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| Super Tuesday: Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum fight for key states – live | Super Tuesday: Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum fight for key states – live |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| 12.10pm: And now AOL has also pulled its ads from the Rush Limbaugh show. AOL was advertising on Rush Limbaugh? What, "try our dial-up"? | |
| 12 noon: That NBC/WSJ poll had lots of interesting detail about public perception of Mitt Romney, none of it likely to put him in a happy place, as Christian Heinze observes on his GOP12 blog: | |
| Only 23% of all adults call [Romney] "good" or "very good" at caring for average people. 46% say he's "poor" or "very poor" at it for -23%. | |
| Rick Santorum, on the other hand, has a much healthier 33%/33% split on the quality. | |
| Meanwhile, among GOP voters, Santorum is at 63%/11% on caring for +52%. Romney is at 43%/23% for +20%. That's another huge lead for Santorum. | |
| Romney's bad score among all voters might be excusable if he scored strongly on fixing the economy. But he doesn't. He's currently at 33%/32% on whether he'd be good at dealing with the economy. | |
| 11.43am: With a seventh advertiser pulling its account from Rush Limbaugh's syndicated radio show after last week's "slutgate," here's a handy compendium of responses from the GOP candidates, compiled by Shakesville. | |
| Only Ron Paul comes out of this at all well. | |
| Mitt Romney: "I'll just say this which is it's not the language I would have used. I'm focusing on the issues I think are significant in the country today and that's why I'm here talking about jobs and Ohio." | |
| Shakesville's Melissa McEwan comments: "So, basically, he definitely agrees with the sentiment behind demeaning as a slut a woman who wants control over her reproduction; it's just that he would have finessed the delivery." | |
| Good point: so, Mitt Romney, what language would you have used? Hussy? Slapper? | |
| Rick Santorum: "He's being absurd, but that's you know, an entertainer can be absurd. He's in a very different business than I am." | |
| Newt Gingrich: "I think he was right to apologise," before immediately launching into a complaint about the media focusing on this "unimportant issue," then lobbing an attack at President Obama for apologising for the burning of Korans at Bagram air base in Afghanistan. | |
| Ron Paul: "I don't think he's very apologetic. He's doing it because some people were taking their advertisements off his program. It was his bottom line that he was concerned about." | |
| 11.21am: Real news – Barack Obama is now speaking live in the Oval Office alongside Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, before their meeting there this morning. | |
| Obama says: | Obama says: |
| We all know that it's unacceptable from Israel's perspective for a country to have a nuclear weapon that has called for the destruction of Israel.... When I say all options are on the table, I mean it. Having said that, both the prime minister [Netanyahu] and I prefer a diplomatic solution. | We all know that it's unacceptable from Israel's perspective for a country to have a nuclear weapon that has called for the destruction of Israel.... When I say all options are on the table, I mean it. Having said that, both the prime minister [Netanyahu] and I prefer a diplomatic solution. |
| In his response, Netanyahu thanks Obama "for that strong speech yesterday" and the warm welcome. He's not throwing any bones to the Republicans here, although Netanyahu notes: "From Iran's perspective, you are the Great Satan and we are the little Satan." | In his response, Netanyahu thanks Obama "for that strong speech yesterday" and the warm welcome. He's not throwing any bones to the Republicans here, although Netanyahu notes: "From Iran's perspective, you are the Great Satan and we are the little Satan." |
| More coverage on our live blog here. | More coverage on our live blog here. |
| 11am: At the Santorum event this morning, the Guardian's Ewen MacAskill works the crowd to see what his supporters are thinking: | |
| Listening to Rick Santorum speaking at a rally at Dayton Christian School, Miamisburg, Ohio. He has learned the lesson from last week's defeat in Michigan: social issues will win you Christian evangelicals but not the wider electorate. | Listening to Rick Santorum speaking at a rally at Dayton Christian School, Miamisburg, Ohio. He has learned the lesson from last week's defeat in Michigan: social issues will win you Christian evangelicals but not the wider electorate. |
| Santorum spoke for more than 30 minutes: about his own personal story, from humble beginnings in a mill town in Pennsylvania, his rise from two per cent in the polls before Christmas to his position now as main challenger to Mitt Romney, his success in spite of being outspent by Romney. | Santorum spoke for more than 30 minutes: about his own personal story, from humble beginnings in a mill town in Pennsylvania, his rise from two per cent in the polls before Christmas to his position now as main challenger to Mitt Romney, his success in spite of being outspent by Romney. |
| Jo Ann DiCuirci(64), a teacher at the Christian school, is supporting Santorum: "I believe his values _ sanctity of life and trying to get the country back on track, at least morally and spiritually, as much as he can do. He would have prayer support from people. I think he would support Israel." | Jo Ann DiCuirci(64), a teacher at the Christian school, is supporting Santorum: "I believe his values _ sanctity of life and trying to get the country back on track, at least morally and spiritually, as much as he can do. He would have prayer support from people. I think he would support Israel." |
| Footnote: Santorum was adamant that British government's raising of taxes on wealthy had been failure. Is this true? Seems a bit early to be reaching that conclusion. He claimed it had failed because top 2% moved money elsewhere or just stopped investing and working. Because they are so rich, they don't have to work, he said. The idea that rich people would stop working because of taxes does not sound credible. | Footnote: Santorum was adamant that British government's raising of taxes on wealthy had been failure. Is this true? Seems a bit early to be reaching that conclusion. He claimed it had failed because top 2% moved money elsewhere or just stopped investing and working. Because they are so rich, they don't have to work, he said. The idea that rich people would stop working because of taxes does not sound credible. |
| 10.45am: Personally I would like to hear more about this "Mitt Romney tells 11-year-old that Obama will give Iran the bomb" thing: | 10.45am: Personally I would like to hear more about this "Mitt Romney tells 11-year-old that Obama will give Iran the bomb" thing: |
| Romney has stepped up his criticism of President Obama on foreign affairs, hitting the president for mission muddle in Afghanistan yesterday and continuing to label the president as weak regarding Iran, as he did today in response to a question from an eleven year-old boy. | Romney has stepped up his criticism of President Obama on foreign affairs, hitting the president for mission muddle in Afghanistan yesterday and continuing to label the president as weak regarding Iran, as he did today in response to a question from an eleven year-old boy. |
| So this is how Mitt Romney talks to an 11-year-old: | So this is how Mitt Romney talks to an 11-year-old: |
| This is a president who has failed to put in place crippling sanctions against Iran. He's also failed to communicate that military options are on the table and in fact in our hand. And that it's unacceptable to America for Iran to have a nuclear weapon. I will have those military options, I will take those crippling sanctions and put them in place, and I will speak out to the Iranian people about the peril of them becoming nuclear. | This is a president who has failed to put in place crippling sanctions against Iran. He's also failed to communicate that military options are on the table and in fact in our hand. And that it's unacceptable to America for Iran to have a nuclear weapon. I will have those military options, I will take those crippling sanctions and put them in place, and I will speak out to the Iranian people about the peril of them becoming nuclear. |
| 10.30am: Rick Santorum is appearing at the Dayton Christian School in Miamisburg, Ohio, where the Guardian's Janine Gibson is watching: | |
| "We're going to have a good day in Ohio tomorrow", Rick Santorum has just told an audience at a Christian school rally. Rick Santorum events have come a long way since the Elk Lodge in New Hampshire. There are fire engines, the Dayton bomb squad and a very nervous boys choir singing inspiring songs. | "We're going to have a good day in Ohio tomorrow", Rick Santorum has just told an audience at a Christian school rally. Rick Santorum events have come a long way since the Elk Lodge in New Hampshire. There are fire engines, the Dayton bomb squad and a very nervous boys choir singing inspiring songs. |
| The local law enforcers who introduced Santorum talked about immigration, protecting our borders and welfare reform. But Santorum's speech led with values. "This country is worth it," was his theme and he spoke of the financial sacrifices his family has made during the campaign: "At this point we're spending down our savings". | The local law enforcers who introduced Santorum talked about immigration, protecting our borders and welfare reform. But Santorum's speech led with values. "This country is worth it," was his theme and he spoke of the financial sacrifices his family has made during the campaign: "At this point we're spending down our savings". |
| Sounding hoarse and even unwell, Santorum positioned himself as the "against all the odds" candidate and asked "the people of Ohio to think hard and look deep.... The people of Ohio have a great opportunity to vote for someone.... who shares the values of the people in this room." | Sounding hoarse and even unwell, Santorum positioned himself as the "against all the odds" candidate and asked "the people of Ohio to think hard and look deep.... The people of Ohio have a great opportunity to vote for someone.... who shares the values of the people in this room." |
| He certainly managed to have them booing taxes. Especially in a rousing section where he described the 50% UK income tax rate for top earners as a failure. | He certainly managed to have them booing taxes. Especially in a rousing section where he described the 50% UK income tax rate for top earners as a failure. |
| Again with the UK-bashing. Rick Santorum's Hate List obviously includes the British Isles. | Again with the UK-bashing. Rick Santorum's Hate List obviously includes the British Isles. |
| 10.20am: Mitt Romney made a hit-and-run raid on Tennessee on Sunday evening, and the Guardian's Adam Gabbatt was there to see him woo the good people of the Volunteer State: | |
| Mitt Romney swept into east Tennessee on Sunday, declared his fondness for Davy Crockett and then swept straight back out as Super Tuesday drew closer. Appearing at West Hills elementary school, in the west of Knoxville, Romney and his wife Ann were introduced by Tennessee's governor, Bill Haslam, who is Romney's state campaign chairman. | Mitt Romney swept into east Tennessee on Sunday, declared his fondness for Davy Crockett and then swept straight back out as Super Tuesday drew closer. Appearing at West Hills elementary school, in the west of Knoxville, Romney and his wife Ann were introduced by Tennessee's governor, Bill Haslam, who is Romney's state campaign chairman. |
| Ann Romney charmed the crowd by talking about the couple's five sons and how badly behaved they were growing up. Now she enjoys watching her grandchildren misbehave, she said, seguing into her fear for their futures under the present president. | Ann Romney charmed the crowd by talking about the couple's five sons and how badly behaved they were growing up. Now she enjoys watching her grandchildren misbehave, she said, seguing into her fear for their futures under the present president. |
| Cue Mitt, who, true to form, was somewhat awkward. | Cue Mitt, who, true to form, was somewhat awkward. |
| "How 'bout those Lady Vols?," he had ventured when first brought onto the stage, referencing the Tennessee Volunteers women's basketball team, who clinched the Southeastern Conference title on Sunday. | "How 'bout those Lady Vols?," he had ventured when first brought onto the stage, referencing the Tennessee Volunteers women's basketball team, who clinched the Southeastern Conference title on Sunday. |
| Romney let it be known that women's basketball was not his only Tennessee point of reference. "This place always has special feeling in my heart," Romney said. "Because when I grew up, I was thinking about Davy Crocket." | Romney let it be known that women's basketball was not his only Tennessee point of reference. "This place always has special feeling in my heart," Romney said. "Because when I grew up, I was thinking about Davy Crocket." |
| A smattering of laughter appeared to encourage the former Massacusetts governor, who then recited the beginning of the Davy Crockett theme song: | A smattering of laughter appeared to encourage the former Massacusetts governor, who then recited the beginning of the Davy Crockett theme song: |
| Born on a mountain top in Tennessee, Greenest state in the land of the free. Raised in the woods so's he knew every tree, Killed himself a bear when he was only three. | Born on a mountain top in Tennessee, Greenest state in the land of the free. Raised in the woods so's he knew every tree, Killed himself a bear when he was only three. |
| A smattering of applause greeted Romney's reading, and Crockett done with, he launched into what was mostly one of his standard issue stump speeches, pledging to label China a currency manipulator, reform "Obamacare" and championing his private sector experience. | A smattering of applause greeted Romney's reading, and Crockett done with, he launched into what was mostly one of his standard issue stump speeches, pledging to label China a currency manipulator, reform "Obamacare" and championing his private sector experience. |
| After criticising Obama as "out of ideas" and "out of excuses", Romney adopted a confessional tone and raised a few eyebrows among the audience. "I never thought I'd be doing this... Running for president of the United States, this is not what I had planned," said the man who first ran for public office in 1994, and then ran for president from 2007. | After criticising Obama as "out of ideas" and "out of excuses", Romney adopted a confessional tone and raised a few eyebrows among the audience. "I never thought I'd be doing this... Running for president of the United States, this is not what I had planned," said the man who first ran for public office in 1994, and then ran for president from 2007. |
| 10am: The stamping of tiny feet in the Republican party can be heard over this new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, which puts Mitt Romney in the lead among Republican voters but at a cost: | |
| The survey, conducted as the GOP contest has taken up contentious issues such as contraception, found signs of fatigue with the process. Even among Republicans, voter interest in participating in the general election has fallen sharply since January, a rarity in an election year, while negative views of the GOP candidates have risen among independents and moderates. | The survey, conducted as the GOP contest has taken up contentious issues such as contraception, found signs of fatigue with the process. Even among Republicans, voter interest in participating in the general election has fallen sharply since January, a rarity in an election year, while negative views of the GOP candidates have risen among independents and moderates. |
| Bill McInturff, a Republican pollster who conducted the survey along with Democrat Peter Hart, said he could think of only one word to encapsulate the effect of the nomination fight on his party and its candidates: "Corrosive." | Bill McInturff, a Republican pollster who conducted the survey along with Democrat Peter Hart, said he could think of only one word to encapsulate the effect of the nomination fight on his party and its candidates: "Corrosive." |
| Worse for Romney has been the corrosion in his personal popularity: | Worse for Romney has been the corrosion in his personal popularity: |
| New WSJ poll puts Romney as the least-liked frontrunner in decades. Dole in '96 was -4% on the negative/positive thermometer.Mitt is -11%. | New WSJ poll puts Romney as the least-liked frontrunner in decades. Dole in '96 was -4% on the negative/positive thermometer.Mitt is -11%. |
| Worse than Bob Dole? Yikes. Meanwhile, the poll puts Barack Obama's approval rate at 50%. | Worse than Bob Dole? Yikes. Meanwhile, the poll puts Barack Obama's approval rate at 50%. |
| 9.53am: PPP has a brace of polls out on the big three Super Tuesday states: | 9.53am: PPP has a brace of polls out on the big three Super Tuesday states: |
| • In Ohio Romney leads with 37% to 36% for Santorum, 15% for Gingrich, and 11% for Ron Paul. | • In Ohio Romney leads with 37% to 36% for Santorum, 15% for Gingrich, and 11% for Ron Paul. |
| • In Tennessee Santorum leads with 34% to 29% for Romney, 27% for Gingrich, and 8% for Paul. | • In Tennessee Santorum leads with 34% to 29% for Romney, 27% for Gingrich, and 8% for Paul. |
| • In Georgia Gingrich leads with 47% to 24% for Romney, 19% for Santorum, and 8% for Paul. | • In Georgia Gingrich leads with 47% to 24% for Romney, 19% for Santorum, and 8% for Paul. |
| As PPP comments: "The news is good for Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich and bad for Rick Santorum," and they are right. If Romney wins Ohio and Tennessee then this thing is over. In fact if Romney wins Ohio – and it looks like he will – then it's all over. The only question is when. | As PPP comments: "The news is good for Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich and bad for Rick Santorum," and they are right. If Romney wins Ohio and Tennessee then this thing is over. In fact if Romney wins Ohio – and it looks like he will – then it's all over. The only question is when. |
| By the way, the Gingrich campaign schedule is packed with events for the rest of the month in places like Alabama, so he doesn't appear to be thinking of throwing in the towel. | By the way, the Gingrich campaign schedule is packed with events for the rest of the month in places like Alabama, so he doesn't appear to be thinking of throwing in the towel. |
| 9.45am: Where the candidates are campaigning today is a sign of where they think their most important opportunities lie. | 9.45am: Where the candidates are campaigning today is a sign of where they think their most important opportunities lie. |
| So Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney are battling like Transformers all over Ohio, Newt Gingrich is charging around Tennessee like a bull with a graduate degree, and Ron Paul is frightening the good people of Idaho with tales of hyperinflation and endless war. | So Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney are battling like Transformers all over Ohio, Newt Gingrich is charging around Tennessee like a bull with a graduate degree, and Ron Paul is frightening the good people of Idaho with tales of hyperinflation and endless war. |
| Here's the schedule for today: | Here's the schedule for today: |
| Mitt Romney 8:25am: Holds meet and greet, Canton, Ohio 12.05pm: Holds a town hall, Youngstown, Ohio 6.30pm: Holds a campaign rally, Zanesville, Ohio | Mitt Romney 8:25am: Holds meet and greet, Canton, Ohio 12.05pm: Holds a town hall, Youngstown, Ohio 6.30pm: Holds a campaign rally, Zanesville, Ohio |
| Rick Santorum 9.30am: Holds a rally, Miamisburg, Ohio 2pm: Holds a rally, Westerville, Ohio 6.30pm: Holds a rally, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio | Rick Santorum 9.30am: Holds a rally, Miamisburg, Ohio 2pm: Holds a rally, Westerville, Ohio 6.30pm: Holds a rally, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio |
| Newt Gingrich 1pm: Speaks to a Republican Women's Luncheon, Kingsport, Tennessee 4pm: Holds a rally, Hilton Knoxville Airport, Alcoa, Tennessee 7pm: Holds a rally. TAC Air Co, Chattanooga, Tennessee | Newt Gingrich 1pm: Speaks to a Republican Women's Luncheon, Kingsport, Tennessee 4pm: Holds a rally, Hilton Knoxville Airport, Alcoa, Tennessee 7pm: Holds a rally. TAC Air Co, Chattanooga, Tennessee |
| Ron Paul 11am PT: Tours Quest Aircraft manufacturing facility, Sandpoint, Idaho Noon PT: Holds a town hall, Sandpoint, Idaho 3pm PT: Holds a town hall, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 7pm MT: Holds a town hall, Idaho Falls, Idaho | Ron Paul 11am PT: Tours Quest Aircraft manufacturing facility, Sandpoint, Idaho Noon PT: Holds a town hall, Sandpoint, Idaho 3pm PT: Holds a town hall, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 7pm MT: Holds a town hall, Idaho Falls, Idaho |
| 9.30am: Good morning from Guardian live blog HQ in Columbus, Ohio, where we've set up shop for tomorrow's Super Tuesday contest. Here's Ryan Devereaux's summary of where things stand today: | 9.30am: Good morning from Guardian live blog HQ in Columbus, Ohio, where we've set up shop for tomorrow's Super Tuesday contest. Here's Ryan Devereaux's summary of where things stand today: |
| The GOP candidates are gearing up for Super Tuesday tomorrow, with top Republican congressmen and influential conservatives beginning finally to coalesce behind Mitt Romney. On Sunday, congressman Eric Cantor of Virginia and Oklahoma senator Tom Coburn came out in support for the former Massachusetts governor. They didn't make the most strident of endorsements but the pair made it clear where they stand. Cantor declared: "Mitt Romney is the man for this year," while Coburn said Romney is ""best equipped to solve the urgent problems before us". Former Bush-era attorney general, John Ashcroft is expected to declare his support for Romney today. | The GOP candidates are gearing up for Super Tuesday tomorrow, with top Republican congressmen and influential conservatives beginning finally to coalesce behind Mitt Romney. On Sunday, congressman Eric Cantor of Virginia and Oklahoma senator Tom Coburn came out in support for the former Massachusetts governor. They didn't make the most strident of endorsements but the pair made it clear where they stand. Cantor declared: "Mitt Romney is the man for this year," while Coburn said Romney is ""best equipped to solve the urgent problems before us". Former Bush-era attorney general, John Ashcroft is expected to declare his support for Romney today. |
| Over 400 delegates in 10 states are up for grabs on Tuesday. Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich are looking for victories in Ohio and Georgia, respectively. Santorum hopes to rebound from his recent losses to Romney in Michigan and Arizona by showing that he is popular among working class, conservative voters. An NBC News/Marist poll released on Sunday gave Santorum a two-point advantage over Romney that was within the survey's margin of sampling error. Public Policy Polling, meanwhile has Romney leading Santorum in Ohio with 37% to 36%. Gingrich, meanwhile, is struggling to remain relevant and banking on a win in his home state of Georgia to prove it. According to PPP, Gingrich leads in Georgia with 47% to 24% for Romney, 19% for Santorum, and 8% for Texas Congressman Ron Paul. PPP also reports that Santorum has the edge on Romney in Tennessee with 34% to 29%. | Over 400 delegates in 10 states are up for grabs on Tuesday. Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich are looking for victories in Ohio and Georgia, respectively. Santorum hopes to rebound from his recent losses to Romney in Michigan and Arizona by showing that he is popular among working class, conservative voters. An NBC News/Marist poll released on Sunday gave Santorum a two-point advantage over Romney that was within the survey's margin of sampling error. Public Policy Polling, meanwhile has Romney leading Santorum in Ohio with 37% to 36%. Gingrich, meanwhile, is struggling to remain relevant and banking on a win in his home state of Georgia to prove it. According to PPP, Gingrich leads in Georgia with 47% to 24% for Romney, 19% for Santorum, and 8% for Texas Congressman Ron Paul. PPP also reports that Santorum has the edge on Romney in Tennessee with 34% to 29%. |
| Paul has acknowledged that he probably won't be nominated to run against President Obama. Paul traveled to Alaska over the weekend, which is holding caucuses Tuesday. Discussing his prospects in a TV interview Paul said, "Do I believe the chances are slim? Yes, I do." | Paul has acknowledged that he probably won't be nominated to run against President Obama. Paul traveled to Alaska over the weekend, which is holding caucuses Tuesday. Discussing his prospects in a TV interview Paul said, "Do I believe the chances are slim? Yes, I do." |
| Barack Obama has warned that "loose talk" of war with Iran could push the country to develop a nuclear weapon, in a speech to the pro-Israel lobbying group Aipac. The Republican candidates have used the spectre of a nuclear-armed Iran as an excuse to argue about who is the biggest supporter of Israel ,and to paint the president as weak. | Barack Obama has warned that "loose talk" of war with Iran could push the country to develop a nuclear weapon, in a speech to the pro-Israel lobbying group Aipac. The Republican candidates have used the spectre of a nuclear-armed Iran as an excuse to argue about who is the biggest supporter of Israel ,and to paint the president as weak. |
| Republicans have been distancing themselves from the Conservative talkshow host Rush Limbaugh. He was forced to apologize for calling a law student a "slut" and "prostitute" because she expressed public support for the Obama administration's policy on funding for contraception. The comments caused a storm of controversy last week and resulted in numerous sponsors pulling their support for Limbaugh's show. Newt Gingrich said it was right for the host to apologize for his comments and added that it was "silly" to say Limbaugh – whose show is wildly popular among conservatives – speaks for the GOP. | Republicans have been distancing themselves from the Conservative talkshow host Rush Limbaugh. He was forced to apologize for calling a law student a "slut" and "prostitute" because she expressed public support for the Obama administration's policy on funding for contraception. The comments caused a storm of controversy last week and resulted in numerous sponsors pulling their support for Limbaugh's show. Newt Gingrich said it was right for the host to apologize for his comments and added that it was "silly" to say Limbaugh – whose show is wildly popular among conservatives – speaks for the GOP. |