Daily Political Wire

George Wenschhof

Unemployment Drops to 8.6% - a refreshing surprise and the lowest level since March of 2009. A trend, which if continued, will certainly help the reelection efforts of President Obama. Bloomberg.com has more here.

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Payroll Tax Extension Fails in Senate - here we go again; two votes to extend the payroll tax deduction failed to reach the 60 votes needed to end discussion and proceed to a vote. the first plan offered by Democrats, failed 51-49 as Republicans objected to a millionaires surtax to pay for the extension.

The second vote, offered by Republicans, which included program cuts to pay for the extension, failed 72-28. The Washington Post has more here.

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Is Gingrich Getting To Romney? - so far, the Mitt Romney campaign has been able to stay above the fray as various Republican presidential candidates have risen and fallen in the polls. But, now with Newt Gingrich battling Romney for first place in the polls, the Romney campaign is reassessing it's strategy to bypass the Iowa caucuses. TheHill.com has more here.

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Say Bye-Bye to Cain - the rapid rise in the polls has been followed by numerous revelations of sexual harassment charges and now a long term relationship with Ginger White whom Cain has acknowledged he gave money to, threatens to end his campaign. CNN.com has more here.

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Mooney to Enter Maryland 6th District Race - the recently redistricted sixth congressional district has become even more interesting with the resignation of Republican Representative Roscoe Bartlett's chief of staff Bud Otis. Otis is heavily rumored to be exploring a run for his former boss's seat. All of this has led Maryland Republican chair Alex Mooney to file the paperwork to work an exploratory committee as he decides whether to run. RollCall.com has more here.

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Clinton Meets With Aung San Suu Kyi - Suu Kyi, the pro democracy leader of Myanmar had been under house arrest until being released last November. Suu Kyi welcomed the visit by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and hoped further relations with the U.S. would help set the path to democracy in her country. Reuters.com has more here.

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