Southern Gator Hunt Draws Fire

No income from wages; he'll pay 15.4% on last year's income

(NEWSER) - Just hours after debating tax rates during the GOP debate in Florida, Mitt Romney released his tax returns, revealing that he collected $20.9 million in income last year, and $21.7 million the previous year—nearly all of it in profits, dividends, or interest from investments. None came from wages, reports the Washington Post . He estimates he'll pay $3.2 million in federal taxes for a tax rate of 15.4% for last year's income. The previous year, he paid $3 million in taxes at a 13.9% rate. His tax rates are below most American wage earners because his income isn't from wages, notes Reuters . The Romneys gave away $7 million in charitable contributions the last two years, including $4.1 million to the Mormon church. More»

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%

'We don't need to be New Hampshire's pinata': Nevada GOP chair

(NEWSER) - Talk about political inside baseball: Nevada restored order to the GOP's chaotic primary scheme today by agreeing to run its caucus in early February. Prodded by Mitt Romney's campaign, Nevada had slated its caucus for Jan. 14, but with half the Republican field promising a boycott, and RNC Chairman Reince Priebus personally showing up to sway Nevada Republicans, the state switched its caucus date to Feb. 4, Politico reports. 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»

Expected to affect Florida, could hit Georgia, Carolinas

(NEWSER) - The first hurricane of the Atlantic season has officially developed. Irene is currently moving over Puerto Rico; it could eventually rattle Florida and skim Georgia and the Carolinas later this week. First, though, it’s headed toward Hispaniola, the island shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The storm has maximum sustained wins of 75mph and is pushing west-northwest at 12mph, the AP reports. More»