for Growth PAC: Santorum's endorsement of Specter DID give Obamacare its 60th vote."

NOTABLE-The Washington Examiner's BYRON YORK:"After all the recent controversy, who would have bet that the topic of contraception would not come up until well into the debate, that Santorum would answer it with restraint and grace, and that Romney would immediately adopt Santorum&#39;s position as his own? It wasn&#39;t at all likely, but it happened. And it was one of the best moments in a debate that had very few really good moments."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2c7b7609483154a68900c75e4e34c44ce15f9fc20ddf750a2bd93818b46df248 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2c7b7609483154a68900c75e4e34c44ce15f9fc20ddf750a2bd93818b46df248 

GINGRICH DID NOT HAVE A BREAKTHROUGH MOMENT: The Daily Beast headlineis"Gingrich rolls over, plays dead." Michelle Cottle: "One truth emerged from the 20th Republican gabfest:Gingrich has pretty much thrown in the towel."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2c7b7609483154a6ff5aba7abb601b511d2d18480bb5d7f3285742f4eac5a397 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2c7b7609483154a6ff5aba7abb601b511d2d18480bb5d7f3285742f4eac5a397 

POLITICO's Ginger Gibson argues that he did way better than the last two debates in Florida:"Gingrich didn't have a game-changing moment in Wednesday night's Arizona debate," she writes. "BUT the former House speaker's newest approach to the Republican presidential race - staying above the fray, avoiding attacks and focusing on the issues - proved to be a winner for him anyway."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2c7b7609483154a6bd7ae3092450ebfcdf65b766080d3886637eb0e162b01573 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2c7b7609483154a6bd7ae3092450ebfcdf65b766080d3886637eb0e162b01573 

COULD THE GOP BE THE BIGGEST LOSER?"The phenomenon of a party talking to itself - rather than reaching out to new voters - was on sharp display at a candidates debate here Wednesday night marked by nearly two hours of peevish and often confusing exchanges between [Romney and Santorum]," Jonathan Martin, John Harris and Alex Burns. "Even before the debate, an array of prominent Republicans, in interviews with POLITICO, were pleading for the candidates to pay attention to the appearance of tone-deafness and do more to show they desire - and can deliver - a more inclusive and forward-looking party." VOICES from Bobby Jindal, Eric Cantor, Ed Gillespie, Charlie Black, Karl Rove, Sara Fagen, Jon
 Huntsman and Mike Leavitt:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2c7b7609483154a6223d39188c8c0fa7a6ee45b8f943cad25d7821ddac6378b8 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2c7b7609483154a6223d39188c8c0fa7a6ee45b8f943cad25d7821ddac6378b8 .

** As McDonnell backs off, Pelosi goes on Colbert and McCaskill puts an ad on TV, here's POLITICO's Morning Score: your daily guide to the permanent campaign.

NEW AD - SANTORUM QUIETLY GOES NEGATIVE IN MICHIGAN:Rick Santorum's campaign (not his Super PAC) is up with an attack ad that has not released to the press. It goes after Romney on abortion, gun rights and earmarks. Quotes in white text appear on a black screen. Among them: "I don't line up with the National Rifle Association" and "I will preserve and protect a woman's right to choose." An operative tracking the air war gave it to Alex Burns:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2c7b7609483154a6683ab03be33c489f61b8e5fe21a4f23ac9c293747ecfbcb0 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2c7b7609483154a6683ab03be33c489f61b8e5fe21a4f23ac9c293747ecfbcb0 .

GEORGE WILL - SANTORUM AND ROMNEY ARE MISCAST AS CANDIDATES:"Instead of keeping his Rust Belt focus on his blue-collar roots and economic program for reviving manufacturing, [Santorum] has opened multiple fronts in the culture wars," George Will writes in his column for today's Washington Post. "But in doing soSantorum has made his Catholicism more central and problematic in this nomination contest than Romney's Mormonismhas been...Romney is right about the futility of many current policies, but being offended by irrationality is insufficient. Santorum is right to be alarmed by many cultural trends but implies that religion must be the nexus between politics and cultural reform. Romney is
 not attracting people who want rationality leavened by romance. Santorum is repelling people who want politics unmediated by theology.Neither Romney nor Santorum looks like a formidable candidate for November."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2c7b7609483154a6a1afd5273623a351eb0b3dc3d8455589848106d14cff55de 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2c7b7609483154a6a1afd5273623a351eb0b3dc3d8455589848106d14cff55de 

REALITY CHECK - KARL ROVE SAYS BROKERED CONVENTION WON'T HAPPEN:"The odds are greater that there&#39;s life on Pluto than that the GOP has a brokered convention. And while there&#39;s a better chance of a contested convention, it&#39;s still highly unlikely," Rove writes in his Wall Street Journal column today. "Consider the calendar and the math. After Super Tuesday on March 6, a new candidate could still file for the Nebraska beauty contest, the Minnesota caucuses, and the primaries in New Mexico, California, Utah, South Dakota, New Jersey and Texas. Those eight contests have 519 delegates at stake: 238 awarded winner-takes-all, 241 split proportionally and 40 unpledged. If a new
 candidate gets all the winner-takes-all delegates (unlikely since 222 in California and New Jersey are awarded by congressional district, not statewide), plus half those awarded proportionally, he still would have just 378 delegates of the 1,144 needed for nomination. At least two current candidates are likely to have far more. Why would they step aside for a newcomer? Meanwhile, a brokered convention needs party bosses, and today there aren&#39;t any."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2c7b7609483154a61e9bc14a7353c65d658e2e6b6ecee92fd9f73803d1f3ca31 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2c7b7609483154a61e9bc14a7353c65d658e2e6b6ecee92fd9f73803d1f3ca31 

RICK PERRY WAS IN THE SPIN ROOM:CNN reports that the Texas governor said he does not see a problem with a contested convention and that none of the remaining Republican candidates may get enough votes to win the party&#39;s nomination outright. "I think the Republican primary voters and the American people are just interested in solutions for what face this country," Perry said. "The process of how we get there and the process of how we choose this person is substantially less of concern to the American people." He also said he's at peace with dropping out: "I'm comfortable. I'm at the right place."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2c7b7609483154a6318904745f030baad014fc57eb313b556fe7a7020f858216 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2c7b7609483154a6318904745f030baad014fc57eb313b556fe7a7020f858216 

ROMNEY OUTLINES TAX PLAN WITH OP-ED IN TODAY'S WALL STREET JOURNAL:"First, I will make an across-the-board, 20% reduction in marginal individual income tax rates... Second, I will reduce the corporate tax rate to 25% from 35%, transition from a world-wide taxation system to a territorial one, and make the R&D tax credit permanent... Third, I will promote savings and investment by maintaining the low 15% rate on capital gains, interest and qualified dividends, and eliminate the tax entirely for those with annual income below $200,000... Fourth, I will take long overdue steps to correct failures in the tax code. I will abolish the death tax, whose primary effect today is to foster elaborate
 schemes for transferring wealth. I will also repeal the Alternative Minimum Tax... Fifth, I will bring stability to the tax code by making these changes permanent." WSJ:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2c7b7609483154a69a679e4906abcda106593787f460c1723b6d5140b417ca4c 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2c7b7609483154a69a679e4906abcda106593787f460c1723b6d5140b417ca4c .

Here's a FACT SHEET circulated by the campaign yesterday on the contours of Romney's more ambitious plan:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2c7b7609483154a6c465c9481945e9f9e27253fb176a892ebdb13059cd148ac6 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=2c7b7609483154a6c465c9481945e9f9e27253fb176a892ebdb13059cd148ac6 .The Washington Post's Phil Rucker frames the plan vis-a-vis the corporate tax plan rolled out by Obama yesterday:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3481ac43549311c8c0caf6c05b2b0566741e3419af892faf72809731e972b53e 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3481ac43549311c8c0caf6c05b2b0566741e3419af892faf72809731e972b53e .

ROMNEY'S NEW SLOGAN, rolled out yesterday:"Restore America&#39;s Promise: More Jobs, Less Debt, Smaller Government."

REACTION - THE COMMITTEE FOR A RESPONSIBLE BUDGET PROJECT, a centrist good-government group,is publishing a report this morning that will projectRomney's new tax plan wouldincrease the debt $250 billion through 2021. A full report on ALL the candidates' plans (with an addendum on the new Romney proposal based on what's known) is available here:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3481ac43549311c8b28822e57c0012ed6fb2d8a237427ca40357521c680e8105 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3481ac43549311c8b28822e57c0012ed6fb2d8a237427ca40357521c680e8105 .

ROMNEY CHAIRED MARRIOTT AUDIT COMMITTEE AS IT USED TAX SHELTER:"During Romney's tenure as a Marriott director, the company repeatedly utilized complex tax-avoidance maneuvers, prompting at least two tangles with the Internal Revenue Service, records show," per Bloomberg's Jesse Drucker. "In 1994, while he headed the audit committee, Marriott used a tax shelter known to attorneys by its nickname: 'Son of BOSS.' A federal appeals court invalidated the maneuver in a 2009 ruling, siding with the U.S. Department of Justice, which called Marriott's transaction and attempted tax benefits 'fictitious,' 'artificial,' 'spectral,' an 'illusion' and a 'scheme.' Marriott had argued the plan predated
 government efforts to close such shelters. Employing another strategy, Marriott legally avoided hundreds of millions of dollars in income taxes thanks to a federal tax-credit program criticized and allowed to expire by Congress. Marriott has also shifted profits to a Luxembourg shell company. During Romney's years on the board, Marriott's effective tax rate dipped as low as 6.8 percent, compared with the federal corporate statutory rate of 35 percent."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3481ac43549311c8af12a261970836079d2fb12815cb8482dceb68e247965811 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3481ac43549311c8af12a261970836079d2fb12815cb8482dceb68e247965811 

HE'S HADNO PRESS CONFERENCE IN TWO WEEKS:"Romney last held a press conference in Atlanta on Feb. 8, and has not done so again since," ABC's Emily Friedman notes. "In contrast, Sen. Rick Santorum held press conferences on Feb. 9, 15 and 18. Newt Gingrich has held four press conferences since Feb. 13."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3481ac43549311c8169de80bee2137eb3110bbad34f797024c63d17d27107912 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3481ac43549311c8169de80bee2137eb3110bbad34f797024c63d17d27107912 

HE'S UNDERPERFORMING WITH SMALL DONORS:"Paul, Gingrich and Santorum all have raised more than half of their money from small donors. Romney's campaign, by contrast, has brought in just 12 percent of its total from contributors giving less than $200 at a time," The Washington Post's T.W. Farnam notes. "Romney is raising even less from small donors than he did during his 2008 effort. In that campaign, 25 percent of his fundraising came from those supporters, according to a Washington Post analysis of federal filings. A Romney aide dismissed the idea that the former Massachusetts governor lacks small-dollar contributors, citing internal figures showing that 105,723 people have given $250 or
 less to the campaign."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3481ac43549311c8ce8028c211163733efd08231ce427a36ccda22f68499f5d4 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3481ac43549311c8ce8028c211163733efd08231ce427a36ccda22f68499f5d4 

SANTORUM SCRUTINY -

SCRUBBED - WEB SITE REMOVES "NO CHILD" DEFENSE:A page on his campaign web site defending his vote for George Bush's No Child Left Behind Act was removed, per The Right Sphere blog:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3481ac43549311c80e8e136a899fc153e875efde10b173cadfa043be722dbf19 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3481ac43549311c80e8e136a899fc153e875efde10b173cadfa043be722dbf19 . This comes after Santorum took flak earlier in the week for altering his website to no longer list "enforcing laws against illegal pornography" as a top issue, per Think Progress:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3481ac43549311c86482d8fc903bfc9cb19481937bb748c8fedfb263f92f67c2 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3481ac43549311c86482d8fc903bfc9cb19481937bb748c8fedfb263f92f67c2 .

AFTER THE DEBATE - OBAMA "READY TO JUMP INTO BED" WITH MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD:Santorum went on Greta Van Susteren's Fox show and said Obama was in bed with the Muslim Brotherhood. "He was ready to jump in bed with the Muslim brotherhood in Libya and Egypt, but has actually sided with Syria in this struggle by recognizing them as a government for first time in many years," he said. Video:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3481ac43549311c8da98d02b0aa544fe2590fd2b48e3082645bb5d059acbdb14 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3481ac43549311c8da98d02b0aa544fe2590fd2b48e3082645bb5d059acbdb14 .

PHILLY INQUIRER COLUMNS OFFER WINDOW INTO HOW HE THINKS:"Over more than 21/2 years, the beaten former senator tried to find a new voice on a range of topics: anger over same-sex marriage and abortion, suspicion of Iran, and calls to defend religious liberty from government. Santorum wrote movingly of his young daughter's struggle with a genetic disorder, which has become a keystone of his campaign biography," The Washington Post's Dave Fahrenthold writes. "But the columns also reveal Santorum's limits as a politician. Several columns are devoted only to other people's failures, and he comes across as a tremendous downer. In the columns, he struggles to lift his message above fist-shaking
 outrage and (sometimes literal) prophecies of doomsday. 'Often wrong,' he called himself in one column. 'But never in doubt.'"
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3481ac43549311c84ec17d79af963afc7db17e43d990ba65d5f7ae6d72dcadbb 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3481ac43549311c84ec17d79af963afc7db17e43d990ba65d5f7ae6d72dcadbb 

SIX NEW POLLS-

GALLUP NATIONAL:Santorum's "biggest advantages over Romney -- of 18 points or better -- are among Midwesterners, weekly churchgoers, and political conservatives." Break-downs by sub-group:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3481ac43549311c8ff0aca0fb3fb08e5aab1baf657e53be4436dfaac7eec9d75 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=3481ac43549311c8ff0aca0fb3fb08e5aab1baf657e53be4436dfaac7eec9d75 .

AP NATIONAL:"A new poll shows that Republicans and Democrats alike are increasingly saying the nation is heading in the right direction and most independents now approve the way [Obama's] addressing the nation&#39;s post-recession period."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ffd494b3d691550eb2bf941e8d32f5c30f733e408f5942f471936fbd99ac6420 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ffd494b3d691550eb2bf941e8d32f5c30f733e408f5942f471936fbd99ac6420 

FIELD POLL of CALFORNIA:Romney, 31; Santorum, 25; Paul, 16; Gingrich, 12; Undecided, 16.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ffd494b3d691550eeebee7564d0b49987e06a9786dace719dc86bc2d7a3dfffd 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ffd494b3d691550eeebee7564d0b49987e06a9786dace719dc86bc2d7a3dfffd 

MARIST of MICHIGAN (posted right after Score went out yesterday): Romney, 37; Santorum, 35; Paul, 13; Gingrich, 8.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ffd494b3d691550e99a2632a9cf754ac4d0805e0800c86720915fb7e39334616 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ffd494b3d691550e99a2632a9cf754ac4d0805e0800c86720915fb7e39334616 

MARQUETTE of WISCONSIN:Santorum, 34; Romney, 18; Paul, 17; Gingrich, 12; Undecided, 17.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ffd494b3d691550ee41b7fa602eb93669c8a8a11d4e10225aecc52d7259648ad 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ffd494b3d691550ee41b7fa602eb93669c8a8a11d4e10225aecc52d7259648ad 

DAILY NEWS/FRANKLING COLLEGE of PENNSYLVANIA:Santorum, 45; Romney, 16; Gingrich, 9; Paul, 7.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ffd494b3d691550ec4d154a9c8ac5c8f8c7a1c5d8ba5dd39bb008ea09239fa94 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ffd494b3d691550ec4d154a9c8ac5c8f8c7a1c5d8ba5dd39bb008ea09239fa94 

WHAT THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES ARE UP TO:Romney attends a tea party rally in Milford, Michigan, at 7 p.m. Gingrich holds two rallies in Washington state (Kennewick and Spokane) before wrapping up the day with an evening event in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Details:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ffd494b3d691550e9aab0a639718cca5d8cb41fe216f59ad4f0810df6d96b142 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ffd494b3d691550e9aab0a639718cca5d8cb41fe216f59ad4f0810df6d96b142 .

MICHIGAN MELEE -

OPERATION CHAOS REDUX? - DEMOCRATIC PARTY ENCOURAGES CROSSOVER VOTING:"The Michigan Democratic Party sent an e-mail to supporters Wednesday encouraging them to take part in the state's Republican presidential primary on Tuesday," per The Washington Post's Aaron Blake. "The e-mail points to a YouTube video of two Republican state senators encouraging Democrats to vote and notes that voters can still return to voting in the Democratic caucuses two months from now."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ffd494b3d691550e72c0c6aa34cd7e8c8920ad37e59fd322a0142d534e3928c2 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ffd494b3d691550e72c0c6aa34cd7e8c8920ad37e59fd322a0142d534e3928c2 

PUNDIT PREP:"In all, 518 Republican National Convention delegates are at stake between Feb. 28 and March 6, three times the number awarded in the states that have voted since the beginning of the year," per the AP's Beth Fouhy. "It takes 1,144 to win the nomination."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ffd494b3d691550ef0bab0fe93c3dcf21b80f0cd2cc8f73edbe359fca4772abf 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ffd494b3d691550ef0bab0fe93c3dcf21b80f0cd2cc8f73edbe359fca4772abf 

REMEMBER HIM? - BUDDY ROEMER WILL RUN AS AN INDEPENDENT:"Former [Louisiana] Gov. Buddy Roemer will end his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination Thursday and announce that he is seeking the third-party nominations of both Americans Elect and The Reform Party," per the Times Picayune. 'As the GOP and the networks host debate number twenty-something this evening, they have once again turned their backs on the democratic process by choosing to exclude a former Governor and Congressman. I have decided to take my campaign directly to the American people by declaring my candidacy for Americans Elect. Also, after many discussions with The Reform Party, I am excited to announce my
 intentions of seeking their nomination.' More: "Roemer will make his announcement in a speech at 9 a.m. ET from the Santa Monica, Calif., headquarters of Yowie, a video chat service."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ffd494b3d691550e32f86ac2c260c59ad96151845aca1fada76cc9a075905cf9 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ffd494b3d691550e32f86ac2c260c59ad96151845aca1fada76cc9a075905cf9 

WHAT THE PRESIDENT IS UP TO - A LONG DAY IN FLORIDA:"In the morning, the President will depart the White House en route Miami, Florida. While in Miami, the President will travel to the University of Miami where he will tour the school's Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) where students learn how to become industrial energy-efficiency experts as they help small- to mid-sized manufacturers reduce their energy costs...Later, the President will deliver remarks at a campaign event at the Biltmore Hotel. The President's remarks are pooled for television and open to pre-credentialed correspondents. The President will then deliver remarks at a campaign event at a private residence...In the evening,
 the President will depart Miami, Florida en route Orlando, Florida...Later in the evening, the President will deliver remarks at a campaign event at a private residence...The President will then return to Washington, DC."

NEW WEB AD - RNC BRACKETS POTUS TRIP WITH GAS PRICE HIT:"Welcome to Miami Mr. President," an RNC official emails. "Fifteen seconds is all it takes for the RNC to sing a different tune than the President. The online ad highlights how gas prices have increased from $1.85 to $3.59 in three years under Obama. The RNC&#39;s day-long YouTube ad buy on Thursday is targeted to viewers watching news and politics content on YouTube in the Miami area." The RNC will also push a new hashtag: #ObamaOnEmpty. Read the 5-page research piece PDF, which links administration policy to high energy prices:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ffd494b3d691550e717f14a7cf8658197cefe8d655aa3c775acac77ce16734d5 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=ffd494b3d691550e717f14a7cf8658197cefe8d655aa3c775acac77ce16734d5 . Watch the video:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=eadedbc70d58f0a93ad380b63e574e0db0a8e454719b624e436c7cefa3bc63bd 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=eadedbc70d58f0a93ad380b63e574e0db0a8e454719b624e436c7cefa3bc63bd .

AWKWARD - FEINGOLD, OBAMA CO-CHAIR, CRITICIZES HIM ON SUPER PACS:"Former Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold (D) is still one of President Obama's biggest critics when it comes to his decision to accept super PAC money. Only now he's criticizing the president from his perch as a national co-chair of the Obama campaign," writes TPM's Evan McMorris-Santoro. "Feingold was one of around 35 national co-chairs announced by Obama 2012 Wednesday morning. This came just days after he warned that Obama was 'dancing with the devil' thanks to his decision to allow administration officials to help raise money for a super PAC supporting Obama's reelection effort. In an interview with TPM Wednesday afternoon,
 Feingold reiterated the warning - but said that his twin roles of helping the Obama campaign while criticizing some of its tactics were not inconsistent at all. 'The thing that confuses me is how people can wonder how, if you agree with someone 95 percent of the time and you are open about your disagreements with the person, that means that you wouldn't want to support him,' Feingold said."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=eadedbc70d58f0a9779c5f642c5db372ea063ccdb7248644417998b2fc0ebdc0 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=eadedbc70d58f0a9779c5f642c5db372ea063ccdb7248644417998b2fc0ebdc0 

MISSOURI SENATE - MCCASKILL GOING ON TV:Sen. Claire McCaskill is going on TV with a bio spot that defends herself against the negative ads being run by groups like Crossroads GPS and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Her 30-second spot presents a contrast against Republicans and (literally) faceless special interests financing ads attacking her."They"want to end Medicare as we know it, give tax breaks for big oil companies and agree to unfair trade deals with China. "Claire says make it in Missouri," the narrator says. "Claire's stepped on a lot of big toes in Washington and now these corporate special interests are spending a lot of money on vicious attacks in a desperate effort to get rid of
 her," said Adrianne Marsh, McCaskill campaign manager. Watch:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=eadedbc70d58f0a9b4af2c5e2ecaad216dfb1f27ca7f898e8ce08396eb0988d8 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=eadedbc70d58f0a9b4af2c5e2ecaad216dfb1f27ca7f898e8ce08396eb0988d8 .

INDIANA SENATE - MOURDOCK COUNTER-ATTACKS LUGAR IN NEW AD:State Treasurer Richard Mourdock attacks incumbent Republican Richard Lugar in a new ad called "Disappointing," which says he's abandoned both the GOP and Indiana - where he has not maintained a residence since 1977. Says Mourdock in a statement: 'Dick Lugar is desperately trying to hide his out-of-touch voting record on issues important to Hoosier Republicans: his votes to raise the debt ceiling, continue pork barrel &#39;earmark&#39; spending, bailout private industry at taxpayers&#39; expense, support liberal judicial appointments and provide amnesty to illegal immigrants." Watch:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=eadedbc70d58f0a979bbbfd77d15bddb8fff9f3e55e22fe539618334bdc13236 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=eadedbc70d58f0a979bbbfd77d15bddb8fff9f3e55e22fe539618334bdc13236 .

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:Lugar and Mourdock have agreed to an April 11 at the studios of Indianapolis public television station WFYI, per the Indianapolis Star. "The debate commission says April&#39;s Senate debate will be the only primary debate it will host before the May 8 primary."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=eadedbc70d58f0a9e50b2d98fc95c76977e5f28c66415a31c185692bd7a66864 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=eadedbc70d58f0a9e50b2d98fc95c76977e5f28c66415a31c185692bd7a66864 

NEVADA SENATE - DSCC TRIES TO LINK HELLER TO ANGLE:The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee launched a round of Spanish-language radio ads in Las Vegas and Reno yesterday criticizing Nevada's appointed Sen. Dean Heller on Hispanic issues. Buy size not disclosed, but the spot is notable because it's a female Spanish narrator insisting that Heller is just like the uber-unpopular failed 2010 Senate nominee Sharron Angle. Listen to the 60-second ad:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=eadedbc70d58f0a9c42e1b892828e64bb26b1fd63121efa00c0078c03c00e832 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=eadedbc70d58f0a9c42e1b892828e64bb26b1fd63121efa00c0078c03c00e832 .

MAINE SENATE - SNOWE CHALLENGER LEAVES GOP AFTER CAUCUSES:"Former tea party activist Andrew Ian Dodge announced Wednesday that he&#39;s abandoning his Republican primary challenge against U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, following last week's controversy over the Maine Republican caucuses," per the Lewiston Sun Journal. "Dodge said he will run as an independent. On Wednesday, Dodge, 43, said he&#39;s been a registered Republican since he turned 18. He said he decided to leave the party after the Maine GOP&#39;s handling of the nonbinding caucuses, which was criticized for disenfranchising voters."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=eadedbc70d58f0a989b23b8f8e6bd83fa5e2999de7b9a9b409831ad3da5ac509 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=eadedbc70d58f0a989b23b8f8e6bd83fa5e2999de7b9a9b409831ad3da5ac509 

VEEPSTAKES - MCDONNELL BACKS OFF ON ABORTION BILL:"After nationwide criticism and pressure from Gov. Bob McDonnell, the House of Delegates on Wednesday passed watered-down legislation that would no longer require women to undergo invasive ultrasounds before abortions," per the Richmond Times-Dispatch. "The amended measure passed by the House would require all women having an abortion to undergo an abdominal ultrasound. If gestational age could not be determined through that method, the woman would be offered - but could decline - a vaginal ultrasound.The measure&#39;s fate is uncertain. Even as the House debated amendments to the bill, its patron, Sen. Jill Holtzman Vogel, R-Fauquier, was
 announcing plans to kill it, citing feedback from constituents and doctors...But another version of the bill is still alive. Today, the Senate Education and Health Committee will take up the House version of the bill...Before the House amended the measure, the bill would have required invasive ultrasounds because, in many cases, vaginal ultrasounds are the only option early in a woman&#39;s pregnancy.McDonnell, an abortion opponent who is widely considered a GOP vice presidential contender, made public Wednesday his disapproval of the measure - for which he had previously signaled support. The governor said in a statement that 'mandating an invasive procedure in order to give informed
 consent is not a proper role for the state.'"
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=eadedbc70d58f0a9bb6013435d8176e808bcef67ba46054cdef9635c6c8cee23 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=eadedbc70d58f0a9bb6013435d8176e808bcef67ba46054cdef9635c6c8cee23 

RUBIO CALLS FOR MORE POSITIVE GOP IMMIGRATION MESSAGE:"What's the Republican legal-immigration plan? And that's a problem, when all they hear from you is what you're against and not what you're for," Florida Sen. Marco Rubio said in an interview with Time Magazine for a forthcoming cover story. "Ultimately there is, in my opinion, hundreds of thousands of conservatives and potential conservatives all across this country that will never become conservatives because they somehow feel that the party where the conservative movement is housed doesn't want them. And that's wrong, because that's not true."
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=eadedbc70d58f0a9fc22e37a1a435618349caa0aed032183836532ecc0d23334 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=eadedbc70d58f0a9fc22e37a1a435618349caa0aed032183836532ecc0d23334 

LIGHTER CLICKS -

NEWT GINGRICH is giving up dessert for Lent.
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=eadedbc70d58f0a9e28c3cf43d1197ab923043f8778fd041b82e2ed578473c19 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=eadedbc70d58f0a9e28c3cf43d1197ab923043f8778fd041b82e2ed578473c19 

CHARLIE RANGEL dancesin a video tweeted from the 82-year-old congressman's account yesterday:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=409b3f59964d998897561e492f678ecf4d55d3b39e0cb9735ba31ee155da0651 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=409b3f59964d998897561e492f678ecf4d55d3b39e0cb9735ba31ee155da0651 .

BARNEY FRANKwent on Jimmy Kimmel Live last night to talk about his planned wedding to his long-time boyfriend:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=409b3f59964d9988cb265f37dbd66609cde2edb7a8ad285b732103a9005f5bb3 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=409b3f59964d9988cb265f37dbd66609cde2edb7a8ad285b732103a9005f5bb3 .

NANCY PELOSIdebated Stephen Colbert (in character) on his show last night about the worth of Super PACs:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=409b3f59964d99883f4563c353ace7ebbdf40d3f3212a3f501012bbadfc41e43 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=409b3f59964d99883f4563c353ace7ebbdf40d3f3212a3f501012bbadfc41e43 .

JON STEWARTjoked about Republican warnings that Obama will become much more radical in his second term:
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=409b3f59964d9988528cfe2acbd30d47f540f6534d29c72cd98d843c45659dad 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=409b3f59964d9988528cfe2acbd30d47f540f6534d29c72cd98d843c45659dad .

CODA - QUOTE OF THE DAY:"You're asking us to give you more information than we're required? Why would we do that?" - Catherine Mortensen, a spokeswoman for Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), balks at a request for details about her boss' taxpayer-funded travel. [Lamborn is a member of the Congressional Transparency Caucus.]
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=409b3f59964d99880488d28c1d0350b238c9a71c292f36cc04cbe1f7b745dd0b 
http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=409b3f59964d99880488d28c1d0350b238c9a71c292f36cc04cbe1f7b745dd0b 

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