Column #4: "Newt’s right on SuperPAC ‘lie’ "

Marin describes Newt Gingrich's attack on Mitt Romney, claiming that Romney is associated with the SuperPAC campaign attack ads that destroyed his campaign.  With SuperPACs, "allegedly 'independent' political action committees capable of raising unlimited amounts of money to promote or destroy candidates", candidates can viciously attack other candidates without getting their own name stained.  These are legal as well as separate, non-profit, companion organizations that pour money into SuperPACs with their donors kept a secret.

Column #3: "Off to Iowa, in search of hope with crutch in hand"

As Carol Marin gets ready to go to the Iowa Caucuses, she reflects on 2008's presidential election and the preparation for this year's presidential election.  Texas Congressman Ron Paul's surge in popularity this year is surprising as well as Mitt Romney's as both men along with their fellow Republicans compete to become the Republican Party's presidential candidate.  Yet at the same time, there appears to be an Obama operation brewing in Iowa as well.