New CNN poll shows Rick Santorum moving into third place in Iowa. Our complete analysis here.

Rick Perry in Iowa: “Every barrel of oil that comes out of those sands in Canada is a barrel of oil that we don’t have to buy from a foreign source.”

Ron Paul’s campaign touts his endorsement from a minister who advocates the death penalty for homosexuality. We interview the good reverend, who likes Paul’s support for federalism because it would free up more states to adopt fundamental Biblical law.

We’ve moved into the PBS-bashing phase of the GOP primary campaign, and even Mitt Romney is getting into the game.

This afternoon our Benjy Sarlin and Pema Levy published a story on how the Ron Paul campaign has touted the endorsement of a radical Nebraska pastor who says the United States should institute the death penalty as the punishment for homosexuality. This evening, evidence of Rev. Phillip Kayser’s endorsement disappeared from the Paul campaign website. No explanation from the Paul campaign.

What Republicans are saying about John Boehner’s future as speaker.

In a tight race, Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) complains opponent Elizabeth Warren is getting soft treatment in the media.

With all the latest polls entered, here is the TPM Poll Average for Iowa as of right now: Read More

In a campaign appearance in Iowa on Thursday, Rick Perry appeared to space on a question about the Supreme Court, specifically on the case of Lawrence vs. Texas. You know – the case that struck down Texas’s anti-sodomy laws, and by extension those in 13 other states. The case that was decided while Perry was governor.

Our story soon, but meanwhile, Here’s our story. Video after the jump. Read More

About a month ago, when Newt’s numbers were shooting the moon, I wrote that as much as the numbers suggested otherwise there was simply no way the GOP establishment would let Newt Gingrich take the nomination. Just too stupid an idea, too suicidal for the party and everything connected to it.

That was no great insight. And I’m chagrined to say I briefly wavered in my certainty that Newt simply couldn’t happen — the numbers were just so strong!But I’m thinking back on it now because at the time a lot of TPM Readers wrote in to say, what Republican establishment? Who is this Republican establishment and how’d they make out against Sharron Angle and Christine O’Donnell in 2010? Just what levers does this ‘establishment’ have access to? What exactly would this establishment smackdown look like? Read More