Politics

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Eric Liskey of West Des Moines, Iowa, huddles for warmth with his daughters, 7 year old Claire, left, and 10 year old Katie while they wait for republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney to arrive for a cold, rainy, early morning rally at a Hy-Vee grocery store, West Des Moines, IA, Friday, December 30, 2011. (Andrew Harnik / The Washington Times)

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Washington DC Mayor Vincent C. Gray arrives for a joint press conference with Washington DC Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier, to announce a drop in the number of homicides and a plan to improve police services, in Washington DC, Friday, December 30, 2011. As of December 30, 2011 there have been 108 murders in the District, putting the nation's capital on pace to have it's lowest number of homicides in nearly 50 years. (Rod Lamkey Jr/ The Washington Times)

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Philadelphia Flyers left wing Scott Hartnell is on pace for over 70 points this season. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)

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Supporters listen as Rep. Ron Paul of Texas speaks at a campaign event at the Hotel Pattee in Perry, Iowa, on Thursday. All of the Republicans are fielding questions about cutting spending and whether they are the candidate who can do it. (Associated Press)

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Protesters chant anti-U.S. slogans and wave Iraqi flags Dec. 30, 2011, during a demonstration in the Azamiyah neighborhood of Baghdad. Hundreds of Iraqi Sunnis have celebrated the departure of the American forces from Iraq, amid sectarian tensions. (Associated Press)

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Government spokeswoman and deputy premier Soraya Saenz de Santamaria speaks Dec. 30, 2011, during a press conference following the new conservative government's second Cabinet meeting at the Monlcoa Palace in Madrid. (Associated Press)

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Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (right), joined by his wife Ann and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (left), speaks Dec. 30, 2011, during a campaign appearance at a Hy-Vee grocery store in West Des Moines, Iowa. (Associated Press)

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Republican presidential candidate and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich speaks Dec. 30, 2011, during a campaign stop in Des Moines, Iowa. (Associated Press)

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Syrian soldiers chant slogans Dec. 30, 2011, during a pro-regime rally in Damascus, Syria. The rebel Free Syrian Army said it has stopped its offensive against government targets during a month-long mission by Arab League monitors, saying it wants to expose how the regime is killing peaceful protesters. (Associated Press)

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STEADFAST: "We can't afford a president who's going to be just a little better than the president who's in there right now," Rick Santorum tells voters. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (right), accompanied by his wife Anne and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (left), speaks Dec. 30, 2011, during a campaign appearance at a Hy-Vee grocery store in West Des Moines, Iowa. (Associated Press)

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Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney campaigns Dec. 29, 2011, during a stop in Ames, Iowa. (Associated Press)

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In a Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011 photo, Jim Knapp speaks during an interview in Iowa City after leaving an event featuring presidential candidate U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann. Knapp is one of many Iowa Republican voters who are concerned about the economy ahead of next week's caucus, even though Iowa's economy is doing better than the nation's. (AP Photo/Ryan J. Foley)

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Former Speaker of the House and current Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich greets Iowans as he arrives to speak at the Dubuque Rotary Club at the Dubuque Golf & Country Club, Dubuque, IA, Tuesday, December 27, 2011. (Andrew Harnik / The Washington Times)

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Callista Gingrich, the wife of Former Speaker of the House and current Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich listens as her husband speaks to the Dubuque Rotary Club at the Dubuque Golf & Country Club, Dubuque, IA, Tuesday, December 27, 2011. (Andrew Harnik / The Washington Times)

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Former Speaker of the House and current Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich takes questions from the audience after speaking to the Dubuque Rotary Club at the Dubuque Golf & Country Club, Dubuque, IA, Tuesday, December 27, 2011. (Andrew Harnik / The Washington Times)

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Helen Kilgere with the Dubuque Rotary Club gets squeezed by reporters and videographers trying to get close to former Speaker of the House and current Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich following a speech which he gave at the Dubuque Rotary Club at the Dubuque Golf & Country Club, Dubuque, IA, Tuesday, December 27, 2011. (Andrew Harnik / The Washington Times)

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Members of the audience take photographs as Former Governor of Massachusetts and current Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney delivers a speech to kick off his Iowa bus tour at Hotel Blackhawk, Davenport, IA , Tuesday, December 27, 2011. (Andrew Harnik / The Washington Times)

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Former Governor of Massachusetts and current Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney delivers a speech to kick off his Iowa bus tour at Hotel Blackhawk, Davenport, IA , Tuesday, December 27, 2011. (Andrew Harnik / The Washington Times)

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Former Governor of Massachusetts and current Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney delivers a speech to kick off his Iowa bus tour at Hotel Blackhawk, Davenport, IA , Tuesday, December 27, 2011. (Andrew Harnik / The Washington Times)