9:02 PM: A smiling Newt. Did everyone see that “I Got Nuthin’ to Lose, MoFo!” thought bubble over Newt’s head?

9:05 PM: While this debate is going on, there was some big news today in the weeds of the campaign financing game. Sheldon Adelson, an ultra-hawk casino mogul who has virtually limitless money, has given $5 million to a Newt-backing Super PAC for carpet-bombing in South Carolina.

The new PPP poll gives Mitt Romney a 30-23 lead over Newt Gingrich.

Here’s the latest TPM Poll Average of South Carolina: Read More

As we get ready for tonight’s New Hampshire debate, let’s look at where the New Hampshire race seems to be as of this moment. Read More

DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, on Ron Paul: “The Republican Party has clearly made a decision to embrace extremism and that’s been clear from their political activity as well as their caucus and conference in the House and in the Senate. They’ve allowed the Tea Party extremists to take over, it’s the tail wagging the dog.”

A schedule oddity has the GOP presidential contenders debating this evening from 9-11 ET for ABC /Yahoo/WMUR then turning around and debating again 10 hours later, at 9 a.m. ET Sunday for Meet The Press/Facebook.

Remember: No Michele Bachmann or Herman Cain this time around. We’ll be hearing a whole lot more from Rick Santorum and Ron Paul.

TPM will be here for all 3 1/2 hours of dead-on-their-feet debating.

Watching the Lions v. Saints playoff game tonight? Multitask with TPM.