A young supporter asks a question to Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney during a meeting with voters at the Music Man Square in Mason City, Iowa on Dec. 29, 2011. - Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images

Late afternoon trading on the Political stock market with under 5 days 'til Caucus:

Santorum up 9 percent, newly the target of attacks by Rick Perry, and being viewed more seriously by conservatives and evangelicals in Iowa. But still below 30 in total value.

Bachmann down 8 percent as she continues to reel from high profile defections.

Romney down a slight 3 percent, but, wrapping up his Iowa road trip and heading to New Hampshire,  still the most valuable Republican at 63.

Obama steady at 66, the highest value of any candidate.

Get the latest results at http://otusnews.com   

 Loyalty Oath - Elizabeth Hartfield reports on Virginia Republicans' attempt to keep Republicans voting in the state's semi-open primary - a pledge of allegiance to the party. "Voters do not register with a party in Virginia; thus the commonwealth's primary is open to all residents, not just members of the Republican party. The oath, which reads "I, the undersigned, pledge that I intend to support the nominee of the Republican party for president," is intended to deter non-Republicans from participating in the process unless they are serious about supporting the eventual GOP candidate." http://abcn.ws/v4XiC9

Despite Defections, the Wheels on the Bachmann Bus Continue to Go 'Round - http://abcn.ws/s0T0pO

For Santorum, Being Under Attack Means Momentum - Shush Walshe reports "he received a standing ovation from the packed room. There was also a much larger media presence than usually trails the former Pennsylvania senator." There was a hiccup today - his first event - scheduled for a candy store - was postponed because the store was closed. And he might be on the receiving end of attacks about his past as a congressional earmarker, but he sought to distinguish himself from Ron Paul on  foreign affairs and from Mitt Romney on health reform. On Massachusetts health reform: "I think it's a liberal principal to do something from the top down. The states have the right to do it; in my opinion the federal government does not. I would not as governor done that-I would have fought against that, provided an opportunity for people to get insurance instead, not mandating what insurance coverage they have," Santorum said. http://abcn.ws/tOziVc

Matt Negrin suggests the Kent Sorenson defection has more to do with Romney than it does with Bachmann or Paul. His canvas of Tea Party thinkers is here: http://abcn.ws/tWDUw3

Cute Picture Alert - Yes or No - Asked by an 8-year-old with a Romney bumper sticker on his forehead if its hard to run for president, Mitt Romney said, essentially, "yes and no." "It sounds like a politician, I apologize," Romney said." More from Emily Friedman: http://abcn.ws/vEfdnr

Obama as Billion Dollar Candidate? Bullsh!@, says Messina -  "People have speculated that this is a billion-dollar campaign. That's bullsh**," said the president's  campaign manager in a video, according to Devin Dwyer. "We don't take PAC money, unlike our opponents. We fund this campaign in contributions of $3 or $5 or whatever you can do to help us expand the map, to put more people on the ground, to build a real grassroots campaign that is going to be the difference between winning and losing." The Obama campaign has never explicitly thrown out the billion-dollar figure and aides have pushed back hard on media reports that they anticipate raising that much during the campaign. Messina also ran again through the five paths the Obama camp sees to a slim victory. http://abcn.ws/vvvVQG

Rick Wars: Perry Attacks Santorum - It must be an unfamiliar feeling for Rick Santorum to be on the receiving end of a Rick Perry attack. But as the two men vie for social conservatives, Perry unloaded on Santorum for earmarking during his congressional career. http://abcn.ws/tSPpwa

Perry nailed his lines against Santorum, but flubbed a question about the landmark Supreme Court sodomy case Lawrence v. Texas: http://abcn.ws/suUTsx

Kelly Clarkson Hearts Ron Paul, Gets an Earful - http://abcn.ws/rUxvbT

OccupIowa, Ron Paul Edition - Matt Negrin reports: Ron Paul has been officially occupied. A handful of Occupy Des Moines members blocked the entrance to Paul's campaign headquarters in Ankeny, Iowa, on Thursday, demanding that the front-runner in the GOP primary race retract his pledge to cut the EPA if he's elected president. The police arrested five of the Occupy protesters, charging them with trespassing, according to Danielle Ryun, a member of the group. Ryun said the protesters had planned to blockade Paul's office until he formally rescinded his often repeated vow to dismantle the EPA. "I feel like we were effective as long as we were getting the message out to voters," she said. http://abcn.ws/rWFpPy

Perry on Political Lineage - "I don't have a problem with someone whose father was in the political arena as well. I think there's great honor. I think we need to always hold them accountable," Perry said in response to a question about "legacy candidates" and the "Romney dynasty." According to Arlette Saenz, Perry noted to the crowd at the Blue Strawberry Coffee Company here that he too was the son of a politician. "I'm a politician's son. My daddy was a county commissioner," Perry said to laughs from the crowd. http://abcn.ws/rMJwj4

Meanwhile, up in New Hampshire, it may soon be the Huntsman Girls v. the Romney Boys - http://abcn.ws/uXPkE4

A bit of Foreign Affairs:

More on the Strait of Hormuz from Kirit Radia at the State Department: http://abcn.ws/vbgJzT

Americans Sign F-15 Deal with Saudi Arabia - http://abcn.ws/vYZe9t