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Romney leads or is tied in four crucial states. Four of 10 Americans know Romney's faith. Herbert opponent-less, but still fund-raising.
Happy Thursday. Mitt Romney is New Hampshire's clear frontrunner and he's also leading in Florida and tied for first-place in Iowa and South Carolina in a new CNN/TIME/ORC poll. Romney's son, Tagg, posted on Facebook: "Polls go up, down, yada yada yada. But you gotta love CNN poll today..."
-> Of course, that doesn't mean Mitt Romney is safe to coast since a majority of voters also say their minds are not yet made up. [CNN]
Topping the news: He has no opponents yet but Gov. Gary Herbert is not letting down on fundraising, and his upcoming gala is on track to raise a record amount. [Trib]-> House Speaker Becky Lockhart and Senate President Mike Waddoups have not ruled out a challenge of Herbert. [Trib]
-> A SL County prosecutor files suit agains The Tribune, alleging that the paper hurt her career by reporting on allegations inside the DA's office in the lead up to the Lohra Miller-Sim Gill election. [Trib]
-> Lots of local incumbents are stepping away from the public spotlight this year. [Trib]
Interesting read: An Oxford fellow takes a look at the LDS Church in the light of the presidential bids of Romney and Huntsman and says the faith has come of age. [TheAtlantic]
Tweet of the day: From @travis_chambers (tweeting from the Logan town hall): "@orrinhatch "'I'd like you all to get involved in my campaign, if you're against me, then you're that dumb.' Quite a colorful fellow."
-> Hatch also says that Occupy Wall Street folks don't really know what they want. [HeraldJournal]
Happening today: State Rep. Ken Sumsion and state Sen. Mark Madsen are hosting an ice cream social for congressional candidate Carl Wimmer at Emmett's and Ethel's in Lehi.
Look for: A new survey this morning showing that despite the recent dustup over Mormonism, still only about four in 10 Americans can identify Romney as a Mormon when asked. However, white evangelical Protestants where the most ready to answer that question (53 percent today as compared to 44 percent in July), according to the polling by the Public Religion Research Institute.
In other news: The AP picks up on Rep. Rob Bishop's effort to allow border patrol agents to disregard environmental laws 100 miles into U.S. soil as a way to help control the border. [AP]
-> The Tribune gets an sneak preview of the new City Creek Center downtown with its retractable roof. [Trib]
-> Local GOP leaders discuss their take on Herman Cain's rise over Romney. [ABC4]
-> Sen. Orrin Hatch calls on the FDA to approve medical devices more quickly to help spur on the economy. [DNews]
-> Fed up with the Democratic Party, former SLC Mayor Rocky Anderson has found a new home for his beliefs: Occupy Wall Street. [SLWeekly]
-> AG Mark Shurtleff's immigration summit turns into a cautionary tale for Republicans who need Latino votes. [Trib]-> Utah has nation's lowest income disparity according to the Census. [Trib]-> The Utah Transit Authority authorizes $100 million in bonds and takes a hit from a rating agency. [Trib]-> UTA also takes a preliminary step toward the next "Rapid Express' bus service route. [Trib]-> Peg McEntee takes a look at the big anonymous donor that bailed out KCPW and examines the ethical issues raised. [Trib]-> Pat Bagley's view of Sen. Mike Lee's plan to create his own super PAC. [Trib]
2012 watch: Romney's campaign has left expectations low for Iowa but could be planning to plow money into the state to win the January caucuses. [TIME]
-> Huntsman says he cringes every time he hears Gov. Rick Perry question President Barack Obama's U.S. citizenship. [HuffPost]
-> Romney meets with Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell but neither will endorse the other. [Politico]
-> Are you ready for the onslaught? GOP rivals and left and right groups are bound to put their campaign crosshairs on Romney soon. [TheAtlantic]
-> Jon Huntsman says he and Herman Cain were dead-even in the polls only a few weeks ago, a point Huntsman says shows the populace is fickle about who it wants to lead. [ABCNews] And Huntsman says Romney is "leading from behind." [ABCNews]
Where are they?
Hatch speaks to the Provo Rotary Club.
Herbert heads for his monthly news conference at KUED, meets with Dr. Zahir Tanin, ambassador of Afghanistan to the United Nations, sits down with the Board of Regents, meets with TomCo Energy and then the Outdoor Retailer Association. The governor later heads to KSL Studios for the Utah Association of Broadcasters' Let Me Speak to the Governor forum.
Lt. Gov. Greg Bell speaks to local leaders at the annual Intergovernmental Roundtable Summit at the Salt Lake Hilton.
Shurtleff meets with the HCT Executive Committee, lunches with John Swallow, Doug Foxley and Frank Pignanelli, sits down with Margaret Bird and then meets with Effie Arbib.
SL Co. Mayor Peter Corroon heads to the SL Valley Conference of Mayors meeting in Murray.
SLC Mayor Ralph Becker is in Washington to meet with the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs officials.
WVC Mayor Mike Winder hits a breakfast with for the Columbus Center, attends the grand opening for Roseman University, joins the SL Valley Conference of Mayors and then heads to the Farnsworth Elementary School carnival.
Obama meets with Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner in the Oval Office, sits down with Prime Minister Petr Necas of the Czech Republic, holds court with city and municipal leaders from across the country and later heads to dinner with winners of a campaign contest.
Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at cornflakes@sltrib.com.
— Thomas BurrTwitter.com/thomaswburrwith editor Dan Harrie