DNC Lawyers: Only Half of Fla., Mich. Can Be Seated Saturday

Democratic party chief doesn't pull punches, or waste time

(NEWSER) - Debbie Wasserman Schultz does not pull punches. She has accused the Republicans of waging "a war on women," called their Medicare plan "a death trap for seniors," and said that those pushing voter ID laws "literally want to drag us all the way back to Jim Crow laws." That combative attitude has made her a lot of enemies, but it's also made her, "practically overnight, the face of the Democratic Party," the Wall Street Journal observes in a profile today. More»

Romney's negative attacks will backfire, it warns

(NEWSER) - The newest buzz-generating character on the campaign trail is "Rombo," courtesy of a Rick Santorum ad. In it, a Mitt Romeny lookalike tries to spray Santorum with a mud gun only to have it backfire on his white shirt. Romney's "negative attack machine is back, on full throttle," says the narrator of the ad, which has hit the airwaves in Michigan. "It is not only an entertaining and amusing commercial, but potentially effective," adds Andrew Belonsky at Death and Taxes . (Romney laughed off the ad today on Fox News, notes Politico .) More»

And his supporters think he'll win

(NEWSER) - Mitt Romney's campaign machine has revved into overdrive in Michigan, sending top operatives to the state and pouring money into TV ads, including a $1.3 million buy yesterday—not that Team Romney thinks it's got anything to worry about. Despite the most recent poll data , Romney's Michigan backers see a Feb. 28 victory here as his destiny, Politico reports. "This is Mitt country—Mitt's state," said one powerful county executive and Romney backer. "I would be very, very surprised if we don't chalk up a big win." More»

Candidate now polling at the top, focusing resources on the state

(NEWSER) - Could Rick Santorum pull off a win in Michigan, where Mitt Romney grew up during his father's tenure as governor? The latest Public Policy Poll shows that it's a definite possibility—Santorum leads Romney 39% to 24% in the state—and a half-dozen insiders tell Politico that Santorum's campaign is considering making a bold move in Michigan's Feb. 28 primary as well as in Ohio's, which comes on Super Tuesday. Officially, Santorum's strategy remains the same: Take the contests state by state, delegate by delegate, and grind out wins in inexpensive, right-leaning states. But wins in Michigan and Ohio could mean a dramatic shift in Santorum's race against Romney, and could render the remaining candidates all but irrelevant, notes Politico. More»

Super PAC cash set to keep rivals going

(NEWSER) - Mitt Romney won huge in Florida , but this race isn't over yet. Here's what the pundits are taking away from this one:

• Romney has a much tougher fight ahead than John McCain did at this stage in 2008, analysts tell the LA Times . The reason: super PACs. In the past, primary defeats cut off a candidate's fundraising, but now deep-pocket donors, like Newt Gingrich's pal Sheldon Adelson , can keep shoveling in cash.