Republican Party

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** FILE ** Rep. Michele Bachmann, Minnesota Republican, autographs a campaign poster at Tangleberries in Centerville, Iowa, on Friday, Dec. 23, 2011, in her bid for the GOP presidential nomination. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

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GOP presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich addresses a Virginia party fundraiser Thursday in Henrico. The former House speaker submitted 11,050 ballot-access signatures. (Associated Press)

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Virginia Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, a Republican, officially filed nominating petition papers comprising 16,026 signatures Tuesday to the State Board of Elections on behalf of his preferred GOP presidential candidate. (The Washington Times)

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GOP presidential hopeful Rick Santorum has seen his polling numbers rise in the weeks leading up to the Iowa caucuses.

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Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, campaigning for the GOP presidential nomination, autographs a book before a stop at Global Security Services in Davenport, Iowa, on Monday, Dec. 19, 2011. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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House Speaker John Boehner, Ohio Republican, followed by Rep. Greg Walden, Oregon Republican, strides into a GOP strategy session on Capitol Hill singing "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" on Dec. 16, 2011, the morning after lawmakers from both political parties came together on an 11th-hour deal to keep the government from shutting down. (Associated Press)

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** FILE ** House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, center, accompanied by fellow Republican leaders, meets with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011, before a crucial vote on a GOP effort to renew an extension of the payroll-tax cut. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a GOP presidential hopeful, is seen through a window on a door as he spoke to students at the University of Iowa College of Public Health in Iowa City on Wednesday. Mr. Gingrich has been criticized for a $500,000 jewelry bill at Tiffany's. (Associated Press)

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House Speaker John Boehner, Ohio Republican, meets Dec. 13, 2011, with reporters on Capitol Hill before a crucial vote on a GOP effort to renew an extension of the payroll-tax cut. (Associated Press)

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House Speaker John Boehner (center), Ohio Republican, and fellow Republican leaders meet Dec. 13, 2011, with reporters on Capitol Hill before a crucial vote on a GOP effort to renew an extension of the payroll-tax cut. From second from left are Rep. Renee Ellmers of North Carolina, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Dave Camp of Michigan, Boehner, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy of California, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia, and Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Texas. (Associated Press)

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Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich participates in a one-on-one GOP presidential candidate debate with former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman in Manchester, N.H., on Monday, Dec. 12, 2011. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

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** FILE ** Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich speaks Dec. 10, 2011, during a GOP presidential debate in Des Moines, Iowa. (Associated Press)

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New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has campaigned for his preferred GOP presidential hopeful this week in Iowa, whose caucuses are set for Jan. 3. (Associated Press)

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Illustration: GOP embrace of Tea Party by Linas Garsys for The Washington Times

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GOP presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich, now the front-runner, addresses a tea party rally Saturday in Staten Island, N.Y. (Associated Press)

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Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has turned his front-runner position into fundraising success that would allow him to join other GOP presidential hopefuls now stepping up their presence with ads on TV and online. (Associated Press)

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New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, campaigns for GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney in Manchester, N.H., on Nov. 9. Surrogates such as Mr. Christie have been scarce thus far this election cycle, partly because voters want to meet the candidates themselves. (Associated Press)