The Note’s Must-Reads are a round-up of today’s political headlines and stories from ABC News and the top U.S. newspapers. Posted Monday through Friday right here at www.abcnews.com

Compiled by ABC News Digital News Associates Jayce Henderson, Jacqueline Fernandez and Amanda VanAllen

NEWT GINGRICH: ABC News’ Rick Klein: “ ‘World News Political Insights’ – Gingrich Rises as Iowa Looms Larger” One month before the voting starts, the Republican primary race has clarity — if not anything approaching finality. The clarity comes in a match-up that appears overwhelmingly likely to come down to Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich. LINK

The Washington Times’ Ben Wolfgang: “ Cain’s exit puts spotlight, target on Gingrich” With Herman Cain suspending his campaign over the weekend, the spotlight in the GOP presidential field is now focused squarely on Newt Gingrich, the former speaker of the House whose surprise front-runner status has made him the target of rivals and critics less than a month before the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses. link

The New York Times’ Trip Gabriel and Jeff Zeleny: “ Despite Surge, Gingrich Faces Major Hurdles” Surging in polls is one thing. But as Newt Gingrich seeks to turn his impressive performance in surveys into votes, he is scrambling madly to build the kind of organization that Mitt Romney has methodically put in place for a year, one that will let him compete through all 50 contests, often in multiple states at once. LINK

The Washington Post’s Peter Wallsten and Anne Kornblut: “ Some Democratic strategists worry about Gingrich’s potential appeal” Newt Gingrich would be such a weak challenger to President Obama, according to Rep. Barney Frank, that his nomination would be “the best thing to happen to Democrats since Barry Goldwater.” LINK

The Hills’ Meghashyam Mali: “ Report says Cain will endorse Gingrich” Fox 5 Atlanta reported Sunday that sources said businessman Herman Cain would endorse GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich on Monday. Cain, a former Godfather’s Pizza CEO, announced Saturday that he was suspending his own campaign for the GOP presidential nomination. LINK

USA Today’s Catalina Camia: “ Gingrich agrees to Donald Trump debate” Newt Gingrich has said “yes” to The Donald. Gingrich yesterday became the first GOP presidential candidate to accept an invitation to a Dec. 27 debate in Iowa moderated by Donald Trump. LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Kathleen Hennessey: “ Tom Coburn takes dim view of Newt Gingrich as president“  Newt Gingrich’s star is on the rise in Iowa, but a leading conservative voice in the Senate remains unimpressed. Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn says he “will have difficulty supporting (Gingrich) as president of the United States” based on his experience serving in the House during Gingrich’s years as speaker. LINK

MITT ROMNEY: Politico’s Dylan Byers: “ Mitt Romney’s media blowback” Mitt Romney’s vulnerabilities as a candidate are well known, yet a seemingly new one surfaced last week: his unusual brittleness in the face of media questions. With one prickly interview with Fox’s Bret Baier on Tuesday — in which the candidate appeared uncomfortable and even angry fielding basic questions about his record — the former Massachusetts governor set off a round of speculation about his ability to operate outside hermetically sealed campaign events, reminding both his rivals and the media of the extreme lengths to which he has gone to evade the national press.   LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Neil King Jr.: “ Romney Girds for Gingrich” Mitt Romney’s campaign is revving up in the early primary and caucus states, especially in crucial New Hampshire, as fresh polling showed he could face a fight in all of them from a resurgent Newt Gingrich. Mr. Gingrich is picking up late-breaking momentum in both Iowa and New Hampshire, while maintaining early leads in South Carolina and Florida. LINK

MICHELE BACHMANN: The New York Daily News’ Roque Planas: “ Michele Bachmann wants gay marriage overturned in Iowa” If it were up to Michele Bachmann, gay marriage would be gone in Iowa. In an appeareance on Fox News Sunday, the conservative GOP candidate slammed a 2009 court decision allowing same-sex marriage in the state. LINK

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