memeorandum: Romney would rank among richest presidents ever (Associated Press)

8:20 AM ET, January 29, 2012

Top Items:

Romney up in Florida — PPP finds the same thing in its newest Florida poll that all surveys of the state have found in the last few days: strong movement away from Newt Gingrich and toward Mitt Romney. Romney now leads with 40% to 32% for Gingrich, 15% for Rick Santorum, and 9% for Ron Paul.

Discussion: Reuters and Naked Politics

Josh Lederman / Ballot Box:

As Florida race turns personal, GOP insiders fear for party unity — TAMPA, Fla. —Gingrich and Romney may be headed toward mutually assured destruction, and both are refusing to unilaterally disarm. — TAMPA, Fla. — Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney may be on a path toward mutually assured destruction …

Discussion: Prairie Weather

Nate Silver / FiveThirtyEight:

Consensus of Polls Shows Romney Up in Florida — You can find pretty much every species of poll in Florida right now. — There are traditional polls and automated polls, Internet polls and partisan polls, academic polls and commercial polls. — There are polls where voters checked a box.

Discussion: The Caucus, Examiner, Saint Petersblog and Don Surber

Niall Stanage / Ballot Box:
Gingrich camp confronts visiting Romney surrogates

Discussion: Washington Wire, CNN, The Caucus, The Politico, Hot Air, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion and Hullabaloo

Josh Lederman / Ballot Box:

Santorum's daughter hospitalized — DESOTO, Fla. — Rick Santorum's 3-year old daughter has been hospitalized in Philadelphia, his campaign said Saturday. — “Rick and his wife Karen are admitting their daughter Bella to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia this evening,” Santorum spokesman Hogan Gidley said in a statement.

Discussion: CNN

Philly.com:

Santorum daughter admitted to hospital — The three-year-old daughter of Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum has been admitted to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the candidate has cancelled his Sunday morning campaign events to be at her side.

Discussion: Michelle Malkin, The Right Scoop and Atlas Shrugs

Kevinliptak / CNN:

TRENDING: Herman Cain endorses Gingrich — (CNN) - Former Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain endorsed Newt Gingrich Saturday at an event in West Palm Beach, Florida. — “I hereby officially and enthusiastically endorse Newt Gingrich for president of the United States,” …

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Reuters, The Other McCain, The Politico and The Political Carnival

The Shark Tank:

Breaking News- Herman Cain To Endorse Newt Gingrich for President — The Shark Tank has learned from a source close to the Newt Gingrich Campaign that Herman Cain will be endorsing Newt Gingrich for President at tonight's Palm Beach County REC Lincoln Day Dinner.

Discussion: The Right Scoop, msnbc.com, Naked Politics and The Gateway Pundit

Josh Lederman / Ballot Box:

NBC, Tom Brokaw ask Romney to take down ad made with news footage — ORLANDO, Fla. — Mitt Romney may have hoped that by featuring former NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw in his new campaign ad, he could lend to his attacks on Newt Gingrich the credence of one of the country's most eminent journalists.

Discussion: Outside the Beltway, Pat Dollard, Firedoglake, Hot Air, Wake up America, CNN and National Review

Maggie Haberman / The Politico:
NBC asks Mitt to remove Brokaw ad

Discussion: Mediaite, Taylor Marsh, Althouse, National Review, Mail Online and CNN

Jeremy W. Peters / The Caucus:
NBC News Asks Romney Campaign to Remove Ad

Discussion: The Political Carnival, more at Mediagazer »

New York Times:

The Calculations That Led Romney to the Warpath — MIAMI — Facing the unthinkable here just seven days ago — a second loss in a row to Newt Gingrich — Mitt Romney's campaign team hatched a two-part plan to win in Florida: make Newt mad and Mitt meaner. — In a call last Sunday morning …

Discussion: Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion

Russell Berman / The Hill:

Obama hosts the Bushes at White House — Former President George H. W. Bush and his son Jeb made an unannounced visit to the White House on Friday, meeting in the Oval Office with President Obama. — The White House released a photo of the meeting via Twitter Friday evening, with the elder Bush shown sitting in a wheelchair.

Chris Johnson / Washington Blade:
White House to host LGBT conferences across country

Discussion: ThinkProgress, The Political Carnival and Towleroad News #gay

Associated Press:

Romney would rank among richest presidents ever — WASHINGTON (AP) - Just how rich is Mitt Romney? Add up the wealth of the last eight presidents, from Richard Nixon to Barack Obama. Then double that number. Now you're in Romney territory. — He would be among the richest presidents …

Discussion: Outside the Beltway, The Political Carnival and Saint Petersblog

Kevinliptak / CNN:

L.L. Bean heiress backs Paul — Freeport, Maine (CNN) - Linda Bean, an heiress to famed Maine outfitter L.L. Bean, came out in support of Ron Paul on Saturday as the candidate made a campaign swing through the state. — Bean, who is a part owner of her family's company and sits on its board …