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1.) Chris Matthews still keeps it classy even after all these years — In this turbulent and troubled world, thank heavens you can still count on Chris Matthews to provide moral clarity. TheDC’s Michelle Fields reports:
“MSNBC host Chris Matthews told The Daily Caller that he would still consider John F. Kennedy a hero and still would have written his new book ‘Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero’ if his daughter had been one-time White House intern Mimi Alford. Alford recently wrote ‘Once Upon a Secret: My Affair with President John F. Kennedy and Its Aftermath’ about an affair she says started when she was 19 years old. In the book she claims Kennedy took her virginity and then asked her to perform oral sex on his aides.”
2.) Romney Resurgence? — He says he loves the height of the trees (yes, he actually said that) in his native state of Michigan and should he continue to regain ground and win the February 28 primary in the Wolverine State, Mitt Romney may warm up to the people as well. TheDC’s Will Rahn reports on how the “son of Detroit” is fighting his way back in Michigan:
“Mitt Romney’s efforts to prevent a potentially devastating upset in next week’s Michigan primary appear to be bearing fruit. Rick Santorum has been consistently beating Romney in recent Michigan polls, but the former Pennsylvania senator’s lead seems to have all but disappeared according to a new Public Policy Polling survey. The poll finds Santorum leading Romney by just a 4-point margin, an 11-point drop from earlier this month.”
Can Mitt’s Momentum overtake the Santorum Surge? Or will Rick’s Roll be impervious to Romney’s Resurgence? Find out in the next lesson on horrible alliteration.
3.) But if not Michigan, at least Romney seems to have Virginia in the bag — It appears as if Mitt Romney is set to trounce Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich in the Virginia primary on March 6, though that may be at least partly due to the fact that they are both not on the ballot and that Virginia doesn’t allow write-in candidates. But Ron Paul is on the ballot and it appears that Romney is on track to route him as well. TheDC’s Steven Nelson reports:
“A Christopher Newport University poll of likely Virginia Republican primary voters finds that Mitt Romney is leading Ron Paul by a wide margin, presenting the possibility that Romney could win all of the 46 delegates up for grabs. The former Massachusetts governor was the choice of 53 percent of poll respondents, while the libertarian-minded Texas congressman was supported by 23 percent.”
The good news for the ideologically consistent Texas congressman is that his electoral consistency of not winning primary states seems like it will go unthreatened in Virginia.
4.) America still hearts Ronnie — What can you say? Americans love the Gipper. TheDC’s Caroline May reports:
“This President’s Day, Ronald Reagan is considered to be the best president since World War II, according to a recent Harris Interactive poll. When Harris matched all the presidents since World War II against one another, a quarter of respondents said Reagan was the best president. Franklin Roosevelt was favored by 19 percent, 15 percent cited John F. Kennedy and 12 percent said Bill Clinton was that best American president.”
However, in separate poll conducted by Chris Matthews — and only Chris Matthews — John F. Kennedy took the top 13 spots.
5.) Poll of the Day — RealClearPolitics polling average of Arizona GOP presidential primary: Mitt Romney 37.5%, Rick Santorum 32%, Newt Gingrich 15.5%, Ron Paul 8%. The primary takes place Feb. 28.
6.) BIRTHDAYS! — The late poet W.H. Auden turns 105 (h/t someone trying to appear smart); Zimbabwe president and father of the 100 trillion dollar bill, Robert Mugabe, turns 88; King Harold V of Norway turns 75; actor Kelsey Grammer turns 57.
VIDEO: Could another GOP contender still enter the race for the White House?