Nevada Resolves Primary Mess, Moves to Feb. 4

He's at the top in the first four, with Cain second

(NEWSER) - A CNN/Time survey of the first four states to vote bodes well for Mitt Romney. He leads them all, though Herman Cain is within a whisker in Iowa and South Carolina. A quick look at the top two in the state polls:

• Iowa (Jan. 3): Romney, 24%; Cain, 21%
• New Hampshire (Jan. 10, maybe): Romney, 40%; Cain, 13%
• South Carolina (Jan. 21): Romney, 25%; Cain, 23%
• Florida (Jan. 31): Romney, 33%; Cain 18%

Candidates bow to pressure from states protecting their early primaries

(NEWSER) - Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama joined three of their presidential rivals yesterday in pledging not to campaign in states that have defied Democratic primary rules by pushing their primaries to early 2008. In recent weeks, Michigan and Florida have announced votes before February 5, challenging the first dibs the party has reserved for Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Nevada. More»

Rick Perry in single digits in both places

(NEWSER) - The GOP primary is a two-horse race at the moment in pivotal South Carolina and Florida—just not between the two horses you thought it would be last month. Herman Cain has taken the lead in both states, topping Romney 30% to 26% in South Carolina and by a slim 32% to 31% margin in Florida, according to new NBC-Marist polls . Rick Perry is a distant third in both states, with 9% in South Carolina and 8% in Florida. (Both were conducted before last night's debate .) More»

Northeast, Midwest would lose seats if today's census was used

(NEWSER) - The South is gaining population and power at the expense of the Northeast and Midwest, according to Census Bureau estimates released yesterday. If House seats were distributed based on the estimates, which are believed to be a strong predictor of the 2010 census results, Texas would be the big winner, gaining three seats, with Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah, and Washington each adding one. More»

Weekly Standard scribe says no other GOP candidate has a ‘credible scenario’

(NEWSER) - The baffling race for the GOP nomination is now down to two, argues the Weekly Standard’s Fred Barnes: Only Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani have what really matters in the primary fight—“credible” paths to victory. Mitt’s the early-state favorite, the man to beat if he captures Iowa and New Hampshire. Rudy’s “scenario” involves winning Florida and then steamrolling on Super Tuesday. The best bet for the others? Pray for a miracle. More»