Olympia Snowe (R-ME) won’t be facing a primary challenge from a heavy metal rocker who writes science fiction after all.

You know the language of the “1%” has really penetrated deeply when even Mitt Romney can’t resist it. Here’s Mitt’s quote from just a few moments ago on the trail in Chandler, Arizona pledging to make sure “the top 1%” keeps paying their “current share” or “more”. Transcript after the jump … Read More

We were just debating in the TPM virtual newsroom whether Mitt’s comments a short time ago about making “sure the top 1% keeps paying, paying the current share they’re paying or more” is a shift in his rhetoric, a shift in his policy, or both.

We should have a clearer picture shortly because Mitt’s campaign is unveiling in bits and pieces to reporters throughout the day the elements of Mitt’s new and improved tax plan, an elaboration on the plan he released in September.

The feature of that plan Mitt was touting in today’s rally in Arizona is that while it lowers marginal tax rates on the 1%, it will also deny them deductions they currently enjoy. Whether that results in a net increase or decrease in the tax burden for the 1% is one of the key questions we’ll be looking to answer because, in the end, that’s really all that counts.* Read More

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) moves to strip transvaginal ultrasound provision from state’s controversial anti-abortion bill.

Our interview with Russ Feingold this afternoon, newly minted as one of the co-chairs for President Obama’s reelection campaign but still highly critical of the President’s Super PAC decision, reminds me of the old LBJ line: “It’s probably better to have him inside the tent pissing out, than outside the tent pissing in.”

Romney camp says they edited out negative parts of Detroit News endorsement because they didn’t want to violate copyright. Top 1st Amendment lawyer says that’s total malarkey.

There are more questions than answers in the strange case of Arizona Sheriff Paul Babeu and his estranged lover. Nick Martin has been sniffing around one of the bigger unknowns of the case.

The smell of sulfur and the heat of hellfire waft around today’s Day in 100 Seconds.

8:07 PM: Wow, Mitt goes for semi-current cultural reference — George Costanza. Actually sort of surprised Mitt came up with that.

8:13 PM: Santorum hits Romney on aping Occupy Wall Street rhetoric. This is what he’s referring to.

8:16 PM: Did Newt just say that getting rid of the Civil Service system would save $500 billion a year?

8:28 PM: Actually thought that was a very strong answer for Santorum. But the zero clapping and the handful of guffaws sort of suggests the audience didn’t see it the same way.

8:29 PM: We’re moving into people getting under Mitt’s skin phase.

It looks like the Romney campaign did a good job getting the audience stacked with his supporters. But Mitt’s getting testy. We’re seen this before. It usually doesn’t go well for him.