Here are ten things you need to know today.
- Santorum’s ahead in Ohio: A new Quinnipiac poll released Wednesday morning has Rick Santorum leading among likely Republican voters in Ohio 36% to Mitt Romney’s 29%. Newt Gingrich takes 20% and Ron Paul 9%. Both Romney and Santorum lose in match-ups with Obama, even when Ohio Sen. Rob Portman is on the ticket. Sen. Sherrod Brown also leads challenger Josh Mandel 48%-35%.
- Pro-Romney super PAC finally attacks Santorum: Restore Our Future is going up with a new ad in Arizona, Ohio, and Michigan, which is symbolically important because it’s Romney’s other home state and appears very much in play. Called “Votes,” the ad attacks Santorum for his votes in the Senate, including raising the debt limit and a bill “to let convicted felons vote.”
- Romney surrogates attack Santorum: Three Romney surrogates will attack Rick Santorum on a conference call Wednesday. State Rep. Aric Nesbitt, Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, and Professor Gary Wolfram will discuss Santorum’s record on spending and earmarks on the call.
- Romney holds jobs roundtable in Michigan: Mitt Romney will be in Michigan Wednesday to hold a roundtable on “jobs and big labor” as well as hold a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Santorum, who leads Romney in several Michigan polls, has made reviving manufacturing a cornerstone of his economic plan.
- Santorum releases two ads in Michigan: Rick Santorum has two new ads up in Michigan, both are positive ads touting Santorum’s conservative credentials. The first says Santorum has the best chance of beating Obama; the second contains quotes from conservatives praising the candidate.
- Santorum could get Secret Service protection: A few weeks ago, Mitt Romney began getting Secret Service protection because of the crowds he was attracting. ABC’s Shushannah Walshe reports that Rick Santorum is now “in talks about whether to get Secret Service protection” too.
- Santorum to release tax returns soon: Rick Santorum told reporters in Idaho that his tax returns would be released this week. “They should be out soon. I thought they were actually coming out today,” he said.
- Warren goes after Brown on contraception: Elizabeth Warren, who is running for Scott Brown’s Senate seat, tore into her opponent for supporting Roy Blunt’s amendment to allow any employer to opt out of covering anything in their health care plans they objected to morally. “I am shocked that Senator Brown jumped in to support such an extreme measure,” Warren told the Washington Post. Brown responded in a statement calling Warren’s comments “elitist.”
- LA mayor to chair Democratic Convention: Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will chair the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte this summer. Villaraigosa will be on a conference call Wednesday to discuss it. Villaraigosa plans to be a prominent surrogate for Obama during the election.
- Pollsters dive into next primary contest states: Public Policy Polling will start work on Michigan and Arizona this weekend. They have the next primaries on February 28.
