A Democratic insider in Arizona tells our Eric Kleefeld there may be some delay in the Dems coming up with a candidate for the now open seat from Sen. Kyl because Gabby Giffords should have “right of first refusal” for the run.
After mildly criticizing Sarah Palin, former Sen. and fantasy campaigner Rick Santorum tried going the abject apology route. But it wasn’t enough. She’s back, paradoxically, calling him Santorum a “knuckle-dragging neanderthal.” Watch.
CIA Director Leon Panetta told the House intelligence committee a short time ago: “There’s a strong likelihood that Mubarak may step down in Eqypt tonight.”
As you’ve probably heard, CPAC, the big annual conservative conference in DC, kicked off today. And we’ve got our reporters there on the scene following every bit of it. Be sure to check out our TPM CPAC 2011 Wire for minute to minute updates. Either click the link or see the most recent updates just below the feature on the right side of the page.
Put this in the category of more than speculation but less than confirmed: Word is filtering in that Hosni Mubarak may step down as early as today.
The BBC tweets: “Egypt’s Mubarak ‘may step down.'”
Reuters tweets: “Developing: Egyptian PM tells BBC that Mubarak may step down and the situation in the country will be clarified soon.”
MSNBC reports: “Mubarak to step down as Egypt’s leader, Suleiman to take over, sources tell NBC News”
Stay tuned …
It looks like Arizona Sen. John Kyl will be announcing his decision not to seek reelection next year at a Phoenix press conference at noon ET.
Pictures from Orrin Hatch’s really awkward night at the DC Tea Party town hall.
The ultimate fantasy campaign player, Donald Trump, is a last minute addition to the speakers list at CPAC today.
It turns out that Karl Rove now supports ‘budget reconciliation’ — i.e., straight 51 vote rules — for health care reform repeal.
The conservative movement has come roaring back from the nadir of 2009. Combine that with the early jockeying for the GOP’s 2012 presidential nomination and this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference — the big annual movement convention in DC — promises to be hot. We’ve got two of our reporters in attendance. They’ll be bringing us, and you, all the lastest at TPM’s CPAC 2011 Wire.