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


FIRST IN SCORE - 'CHEERLEADER IN CHIEF' - That's the label the National Republican Senatorial Committee is pinning on DNC Chairman Tim Kaine today, defining him as a pom pom-waving, Barack Obama-praising, Nancy Pelosi-loving liberal as he decides whether to run for Senate. The NRSC's unveiling a new website and a video that literally puts Kaine in a cheerleader's uniform as it runs through a greatest-hits reel of the former Virginia governor praising Obama. A line of skirt-wearing Tim Kaines chants: "Hey, hey, Obama, meet the captain of our squad. Tim Kaine's so in love with spending, $14 trillion's not a lot ... Hey, hey, Obama, Tim Kaine is the best. Time Kaine's your No. 1 Cheerleader, cheering from the left." The NRSC's website asks supporters to sign up to "Stop the Cheer Captain ... Virginia can't afford more of the same." See the site here: http://bit.ly/hXv2b8 and watch the video here: http://bit.ly/f2ucf2


THE CALIFORNIA SPECIAL - HOUSE EXCLUSIVE: California PEOPLE, the in-state political arm of the public-sector labor giant AFSCME, has endorsed Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn for the open 36th District House Seat. That caps off a series of labor endorsements for Hahn, who's previously locked down support from chapters of the IBEW, UNITE HERE, Iron Workers, Los Angeles County Firefighters and more. Hahn is competing against Democratic Secretary of State Debra Bowen and liberal activist Marcy Winograd, and is considered a favorite in the three-way field.


TODAY IN WISCONSIN - MAKE OR BREAK: Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker will address a joint session of the state legislature at 5 p.m. Eastern, when he'll outline and defend his proposals for the state budget. Overshadowing the governor's large-scale budget plan is the current standoff over Walker's attempt to restrict collective bargaining for state employees. And the Journal Sentinel says the governor's not going to scale back the political stakes: "Walker's plan to repair the state budget makes only modest cuts in state spending because it focuses on public workers - a fraction of the state's direct spending. But the proposal focusing on the current year sets up much bigger - and potentially controversial - cuts in spending down the road in the two biggest parts of the state budget: aid to local governments and health programs for the poor. ... Walker and GOP legislative leaders had sought to pass the budget repair bill before he gave the larger budget speech and even delayed it for a week to allow for more time." http://bit.ly/gqu8GI


MORE - NEW POLLING: Walker has a real sales job to do here - a Pew survey released late yesterday showed 42 percent of Wisconsinites say they're sympathetic to public labor, versus 31 percent who say they're sympathetic to Walker. That's not an overwhelming deficit, but a deficit it is. Plus - PPP found Walker's 2010 opponent, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, would defeat him today in a re-run of their race http://bit.ly/fgbiVr and http://bit.ly/dQwfoB


AIR WAR - RGA ENGAGES: The Republican Governors Association goes up today with commercials defending Walker in his showdown with labor and state Democrats. "It's a sea of red ink in Madison, and while Senate Democrats are fleeing their responsibility, Gov. Walker is leading," the ad says. "In Wisconsin, leaders don't run away from tough problems like the Senate Democrats. Instead, they stand and lead like Gov. Scott Walker." See the ad here: http://bit.ly/fQAToW


LABOR'S REBUTTAL: Labor groups plan to respond to Walker's address by putting forward a group of workers - including police, firefighters, teachers and nurses - to criticize his plans. The message, according to AFL-CIO spokesman Eddie Vale: "They have already agreed to ALL of Walker's concessions on wages and benefits but he refuses to accept a deal because wants to strip them of their collective bargaining rights ... In terms of layoffs, it's disgusting that he's using people's jobs and families as a political tool."


As Michigan looks wobbly, David Vitter looks like a leader and Tom Barrett makes a comeback (sorta), here's POLITICO's Morning Score: your daily guide to the permanent campaign.


POLITICO SNEAK PEEK - PAWLENTY AND THE TEA PARTY: Fresh off his successful appearance at the Tea Party Patriots convention in Phoenix last weekend, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty will release a new video today praising the tea party as a "driving force for change." "They are part of the energy, the passion, the call for change," Pawlenty says in the video. It closes with clips of Pawlenty's speech in Arizona: "The people of the United States will rise up again. We will take back our government." Watch it here: http://bit.ly/enCtmL


THE 2012 SCORE - CHRISTIE VS. OBAMA - Ben Smith relays new evidence that the Garden Stater has his eyes on affairs beyond Trenton: "Christie stepped away from the National Governors Association's meeting [Monday] for a private talk before the board of the Hoover Institution, a well-heeled Republican-leaning group whose members left, I'm told, impressed -- and with a distinct sense that Christie is eager to keep his name in the national mix. 'It was not just a speech about what he was doing in New Jersey. He went after Obama and Obama's policies over and over and over again,' said one surprised attendee, who noted that Christie had just come from a meeting with the president to the Hoover board's annual winter meeting at the Willard InterContinental hotel. 'I came away thinking that he's trying to keep his options open.'" http://politi.co/ePprm7


FINAL COUNTDOWN - NEWT TO IOWA: Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will be present at the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition's spring kickoff event in Waukee next Monday - right around the time Gingrich is expected to announce plans for a presidential exploratory committee. IowaPolitics.com notes the event is something of a 2012 landmark: "Other potential candidates scheduled to speak are former CEO of Godfathers Pizza Herman Cain, former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty. This is the first Iowa event to feature multiple potential 2012 presidential candidates sharing the same stage." http://bit.ly/g3k7pI


THE GINGRICH TIMELINE - ABC's Jonathan Karl moves it up just a bit: "A spokesman for Newt Gingrich tells ABC News that the former Speaker of the House will announce this week whether he intends to form a presidential exploratory committee. Assuming he decides to go forward -- and sources close to Gingrich say he likely will -- he will become the first major Republican figure to jump into the 2012 Presidential race." http://abcn.ws/dWv6eA


AND - POPPING ON 2012 LIVE - "Meet Newt's circle of donors" - POLITICO's Andy Barr and Zachary Abrahamson track down the biggest patrons of Gingrich's 527 group, American Solutions: "The former House speaker collected $2.7 million in 2010 from just nine people and six corporations - which are not permitted to make direct political donations to federal candidates. If only those nine donors had contributed to Gingrich's federal PAC, the most he could have collected is $45,000. Instead, each gave at least $50,000 on their own. Gingrich's top donor last year, billionaire casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, chipped in $1 million ... Adelson is one of only two men who've dropped a million into Gingrich's pocket in one go. The other, Fred Godley, a Charlotte-area developer, forked over $1 million in February 2007 and then seven months later contributed another $100,000. Godley gave an additional $100,000 in September 2008, but hasn't appeared in IRS filings since." http://politi.co/h7d4Vr


KISS OF DEATH, PART II - Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney just keeps soaking up praise from Democrats for the health care plan he passed in Massachusetts. On Sunday, it was Deval Patrick praising him. Yesterday, it was Barack Obama. POLITICO's MJ Lee: "Speaking to governors of both parties, Obama said Romney actually had a decent idea about addressing the country's health care system. 'I know that many of you have asked for flexibility for your states under this law,' Obama said at the White House. 'In fact, I agree with Mitt Romney, who recently said he's proud of what he accomplished on health care in Massachusetts and supports giving states the power to determine their own health care solutions.'" http://politi.co/gjsLdt


EARLY-STATE TWEET - From Gov. Terry Branstad's communications director, @TimAlbrechtIA: "Just got a call from a Baton Rouge station coming here because Buddy Roemer is 'testing the waters.' Who knew?" http://bit.ly/dZotZq


POLL OF THE DAY - SWING STATE: Michigan would be competitive in a 2012 match-up between Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, according to the respected Michigan pollster EPIC-MRA. The poll found Obama and Romney both pulling 38 percent of voters who are sure of their preference for 2012. Adding in leaners, Romney opens up a 5-point advantage, leading 46 percent to 41 percent. The same poll also found that former Rep. Pete Hoekstra would start out a Senate run just two points behind Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow, trailing 42 percent to 44 percent. Full poll results: http://bit.ly/f2cucX


NOT A GOOD HEADLINE - "Senate pres. got $152k to write book with 1 copy" - The AP's Brendan Farrington: "Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos finished writing a book on politics for Brevard Community College four years ago, getting $152,000 in taxpayer money for the effort. But those who want to read 'Florida Legislative History and Processes' won't find it at any bookstore or library - the single available copy of the 175-page, double-spaced manuscript can only be read at the school. ... The book also doesn't come close to meeting the original contract's call for a publishable, textbook-quality look at the development of the Florida Legislature, state constitution, the governor's office and judiciary from pre-statehood until present. ... Haridopolos ... is seeking the Republican U.S. Senate nomination next year. He didn't return calls for comment on this story or respond to e-mails." http://bit.ly/hXbEz9 AP has excerpts from the book here: http://bit.ly/dXt4zl


ELSEWHERE IN FLORIDA - DUMPING RIVERA: Days after his spokesman announced the House majority leader was "concerned" about the scandals surrounding Florida Rep. David Rivera, Eric Cantor spoke out directly on Rivera's legal problems. "I'm obviously very concerned about the reports surrounding these investigations, but we'll wait to see the results of them," Cantor said. "There are ongoing investigations in Florida involving Congressman Rivera, and we are respectful of those investigations." Fox News: "The remarks by Cantor on Monday marked the first time he formally commented on Rivera's possible legal woes. Authorities are reportedly investigating Rivera's payment of more than $800,000 to a political consultant. Florida investigators are also studying Rivera's failure to disclosure more than $100,000 in loans he made to himself as unexplained campaign reimbursements while he served in the state legislature." http://bit.ly/fJzuLP


THE MOST POWERFUL MAN IN LOUISIANA: It might just be Sen. David Vitter, according to Louisiana political guru John Maginnis. Vitter and his political operation, the Louisiana Committee for a Republican Majority, have taken an increasingly influential role in state politics: "With the state Senate majority on the line in a special election in Acadiana last month, LCRM and the state Republican Party teamed up to push Rep. Jonathan Perry across the finish line first, after he trailed in the polls to Democratic businessman Nathan Granger two weeks before. LCRM sent out ten mailers and Vitter made robo calls... While he is getting along fine with state GOP leaders, it would hardly be surprising if he moves to consolidate his power base within the party by recruiting and backing supporters to run for the Republican State Central Committee ... That would be the final vindication for him, to be hailed as Louisiana's most powerful politician and the undisputed leader of the state Republican Party." http://bit.ly/ghtNxc


CODA - QUOTE OF THE DAY: "His collaboration with the book author is what I want to get to the bottom of." - California Rep. Darrell Issa, launching an investigation into ... his own spokesman, Kurt Bardella http://politi.co/hZQO37

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