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By Alexander Burns (@aburnspolitico, aburns@politico.com )


THE CONVENTION FIGHT - BACK TO SQUARE ONE - Less than 24 hours after two key state GOP chairs proposed moving the 2012 convention if Florida doesn't change the date of its primary, it's clear that the threat hasn't worked. Florida's legislative leaders reacted with indifference. In a statement released last night, Republican Party of Florida Chairman Dave Bitner suggested "moving the primary into late February, making Florida fifth on the calendar" - exactly the same negotiating position Florida has had all along. Republicans in Washington and Florida agree there's little chance Tampa could actually lose the convention. And inertia here favors Florida: If state Republicans don't respond to pressure and the Republican National Committee doesn't bend the calendar rules, the Sunshine State's 2012 primary will stay on Jan. 31, 2012. More on the GOP staring contest, here: http://politi.co/eZ6Ag8


OHIO BULLETIN - "Kasich signs SB5, opponents plan referendum" - The Columbus Dispatch: "Gov. John Kasich tonight signed Senate Bill 5, placing into law legislation that limits collective bargaining for about 360,000 public employees. Democrats and union leaders have vowed to collect the more than 230,000 signatures needed to go to the ballot in November and ask voters to overturn the law. If sufficient valid signatures from registered voters are obtained within 90 days, the bill won't take effect until Ohioans vote on it. The governor announced he would sign the bill through a campaign fundraising email ... In Kasich's email, he said passage of the bill by the Ohio House and Senate was 'a victory for Ohio taxpayers.'" http://bit.ly/fE53ed


POPPING FROM THE RNC - APRIL MADNESS: The voting is open at the Republican National Committee's new Obama-mocking contest: the "Barack Bracket," an online voting game to choose which frivolous activity should occupy most of the president's time. From an original list of priorities that included "funding the government," "tax reform" and "ramming through Obamacare," the contest has come down to four options: Fundraisers, White House parties, vacation and golf. This is an attack line against Obama - that he has too much fun on the job, and doesn't keep his eye on the ball - that the conservative base loves, and that's here to stay for the 2012 cycle. See the contest here: http://bit.ly/i8mXFt


THIS WEEKEND - WATCH HEINRICH: Mexico Rep. Martin Heinrich's decision on the 2012 Senate race is "imminent," according to the Albuquerque Journal, potentially making Heinrich the first big Democratic recruit of the 2012 cycle. From the paper: "A source with information about Heinrich's intentions said the congressman has been weighing the decision for weeks ... The source would not confirm if Heinrich intends to run, but stressed his qualifications as a 'tried and tested' politician with proven fundraising ability ... If he runs, Heinrich would be the first major Democrat to announce his intention to run for the seat that longtime Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., will vacate at the end of his fifth term in 2012. Former Rep. Heather Wilson, a Republican who previously held Heinrich's 1st District House seat, has also announced her intention to run." http://bit.ly/dRSLoa


As Haley Barbour goes for the museum, Jesse Benton multi-tasks and George LeMieux taxis to the runway, here's POLITICO's Morning Score: your daily guide to the permanent campaign.


FRIDAY STANDINGS - BETTER OFF NOW? The first full fundraising quarter of the 2012 cycle is over. The new quarter, an important early financial test for the GOP field, has begun. With presidential candidates staying a little quieter for the last few days, here's how we think some of the highest-profile players should answer the question: Are you better off now than you were seven day ago?


BETTER OFF: (1) Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who dialed up his appearances in the national media, took stands against raising the debt ceiling and for regime change in Libya, and recorded the best net approval rating of any prominent Florida politician - all in one week; (2) New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who announced a deal that promises to deliver the first on-time Empire State budget in decades, and saw his polling numbers stay sky-high even after a tough debate over spending; (3) Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, whose gestures toward the 2012 presidential run have generated interest among activists and even more interest among reporters, ensuring the maverick freshman will have a platform to keep sharing his views as only a member of the Paul family can.


WORSE OFF: (1) California Gov. Jerry Brown, who ran face-first into a political wall that has bedeviled many a Golden State executive: a legislature unwilling to cut important budget deals, or even to put tax-hike measures up for a vote in a referendum this summer; (2) Former Washington D.C. schools chief Michelle Rhee, whose enviable national brand took a hit this week when USA Today published evidence suggesting teachers in the district cheated to make their students' test results - and by extension, Rhee's record - look better; (3) Wisconsin Rep. Sean Duffy, who took his first big political stumble when Democrats released a video of him fretting about his $174,000 salary, and then made matters worse by claiming he was misquoted in an exchange caught on tape.


TODAY - HOURS AWAY: The latest jobs report is due at 8:30 a.m. And later - according to the White House guidance - "the President will visit a UPS shipping facility in Landover, MD where he will view vehicles from AT&T, PepsiCo, UPS and Verizon's clean fleets and deliver remarks to the companies' employees."


THE 2012 SCORE - CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF: Mitt Romney will take new, formal steps toward running for president in 2012 this month, supporters learned on a conference call Thursday. That's because the money race is about to begin in earnest, report POLITICO's Hunt, Haberman, Smith and Martin, Esq.: "Spencer Zwick, Romney's chief liaison to the fundraising community, informed the group of donors and outside advisers that the governor won't launch a full-fledged campaign by the end of next month but would file the paperwork necessary with the FEC that will allow them to begin bringing in the cash needed to post a big number for the second quarter ... There is no hard date set yet - or at least outside Romney backers haven't been informed of one yet - for either the initial filing of paperwork or an eventual actual declaration of candidacy." http://politi.co/enTuTn and http://politi.co/gtRca4


WINNING THE QUARTER - RON PAUL SCORES: The libertarian hero and possible presidential candidate brought in $3 million "through his various political organizations" over the last three months, Andy Barr reports, showcasing "Paul's continuing force as a grassroots-powered online fundraiser. The Texas congressman raised $1 million through his federal PAC and $2 million through Campaign for Liberty, a 501C(4) which cannot transfer funds directly to political organizations. Paul's fundraising documents ... will also show he has $1.7 million on hand in his congressional campaign account." http://politi.co/gQNx8a


AND HIS SON PREPARES - Kentucky's freshman GOP senator has formed a leadership PAC - dubbed RAND PAC - that's staffed by some of the same players running his father's operation. From cn|2: "Jesse Benton, Rand Paul's campaign manager in the 2010 Senate race, confirmed to Pure Politics in an email that he will serve as RAND PAC's director .. e said the creation of the PAC isn't related to a potential presidential run 'at this time.' Benton ... also runs Liberty PAC, Ron Paul's political action committee. Technological consultant Eric Stein also will split time between both RAND PAC and Liberty PAC." http://bit.ly/hhxd15


NEWT'S ADVICE: DON'T RETREAT ... The former House speaker urged congressional freshmen to draw a line in the sand on spending and force Democrats to "prove how liberal they are" if they won't cooperate in making cuts. POLITICO's Sherman and Cogan: "As the government faces its most serious threat of a shutdown since his speakership, Gingrich said he told the group that their 'goal should be to avoid a shutdown, while not giving in on their core principles.' But there's a caveat. 'They can't walk into a room and have President Obama think that they can be blackmailed by yelling the word shutdown,' he said ... On health care, the Georgian said freshmen should 'have an absolute commitment to de-funding ObamaCare implementation this year.'" http://politi.co/hCLum9


EARLY-STATE READING - "South Carolina prepares for 2012 spotlight" - CNN's Peter Hamby says April is go time for the Palmetto State: "This Saturday marks the beginning of the South Carolina's county convention season, when Republican activists gather in high school gyms and cafeterias to attend to local party business and tap delegates for the statewide convention ... York County Republican Party officials will run a 2012 presidential straw poll at their [Saturday] convention. Perhaps a more instructive straw poll will take place the following Saturday in Greenville, home to the state's largest county-level Republican Party organization and ground-zero for South Carolina's evangelical community. Santorum, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich are all expected to attend the Greenville event on April 9, followed by the Spartanburg County convention occurring later that morning and just a few miles up I-85. Another 2012 straw poll will be conducted on April 15 at the Charleston County convention, likely to be one of the largest Republican gatherings of the season." http://bit.ly/hWnLu2


THE MUSEUM THAT HALEY BUILT: When Mississippi lawmakers work to pass a state budget next week, Gov. Haley Barbour will also ask them to support the creation of a museum commemorating the civil rights movement. It's a project that could have hefty symbolic importance in a presidential campaign. Barbour said he'll "put in front of [legislators] the Civil Rights Museum and the Mississippi State History Museum as one piece of legislation," according to the Commercial Appeal: "He said the state likely will pay the $15 million cost for the buildings, which will be connected by a parking garage, and private funds would pay to furnish the buildings. 'The exhibits are expected to cost about $24 million, and to raise half of that privately is doable and appropriate,' Barbour said." http://bit.ly/gdYj7L


FOUR MORE DAYS - PALIN FOR PROSSER: Wisconsin voters go to the polls on Tuesday to cast ballots in a state Supreme Court race and a Milwaukee County executive election that will test the strength of popular opposition to Republican Gov. Scott Walker. The judicial election is especially important because the state Supreme Court is expected to rule on the legality of the Republican-backed measure to limit collective bargaining for public employees. The latest sign that the election has become nationalized came overnight, when @SarahPalinUSA tweeted support for conservative Justice David Prosser: "Wisconsin, please remember to vote for Justice Prosser on April 5." http://bit.ly/hUWSou


REDISTRICTING JUMBLE - "Two sets of Iowa Congressmen thrown together in redistricting" - The Des Moines Register: "Congressmen Tom Latham and Steve King, both Republicans, now both live in what would be Iowa's 4th Congressional District, under a redistricting plan released by the Iowa Legislative Services Agency today. Likewise, Democratic Congressmen Dave Loebsack and Bruce Braley find their homes in what would be Iowa's reconfigured 1st District ... The proposed 2nd District in southeast Iowa includes Mount Pleasant, hometown of Christie Vilsack, the former Iowa first lady who has said she is interested in running for Congress ... An initial review shows the 4th District would be less Republican than the old 5th District with Mason City and Fort Dodge and Story County. (The 5th is gone.) The 1st and 2nd districts would be solidly Democratic. And the 3rd District would be a toss-up." http://bit.ly/hjkacI


POLL OF THE DAY - BLOOMBERG SINKS: New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg seems to have finally persuaded the national press that he's not running for president in 2012. But Bloomberg still has his political hands full at home, where his approval rating is now 19 points in the wrong direction. From NY1 and Marist College: "Forty percent of new registered voters rate his performance excellent or good, compared to 59 percent fair or poor. While it's not the lowest Bloomberg's ever been, it's far from his greatest. Pollsters chalk it up to the sluggish economy, though unemployment in the city has been better than the U.S. as a whole. Throw in lingering fallout from the Christmas weekend storm, budget battles and concern about schools and you have the recipe for mayoral malaise." http://bit.ly/g6sUng


LEMIEUX IS A GO: Former Florida Sen. George LeMieux plans to launch a challenge to Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson next week, the St. Petersburg Times reports. He'll be the second Republican candidate in the race. From the paper: "LeMieux, 41, generally impressed conservatives during his interim stint ... He distanced himself from his former boss, Crist, who was forced to leave the GOP in his race against Marco Rubio. But the affiliation is certain to be an issue in the primary. So far only one major candidate has declared, Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos. Former State Rep. Adam Hasner also is seriously weighing a bid." http://bit.ly/fNyP7g


CODA - QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Dear AOL: Please explain to us your new HuffPo editorial policy in re: Breitbart. Sincerely, Sarah in Wasilla." - Sarah Palin, once again embracing the full-time job of media critic http://bit.ly/dIHEdn

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