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


POLITICO SNEAK PEEK - MESSAGE FROM 43: The Hispanic Leadership Network's inaugural conference is underway in Coral Gables, marking the first gathering of the GOP outreach group recently launched by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and former Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez. Helping kick off today's events is former President George W. Bush, who has recorded a video message on how Republicans can find common ground with Latino voters. "I appreciate the mission of the conference, which is to make sure the Hispanic community, and our country, understands that the Republican Party shares values with the Hispanics of America," Bush says. "We believe in entrepreneurship ... Secondly, we believe in the importance of service to our country. Thirdly, we believe in the importance of faith and family. And the fourth shared value, is that all life is precious." Bush's 2004 reelection campaign was the high point in recent years for the GOP's performance among Latinos.


MORE - Over 600 people have registered to participate in the conference, which will also feature remarks by Gutierrez, former Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman, Texas Sen. John Cornyn and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty. The events will stream live on the Facebook page of the American Action Network, the pro-GOP outside group that backs the Hispanic Leadership Network. Facebook link: http://on.fb.me/giprB7 ; and the full Friday agenda: http://bit.ly/fncI6v


BACK IN D.C. - ZERO HOUR FOR STEELE - Time has run out for the candidates competing to lead the Republican National Committee, as the 168 members of the RNC prepare to choose a new chairman in National Harbor, Md. The contenders are incumbent Chairman Michael Steele, Wisconsin GOP Chairman Reince Priebus, Michigan Committeeman Saul Anuzis, former Missouri GOP Chair Ann Wagner and veteran operative Maria Cino. POLITICO's Jonathan Martin and your Morning Score correspondent raise the curtain: "On a tactical level, the race has come down to two questions: How quickly can Steele's challengers leave him in the dust? And can anyone get a decisive edge if the chairman falters early? ... Priebus, who enters the voting viewed as something of a frontrunner, can't afford to look like he's stalled out in later ballots ... [T]he key is to win as quickly as possible. ... For Anuzis, Wagner and Cino, the challenge is to show they can make a real play for second or first place" within a few rounds of voting. Full preview here: http://politi.co/g7d8w1


As Mitch Daniels heads for the red carpet, John Thune joins the CPAC crowd and Pete Sessions picks his team, here's POLITICO's Morning Score: your daily guide to the permanent campaign.


POPPING TODAY - AFL VS. KASICH - The AFL-CIO is organizing a nighttime demonstration in Cincinnati to protest what it calls Republican Gov. John Kasich's push to "weaken the voice of workers and weaken the middle class." In a memo due out this morning, the AFL-CIO's Alison Omens explains why Ohio matters to the labor giant: "Across the country we are seeing conservative governors and legislators make it a priority to stamp out workers' rights and eliminate unions. ... Kasich has already stated that collective bargaining rights for low income, mostly minority women workers are 'toast' under his administration. Meanwhile, in a sign that it's just politics as usual, Gov. Kasich announced a pay raise for his own senior staff before even coming into office." Read the full memo here: http://politi.co/hTiPKM


SENATE SIREN - KBH OUT - Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison will not run for reelection in 2012, touching off a succession fight that's likely to feature sitting mayors, statewide officers and congressmen in competition for the GOP nomination. Hutchison told the Dallas Morning News that she'd "known since 2006 that I wouldn't seek another term," but "wanted to announce it on my own terms." More: "Hutchison said Thursday that the 2012 contest to replace her would be a 'humdinger' attracting an array of contenders. ... 'It was a humdinger when I ran and I do believe it will be again,' she said. 'I do believe we have a deep bench. There are some candidates who haven't raised [their] heads yet who will.'" http://bit.ly/e8siE4


MORE - BOOKMARK IT: Texas Tribune runs down a long - long - list of potential successors, rating 20 Republicans and Democrats on the likelihood that they'll enter the race and offering commentary on each. The likeliest GOP entrants: Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz, Railroad Commissioners Michael Williams and Elizabeth Ames Jones, former Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams. The top Dem: Former state Comptroller John Sharp. And the top talkers: ESPN analyst Craig James, entertainer Kinky Friedman, George P. Bush. http://bit.ly/hzOs16 (More on the field from the Houston Chronicle's Richard Dunham: http://bit.ly/gVbWpI ; and POLITICO's David Catanese: http://politi.co/fzk5lT)


BREAKING IN FLORIDA - "Mike Haridopolos readying 2012 U.S. Senate campaign" - The Orlando Sentinel: "Senate President Mike Haridopolos is inviting big Republican donors to a 'private strategy meeting' in Orlando next month and asking them to bring $10,000 with them for his U.S. Senate campaign [against Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson]... The letter - along with a new Web site touting his candidacy -- all but makes it official." Haridopolos confirmed his plans to POLITICO, explaining: "Like Marco Rubio proved, I think you need to get in early and prove that you're serious." http://bit.ly/i1e9Mz and http://politi.co/fQCYfo


THE 2012 SCORE - TWO-WEEK STORY - Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will appear on Sean Hannity's Fox News show Monday for her first interview since last weekend's shooting in Arizona. The New York Times scooped: "Her agreement to sit for an interview comes as even some Republicans have urged her to put herself out there for questions amid the criticism she is facing. ... In going on Mr. Hannity's program, however, she is choosing a more sympathetic setting." http://nyti.ms/fQrKMY ALL OR NOTHING - Tim Pawlenty told college students at GW last night that he's not interested in settling for VP this time around. POLITICO's Kendra Marr: "'If I decide to run it would be for president, not vice president,' Pawlenty told the College Republicans ... Asked who he might want to join him on a presidential ticket, Pawlenty told students they should be 'impressed' by the GOP's next generation of leaders. He singled out governors Luis Fortuno of Puerto Rico, Brian Sandoval of Nevada, Susana Martinez of New Mexico and Nikki Haley of South Carolina." http://politi.co/dWaz4T


WHERE IN THE WORLD IS MITT ROMNEY - The Jerusalem Post spots him in Israel: "Romney met on Thursday with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in his Jerusalem residence, the first of a long list of presidential candidates expected in Israel this year to bolster their Mideast and foreign policy credentials prior to the primaries and November 2012 elections. Netanyahu put out a brief statement saying they had discussed advancing a diplomatic process with the Palestinians based on security, and the Iranian nuclear challenge." http://bit.ly/emk3fN


AND - STEP BY STEP: Real Clear Politics reports that Romney has formally signed Rich Beeson, of FLS Connect fame, to serve as his political director and Neil Newhouse of Public Opinion Strategies as his pollster. RCP: "A GOP source who worked against Romney in the last campaign said Beeson was a savvy hire for Romney's team, as he brings an outsider perspective to Romney's Boston inner circle." http://bit.ly/fAmOoY


THUNE TO CPAC: South Dakota Sen. John Thune is the latest 2012-er to sign on as a speaker at next month's conservative confab in Washington. The Argus Leader notes Thune "has declined a request to speak before the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, in the past, but the senator was able to make the Feb. 10-12 event this year, spokesman Kyle Downey said. 'Senator Thune's schedule did not allow for him to attend CPAC previously, but that is not the case this year, and the senator is looking forward to addressing this annual gathering of leading conservatives,' Downey said." http://bit.ly/e5brID


DIFFERENT KINDA PARTY: Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels will address the clubby D.C. Gridiron Dinner later this winter, USA Today reported: "Daniels has been tapped as the Republican speaker for the March 12 dinner. He'll try to get a few laughs ... and share speaking duties with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, the Democratic speaker. ... There is a tradition of speaking at the Gridiron dinner and then later finding your way on the campaign trail. Obama did a turn as Democratic speaker at the 2006 dinner and is scheduled to attend this year's festivities". http://usat.ly/eijhhL


EARLY-STATE WATCH: Former New Hampshire gubernatorial candidate Jack Kimball plans to push for a conservative presidential nominee in 2012 if he's elected chairman of the state Republican Party. He told NH Journal: "I think the State GOP Chairman should make it very clear to all the incoming Presidential candidates that the people of the State of New Hampshire have just made a loud statement as to their desire to our party get back to its conservative values." Kimball is in a competitive race for the chairmanship with Cheshire County GOP Chair Juliana Bergeron, who's backed by outgoing Chairman John Sununu. http://bit.ly/hnwglO


AND IN S.C. - NEWT'S BENCHMARKS: During a visit to Myrtle Beach, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich laid out some pretty ambitious goals for Republicans who want to broaden the party's base in 2012. The Sun News: "GOP candidates need to spend at least 30 percent of their time campaigning with Blacks, Hispanics and other minorities to increase the percentage of those communities which vote for Republicans, he said. Republicans should aim for winning 40 more House seats and 12 or 13 more Senate seats in the next election, Gingrich said." http://bit.ly/haA259


DEFENDING THE HOUSE - TEAM OF VICE-CHAIRS: NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions has chosen eight lieutenants to help lead the campaign arm of the House GOP. POLITICO's Rich Cohen reports that deputy chairman Greg Walden and vice-chairs Devin Nunes and Lynn Westmoreland are staying in their posts, while "Sessions also has brought in fresh blood in newly elected Rep. Diane Black (Tenn.), who will lead the NRCC's communications. ... In addition to Black, the other new vice-chairmen are: Vern Buchanan (Fla.), finance; Steve Scalise (La.), recruitment; Virginia Foxx (N.C.), grass-roots development; John Shimkus (Ill.), mentoring, chiefly with freshmen and non-incumbent candidates; and Ed Royce (Calif.), who will coordinate the NRCC's regional chairs." http://politi.co/eR6USJ


OPENING UP SHOP: Pennsylvania power duo T.J. Rooney, the former Democratic Party chairman, and Mary Isenhour, the former executive director, are hanging a shingle outside a new consulting firm christened Isenhour Rooney Strategies. Both strategists are veterans of the legendary Ed Rendell political operation. From the announcement - Isenhour: "Our philosophy is that candidates and issues that are important to us can win despite being outspent, if we use our resources wisely." And Rooney: "Mary and I became very accustomed to winning and we're both anxious to get back to doing just that."


BEYOND 2012 - THE REALLY BIG FIGHT: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Newark Mayor Cory Booker are deadlocked at 42 percent in a new PPP survey testing a match-up for the 2013 governor's race. Booker's not a sure bet to run, but the Democratic-aligned polling firm finds him "remarkably popular across the state with 46% of voters viewing him favorably to only 16% with a negative opinion." The good news for Christie: "Voters are pretty evenly divided on his leadership regarding the [post-Christmas] storm- 43% approve and 44% disapprove- folks would have to be much more universal in their unhappiness with him for this to have a real impact." http://bit.ly/i0QUVT


NEXT WEEK - CLINTON'S DATE CERTAIN: Former President Bill Clinton will campaign for Rahm Emanuel in the Chicago mayor's race on Tuesday. Lynn Sweet for the Sun-Times: "Clinton hits Chicago Tuesday for a rally and fund-raiser ... Carol Moseley Braun told Clinton to stay out of the Feb. 22 Chicago mayoral primary ... So much for that." http://bit.ly/fxpQEK


CODA - QUOTE OF THE DAY: "If you need anything that doesn't cost me too much, let me know." - California Gov. Jerry Brown to the state board of education, via the Sacramento Bee's @CapitolAlert http://bit.ly/ejNuV5

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