Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich is continuing to gain momentum in New Hampshire, home of the first presidential primary. On Sunday, Gingrich received the endorsement of the iconic conservative newspaper the New Hampshire Union Leader, and on Monday picked up the support of eight members of the state House of Representatives.

With the Democratic National Committee releasing a new ad against Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney on Monday, the Romney team responded by bringing out leaders from the states in which the ad is being aired to defend their candidate. In Florida, the Romney camp turned to former U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez who is serving as chairman for the campaigns National Advisory Council.

Heartland Institute, a conservative think tank, isn't shedding any tears over the announced retirement of Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass.

Barney Frank spent much of his career expanding the powers of and defending Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, both of which have been involved in multibillion-dollar scandals that helped enrich their corporate leaders, inflate a housing bubble until it burst, and spark the financial crisis," said Steve Stanek, Heartland's research fellow for budget and tax policy.