Afternoon Fix: Gingrich drops Virginia ballot bid

If you have difficulty viewing this newsletter, click here to view as a Web page. Click here to view in plain text. Monday, February 6, 2012 EARLIER ON THE FIX Democrats' chances of retaking the House improve Pete Hoekstra's China ad provokes accusations of racism Karl Rove 'offended' by Clint Eastwood's Chrysler ad Why Rick Santorum or Newt Gingrich dropping out wouldn't change much — in one chart Marco Rubio takes on Obama over contraceptive rule The true conservative alternative: Ron Paul? WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED * Former House speaker Newt Gingrich has dropped his court bid to get on the ballot in Virginia after failing to submit enough valid signatures. * Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) seems like she's having a little trouble moving on. In an interview with Bloomberg TV airing this weekend, asked to name the most conservative candidate left in the GOP field, she told Al Hunt, "I was. I was the perfect candidate ... America had their chance with the perfect candidate." * Rep. John Fleming (R-La.) had deleted a Facebook post in which he linked to an Onion article about Planned Parenthood and suggested it was real. The May 2011 satirical piece described a new "$8 Billion Abortionplex" — Fleming commented, "More on Planned Parenthood, abortion by the wholesale." * Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, previously focused almost completely on Gingrich, has started to attack former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum. But the Romney campaign has yet to go after Santorum in ads, which would show real concern. WHAT YOU SHOULDN'T MISS * Former Utah governor Jon Huntsman, who already took the reins at the Huntsman Cancer Foundation, has joined the Huntsman Corp board of directors. His father, Jon Huntsman Sr., is currently executive chairman of the multibillion chemical company. * Tim Tebow 2014? The Broncos quarterback told the Golf Channel that he might run for office someday. "For me, it could be something in my future," he said. "It's something I'll have to think about and definitely pray about. I have no idea right now, but yeah, possibly." * Freedomworks PAC will make an "important announcement" about Pennsylvania's 18th district on Tuesday. The influential conservative group is reportedly backing former congressional staffer Evan Feinberg in a primary against Rep. Tim Murphy (R), who has been targeted for holding some moderate economic positions. * Democrat Trevor Thomas is seriously considering challenging Rep. John Amash (R) in Michigan's 3rd district. Thomas, who was instrumental in the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell as the  Servicemembers Legal Defense Network communications director, wrote supporters today to say he "will meet with folks in the morning and will make a decision after looking at our research." * Roll Call reports that Texas Rep. Ron Paul was apparently reimbursed twice for flights between his home district and Washington, D.C., taking money from both taxpayers and his network of nonprofits. Paul's office denies any intentional double reimbursement ever occured. THE FIX MIX Every Japanese Arnold Schwarzenegger ad. All of them. With Rachel Weiner and Aaron Blake. Get The Washington Post, your way. Want to stay on top of the latest news, features, commentary and more? Here's how: Mobile: Alerts: Social Media: Applications Web site E-mail SMS RSS Feeds Facebook Twitter SEND TO A FRIEND UNSUBSCRIBE E-NEWSLETTER CENTER GET HELP Washington Post Digital E-mail Customer Care 1150 15th Street NW Washington, D.C. 20071 © 2012 The Washington Post Privacy Policy