Sorry, USAToday, Newt ain’t going to jail for saying he’d appoint John Bolton Secretary of State.

Is national digital and broadcast media creating an undifferentiated, national polarized politics? TPM Reader PH checks in from Wyoming … Read More

Ready to go nuclear?

Mitt Romney’s press office just sent out word that tomorrow morning two Mitt surrogates, former Gov. John Sununu and former Sen. Jim Talent, will hold a press conference call to “discuss Speaker Gingrich’s record.”

Warren jumps ahead of Brown in new Massachusetts Senate poll. 49%-42%.

The poll has a relatively small sample size: 505 registered voters. But it’s a 10 point swing from the last time this pollster (UMass-Lowell/Princeton Survey Research) sampled this race. And it’s in line with the trend in Warren’s direction.

Just as importantly, this race is crystallizing the core issues the 2012 cycle looks set to turn on — finance vs. main street, wealth and income inequality, the pros and cons of survival of the fittest economics.

If Warren can get traction against Brown with her unalloyed version of this message, that will cast a shadow over as yet unformed races across the nation.

Occupiers occupy a pricey Newt fundraiser in DC … and one GOP Rep. is a good sport about it and strikes up a conversation with the protestors.

As we know now, Mitt Romney has a genuine Newt problem on the path to the Republican nomination, to put it mildly. As I mentioned last night, the Mitt campaign has scheduled a press call with its designated anti-Newt pitbulls. That will start in a minute. Now they’ve just sent out their first email oppo dump which might be headlined ‘Meet the Big Party Traitor’.

We’ll be covering the blow by blow through the morning.

Let us know what you’re seeing and hearing too. In your state, on Capitol Hill. 360 degree. Let us hear from you at the comments line over there on the upper right.

President Obama: “Ask Osama bin Laden and the 22 out of 30 top Al-Qaeda leaders who have been taken off the field whether I engage in appeasement… or whoever’s left out there.”

I’m listening to a discussion right now on TV about whether Newt Gingrich should (or can continue not to) respond to Mitt Romney as Romney unloads a fusillade of attacks on the new frontrunner.

Eventually, undoubtedly, he’ll have to, if Romney keeps it up. But at least for the moment, keeping quiet, taking the high (non-Newt) road is perfect for him. In part, virtually everything about Newt that’s bad (and the list is almost endless) is known. I’m not including whatever new might be found. But Mitt seems to be going after the old stuff. This is different from a relatively unknown candidate who’s being defined. GOP primary voters know Newt Gingrich. And they’re still buying. So while it’s not great, Newt’s vulnerability isn’t the same as a lot of candidates. Read More

We’ll have ongoing coverage of today’s shooting at Virginia Tech on the TPM Livewire.

Dems say what Mitt Romney did this morning is exactly what they were hoping for.