Romney Emerges as GOP's 2012 Frontrunner: Poll

Records bare rise in media, consulting fees, nearly double Romney's rate

(NEWSER) - Rick Santorum has released four years of his tax returns to Politico , and they show that while his income falls a long way short of Mitt Romney's or Newt Gingrich's, his Washington connections have helped him prosper since leaving Congress. His income hit $1.1 million in 2009—up from nearly $660,000 in 2007—much of it coming from media appearances and consulting work on behalf of health care and energy interests, AP reports. It slipped to $923,000 in 2010. 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»

Prez now ahead of all four GOP contenders

(NEWSER) - The rising economy may be enough to carry President Obama to a second term, according to the latest New York Times / CBS poll. The percentage of people feeling optimistic about the economy has surged over the last few months, the poll found, and Obama's approval rating is back above 50%, the highest since May 2010 apart from a brief bump after the killing of Osama bin Laden last year. Obama now leads all four of his potential Republican opponents, the poll found. More»

Two candidates are basically sharing first place at this point

(NEWSER) - Three polls, three declarations about Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum: virtual tie, statistical tie, and essential tie. According to Pew , Gallup , and the New York Times/CBS News , Romney officially has some company at the top following Santorum's wins in Colorado, Minnesota, and Missouri :

• Pew's poll, released yesterday, puts Santorum at 30% to Romney's 28% among Republican and Republican-leaning registered voters. Santorum easily captures the top spot among Tea Party Republican voters (42% to 23%) and evangelical Republican voters (41% to 23%). One bright spot for Romney: 70% of his supporters believe the GOP would back him if he becomes the nominee; only 54% of Santorum's supporters feel the same.

Conservative magazine's editors urge Newt to exit presidential race

(NEWSER) - The editors of the National Review have a message for Newt Gingrich: It's time to go. Rick Santorum is increasingly emerging as Mitt Romney's main challenger, as he overtakes Gingrich in contests won , delegates, and poll numbers , and the conservative magazine's editors want to see a Romney-Santorum contest. Gingrich is talented, but "it would be a grave mistake for the party to make someone with such poor judgment and persistent unpopularity its presidential nominee." When Gingrich was leading Santorum in the polls, he urged Santorum to quit. "On his own arguments the proper course for him now is to endorse Santorum and exit." More»