Rick Santorum brought his newly-energized campaign Friday afternoon to Buffalo Wild Wings in Ames, Iowa--and found virtually everyone was more interested in watching the Pinstripe Bowl on the big screen TVs.

After all, Iowa State University was playing Rutgers in the bowl, and Ames is the home of Iowa State. Santorum was gracious, shaking a few hands, but mostly spending his time talking with dozens of media who flooded the restaurant.

Santorum, who has surged in recent polls, address a major voter complaint about him--that he's not electable.

But he told McClatchy he was doing well against 0bama in Pennsylvania, the state he represented in Congress, and "if we do well here we get on the national stage." The former U. S. senator also pointed out he's the only candidate who's won statewide in a swing state.

Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., made it official Tuesday afternoon--he won't seek re-election next year.

Here's his message to constituents:

My Fellow Nebraskans:

I’ve had the honor of serving as your Governor and United States Senator. During this time we’ve accomplished a great deal.

As Governor I helped our state experience unprecedented economic growth, cut taxes and left state government with a surplus.

As your Senator, we’ve opened new markets for our agricultural and manufacturing products; expanded the use of ethanol; secured STRATCOM’s future; built new veterans’ clinics, a soon-to-be veterans’ hospital in Omaha, and research facilities at our universities; and kept taxes low.

There is much more that needs to be done to keep America strong. And while I relish the opportunity to undertake the work that lies ahead, I also feel it’s time for me to step away from elective office, spend more time with my family, and look for new ways to serve our state and nation. Therefore, I am announcing today that I will not seek reelection. Simply put: It is time to move on.

I encourage those who will follow in my footsteps to look for common ground and to work together in bipartisan ways to do what’s best for the country, not just one political party.

Public office is a place for public service, not personal profit. It’s about promoting the common good, not the agenda of the radical right or the radical left. It’s about fairness for all, not privileges for the few. And, it’s about protecting the rights of individuals, even if it angers the majority. I hope and believe I have fulfilled these principles to the best of my ability.

I’ll be forever grateful to the citizens of Nebraska for the great honor to serve this great country and represent our great state. Thank you and God bless.

Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson, a moderate Democrat who's often a swing vote on key issues, will not seek re-election next year, reports said Tuesday.

Nelson is one of the few centrists left in the Senate Democratic caucus, and long been considered a bellwether of moderate views. His apparent departure also creates a new problem for Democrats trying to maintain control of the Senate.

Democrats now control 53 of the 100 seats. But next year, 21 seats now held by Democrats, as well as two held by independents who caucus with Democrats, are up for election. Nelson already faced a tough race next year; the other Nebraska Senate seat is held by Republican Sen. Mike Johanns.

Only 10 Republican seats are up. Nelson's anticipated decision was first reported by Politico.

Now that they've help resolved the dispute over extending the Social Security payroll tax break--at least for a few weeks--House of Representatives Republicans Saturday embraced the spirit of the holiday season.

Here's the weekly Republican radio and web address, from Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind.:

“For most here in Indiana, it's about family, hearth and home, dreaming of a white Christmas, children squinting through frosted windows to catch a glimpse of wonder in the night sky.

“For some of you, it will be a holiday on the beach or in the mountains, a candlelight service, midnight mass or a quiet gathering with friends.

“For our family, Christmas is a time when we reflect on our faith, on a promise fulfilled in a little town called Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago with the humble birth of the Prince of Peace.

“Americans from all walks of life will celebrate the holidays in their own unique way, in accordance with their own beliefs and traditions.

“But while many of us are blessed to enter this season surrounded by loved ones with most of our needs met, too many will greet this season with heartache.

“For far too many in America, these are difficult times. Some of our neighbors, family and friends are struggling to make ends meet despite their best efforts, unable to find work in this difficult economy.

“This holiday season, let’s all make a special effort to come alongside these families in their time of need and support local charities as they provide for the needs across our communities. Let’s also make a point to personally reach out to that neighbor or friend who needs a helping hand, a kind greeting or an invitation - it might be just the gift someone needed most.

“And let's not forget those who serve in uniform at home and abroad.

“It was during another Christmas season in 1776, that a bold general led his weary army across the Delaware River on Christmas night. That night, George Washington won a battle that turned out to be a defining moment in the history of our still young nation.

“This night let us not forget those who still stand in harm’s way far from home so we can enjoy this season in peace and freedom.

“Even as one conflict draws to a close and joyful homecomings abound, let’s also remember the empty chair at every holiday table for those who won’t be with family this year by virtue of their service and sacrifice for our freedom.

“For all our soldiers and their beloved families, I pray they find peace and comfort in the true meaning of Christmas.

“These are challenging times in the life of this nation, but for all the challenges we face, we can still find renewed strength in the faith and traditions of those who have gone before.

“‘For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.’

“From my house to your house: May God bless you and your family with a joyous holiday season. Thank you for listening, and Merry Christmas.”

 House of Representatives Republican leaders met Wednesday in a largely-empty Capitol, ready to iron out a compromise on the Social Security payroll tax break.

But Democrats, and Senate Republicans, have not named negotiators, so there were no talks.

"We’re here. We’re ready to go to work. And we’re hoping that Senate Democrats will appoint negotiators, come to the table, and resolve these differences," said House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.

"I think it’s important to note that the president, bipartisan leaders in the House and bipartisan leaders in the Senate, have all really asked for the same thing over the course of the last several months: let’s extend the payroll tax credit for a year. And all we’re asking for is to get the Senate members over here to work with us to resolve our differences so we can do what everybody wants to do: extend the payroll tax credit for the next year. I’m hoping that they’re ready to work as we are.”

So House Speaker John Boehner has named Republicans to a conference, or negotiating committee, to seek a compromise on the Social Security payroll tax plan. What about the Democrats?

They won't play the Charlie Brown role, says their House of Representatives leader.

"Are you not in some ways to blame for the stalemate by not naming your conferees?" Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., was asked at a Tuesday news conference.

"No," she said. "It is not a question of blame for stalemate. It is a question of there is a bill that has passed the House and Senate that was designed to pass. The Republicans have put forth a path that is designed to fail. This bill that the Republicans passed in the House was not even brought up in the Senate. The Republicans in the Senate objected to it being brought up because they said they knew it would fail. And the bill that is in the House was not brought up by the House Republicans because, the Senate bill, because they knew it would pass.

"He is not Lucy. I'm not Charlie Brown. We are not falling for that football stunt again. Senator Mitch McConnell fell for it, but we are not falling for it. This is not about getting a bill passed. This is about not getting a bill passed."

The Senate passed a bipartisan compromise Saturday; the House, in a largely party-line vote, rejected it.

"Make no mistake," Pelosi said, "the fact is a clear one, if we do not have a payroll tax cut, it is because the Republicans in the House of Representatives have chosen to paint themselves in a different place than the Republicans in the country and the Republicans in the United States Senate. They are clearly isolating themselves.

" And I will not play Charlie Brown to their Lucy. They have pulled this football every single time. We are not going to let them mislead the American people."

 House of Representatives Republicans are ready to negotiate on the Social Security payroll tax break.

After voting to disagree with the Senate approach--a two-month extension--Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said he'd appoint negotiators to pursue a one-year extension.

“The House voted to extend payroll tax relief, and to extend and reform unemployment insurance, for a full year – as requested by the president. Senate Democrats voted to extend these programs for only two months – a proposal that non-partisan experts say will create substantial confusion and new costs for job creators,” he said.

“There’s no reason for millions of Americans to see their taxes go up or for Washington to make things harder on struggling small businesses. A formal House-Senate conference committee can resolve the differences between our year-long tax cut extension and Democrats’ short-term bill. We can avoid a needless tax hike on middle class families if Senate Democrats will work with us and appoint negotiators to extend the payroll tax cut for another year and help create new jobs.”

The appointees to the committee include: Reps. Kevin Brady (R-TX), Dave Camp (R-MI), Renee Ellmers (R-NC), Nan Hayworth (R-NY), Tom Price (R-GA), Tom Reed (R-NY), and Fred Upton (R-MI).

No announcements yet from Democrats.

Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR)

    The House of Representatives Tuesday voted 229 to 193 to disagree with a Senate-backed Social Security payroll tax cut, a vote that could put the expiring tax cut in serious jeopardy.
     House Republicans want a one-year extension of the 2 percentage point tax cut. Current rate is 4.2 percent; it will go to 6.2 percent Jan. 1 unless an agreement is reached. In addition, Medicare payments to physicians would drop 27.4 percent, and long-term unemployed workers would no longer be able to get up to 99 weeks of benefits.

    The House's action means its leaders are now to appoint negotiators, or conferees, to work out a compromise with the Senate. But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, has balked at that idea, noting the Senate Saturday passed its own tax cut plan.
    House Republicans countered that there's still time to craft a deal.
    "Our economy is too weak and the American people have been struggling far too long for Congress not to work out our differences.  America is not on vacation; nor should the Senate be," said House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp, R-Mich.
    "We have two weeks to find a solution and send something to the President for his signature.  That is what House Republicans are proposing to do today."
    The Senate vote was 89 to 10, and senators left Washington that day confident the House would go along. But conservative Republicans rebelled, creating the current stalemate.
    Debate Tuesday was sharply partisan and even bitter at times.
    Republicans "never wanted the tax cut from the beginning," charged House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. "Every difference of opinions is not a difference of principle. Maybe here it is….they alone are standing in the way of a tax cut for the middle class."
    GOP lawmakers shot back that Democrats were engaged in "hypocrisy," as Rep. Jeff Landry, R-La., put it.
    "Two months?" he mockingly asked. "One of the pillars of the president's jobs bill was an extension of the payroll tax for a year." President Barack  Obama proposed a one-year extension in his September package.

House Democratic leaders made it clear after meeting with rank-and-file members Monday: They want the Senate bill on the Social Security payroll tax passed.

House Republicans are balking, saying the two-month extension is too short. They want a year. Well, said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., so do we. But the two parties could not agree how to fund  a year extension, so two months is the compromise.

"The Senate did compromise" she told reporters. The Senate voted 89-10 Saturday to pass the plan.

But, a reporter said, House GOP leaders were not involved in that compromise.

"No," Pelosi said, "but the Speaker has said very clearly all along that (Senate Majority) Leader (Harry) Reid should negotiate with (Senate Republican) Leader (Mitch) McConnell.  This is the compromise.  This is the compromise.  This isn’t a bill that we were advocating.  We want one year.  This is the compromise.  This is just moving the goal post."  

Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., is very unhappy that House of Representatives Republicans won't go along with the Senate's two-month payroll tax break extension.

"The House Republicans’ plan to scuttle the deal to help middle-class families is irresponsible and wrong. I appreciate their effort to extend these measures for a full year, but a two-month extension is a good deal when it means we avoid jeopardizing the livelihoods of millions of American families.

"The refusal to compromise now threatens to increase taxes on hard-working Americans and stop unemployment benefits for those out of work. During this time of divided government, both parties need to be reasonable and come to the negotiating table in good faith. We cannot allow rigid partisan ideology and unwillingness to compromise stand in the way of working together for the good of the American people.”