The Page by Mark Halperin

Halperin's Take: Reshaping the Romney Brand

On MSNBC's "Morning Joe," Halperin says the most important debate moment Wednesday night belonged to Mitt, not Rick, with the Bay Stater's three-fold litany of marriage, Bain and religion to demonstrate his consistency.

Watch the video here. »

Halperin's Take: The Newt Paradox

On MSNBC's "Morning Joe," Halperin says Gingrich is now the most likely to go one-on-one with Romney but the least likely to beat him because of the Georgian's flaws, which his opponents have ignored thus far.

If Newt has success, the oppo will unfurl.

Watch the video here. »

Halperin's Take: Cain Fizzling

On MSNBC's "Morning Joe," Halperin says Wednesday's debate may be the last time the ex-CEO is treated like a frontrunner as the sexual harassment allegations take hold with the electorate.

And/but: his poll numbers remain steady so far.

Watch the video here. »

Halperin's Take: The Huntsman Challenge

On MSNBC's "Morning Joe," Halperin says the personality and demeanor Huntsman displayed at the CNBC debate could play in New Hampshire but not necessarily enough to make him the Romney Alternative.

Watch the video here. »

Grading the Michigan Mash-Up

TIME Photo-Illustration

Candidate grades are based on both performance and success in using the debate to improve their standing in the nomination contest.

Read Halperin's full analysis here. »

Tight as a Battleground Tick

Quinnipiac polls the swing states and finds Obama locked in a tight race with Romney in OH, FL and PA.

FL: Romney 45 — Obama 42
OH: Obama 45 – Romney 42
PA: Obama 44 – Romney 43

Polls conducted Oct. 31 — Nov. 7, 2011.
Florida margin of error of 2.9 points.
Ohio margin of error of 2.7 points.
Pennsylvania margin of error of 2.6 percent.

Down 10,000

Getty

Weekly unemployment filings fall to 390,000, the third decline in jobless claims in four weeks.

Crossroads Cranks Out Five Senate Race TV Spots

GOP group launches new ads in five states with a buy totaling $1.8 million spread across the country.

See their Bay State spot hitting Occupy Wall Street above.

Watch the other ads here. »

Back to Even

President leads generic GOper in new Gallup poll after trailing 50 — 42 in October.

Obama 48 — Republican 45

Conducted Nov. 3 — 6, 2011. Margin of error 4 points.

Damage Limitation

(Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Perry sits down with all morning shows following debate howler.

In interview with NBC's "Today" anchor Ann Curry, Texas topper say "you bet I'm gonna continue on" in the race, says he will be "in South Carolina on Saturday."

But says on Fox News "after that, we really don't have a schedule set. I don't have any idea, I'm just saying I know what I'm doing through Saturday."

PLUS: Tapes chats on ABC’s "Good Morning America" and CBS "Early Show."

The Big Questions: Whither the Pizza Man

TIME Photo-Illustration

In this week's issue of TIME Magazine (available to subscribers here), Mark Halperin looks at the status of the political stock that is Herman Cain.

Quote: "Many of the Tea Party outsiders who are drawn to the political neophyte’s econocentric campaign don’t give a whit about old harassment charges and dismiss news coverage of the allegations as a left-wing conspiracy. There is ample precedent in presidential politics (see Clinton, Bill, 1992, and McCain, John, 2008) of campaigns overcoming personal scandals by discrediting the women in question and the news organizations that cover them. [But] much of the political press, including some conservative commentators, is convinced that Cain will soon be eliminated as a true contender."