The Note's Must-Reads for Monday, February, 6, 2012

Compiled by ABC News' Jacqueline Fernandez, Jayce Henderson, and Carrie Halperin

PRESIDENT OBAMA The Washington Post's Dan Balz and Jon Cohen: " Obama holds edge over Romney in general election matchup, poll finds" Boosted by improved public confidence in his economic stewardship, President Obama for the first time holds a clear edge over Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in a hypothetical general-election matchup, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. LINK

The New York Daily News' Alison Gendar:  " President Obama thinks he deserves 2nd term even if economy slumps" President Obama said Sunday that he had earned another four years in the White House - even if the U.S. economy is still on the mend. "I deserve a second term, but we're not done," the President told NBC's Matt Lauer in a pre-Super Bowl interview. LINK

MITT ROMNEY The New York Times' Ashley Parker: " Romney Hopes to Thwart Gingrich Without Focusing on Him" The morning after losing to Mitt Romney by 25 points in the Nevada caucuses, Newt Gingrich did not sound very conciliatory. "This was a state he won last time, and he won it this time," Mr. Gingrich said Sunday on "Meet the Press" on NBC. LINK

The Wall Street Journal's Janet Hook and Patrick O' Connor: " Romney Builds Momentum" Mitt Romney, buoyed by a fresh victory in Nevada, appears to be shoring up support among the conservative voters who once appeared tempted by his rivals, putting the former Massachusetts governor in the strongest position since Republicans began voting a month ago. LINK

USA Today's Jackie Kucinich: " Romney's organized campaign in Colorado has roots in '08 win" It may be a four-man race in Colorado, but one candidate clearly has had a head start. Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney won the state's Republican caucuses with 60% of the vote in 2008, while his nearest competitor, Sen. John McCain, received 18%. Romney supporters here say the organization that led to that big win four years ago has never gone away. LINK

Bloomberg's Liser Lerer and John McCormick: " Republican Voters Moving Towards Romney as Pace of GOP Primaries Picks Up" Republican voters are beginning to coalesce around the presidential candidacy of front-runner Mitt Romney, even as his opponents vow to continue their campaigns into a series of contests this month and beyond. LINK

NEWT GINGRICH The Washington Times' Seth McLaughlin: " GOP voters believe Gingrich's claim to conservative mantle"  Newt Gingrich says he is the conservative choice in the 2012 presidential race, but five states into the campaign, Mitt Romney has won more self-identified conservative voters, according to an analysis by The Washington Times of entrance and exit polls. Mr. Romney capped off that showing with a win in Nevada that included support from a majority of self-identified conservatives, a feat neither Mr. Gingrich nor the other two remaining candidates have been able to accomplish. LINK

RICK SANTORUM ABC News' Shushannah Walshe  " Rick Santorum Skips Super Bowl for Minnesota Campaigning" It might have been Super Bowl Sunday, but a boisterous crowd packed into a winery here to listen to Rick Santorum, without a television set in sight. The event Sunday evening during the face-off between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants was billed as a campaign event with a Super Bowl theme, but the crowd of about 250 didn't seem to be missing the big game, instead cheering for the former Pennsylvania senator. LINK

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