Congress' approval rating, already dismal last year, has hit a new low.

Gallup found in its Feb. 2-5 survey that Congress' approval rating had sunk to 10 percent.

The rating averaged 17 percent last year, with the highest number, 24 percent, logged in May. 

But Congress was beset last year by partisan gridlock, leading to a bitter summer fight over raising the nation's debt ceiling and a pre-Christmas showdown over continuing a Social Security payroll tax cut.

"It is difficult to pinpoint any specific recent actions that may have led to the continuing deterioration in Congress' image, particularly because much of the political attention in January and early February has focused on the Republican presidential race," a Gallup analyis said.

"Congress at this point is again wrangling over the extension of the payroll tax holiday and unemployment benefits -- both of which were temporarily extended late last year in a short-term fix that expires at the end of February."

1,029 people were sureyed. Margin of error is plus or minus 4 percentage points.

 Mitt Romney's now using former "NBC Nightlly News" anchor Tom Brokaw to help make the case against Newt Gingrich.

In an ad released Saturday, Romney, vying for the GOP presidential nomination against the former House Speaker and two othres, brings up the 1997 House of Representatives vote to reprimand Gingrich for ethical lapses.

In the ad, the viewer sees Brokaw delivering the news that night:

“Good evening. Newt Gingrich, who came to power, after all, preaching a higher standard in American politics, a man who brought down another speaker on ethics accusations, tonight he has on his own record the judgment of his peers, Democrat and Republican alike. By an overwhelming vote, they found him guilty of ethics violations; they charged him a very large financial penalty, and they raised – several of them – raised serious questions about his future effectiveness.”

If Republicans nominate Newt Gingrich, "it will have an adverse impact on Republican candidates running for county, state, and federal offices," former Senate Republican Leader Bob Dole, the GOP's 1996 presidential nominee, said in an "open letter" Thursday.

"Hardly anyone who served with Newt in Congress has endorsed him and that fact speaks for itself. He was a one-man-band who rarely took advice. It was his way or the highway," Dole said.

Dole was Senate leader while Gingrich was House Speaker from 1995 to 1999.

Dole recalled Gingrich's $300,000 penalty for ethics violations. "I know whereof I speak as I helped establish a line of credit of $150,000 to help Newt pay off the fine for his ethics violations. In the end, he paid the fine with money from other sources," Dole said.

He also blasted Gingrich's intellect.

"Gingrich had a new idea every minute and most of them were off the wall.  He loved picking a fight with Bill Clinton because he knew this would get the attention of the press," Dole recalled.

"In my run for the presidency in 1996 the Democrats greeted me with a number of negative TV ads and in every one of them Newt was in the ad.  He was very unpopular and I am not only certain that this did not help me, but that it also cost House seats that year.

"Newt would show up at the campaign headquarters with an empty ice-bucket in his hand—that was a symbol of some sort for him—and I never did know what he was doing or why he was doing it.

"In my opinion if we want to avoid an Obama landslide in November, Republicans should nominate Governor Romney as our standard bearer. He has the requisite experience in the public and private sectors. He would be a president we could have confidence in."

Nancy Pelosi, former House Speaker and now minority leader, makes it clear what she thinks of Newt Gingrich's prospects for becoming president: Not going to happen, she told CNN's John King.

Here's the transcript:

KING:  Because of your history with Speaker Gingrich, what goes through your mind when you think about the possibility, which is more real today than it was a week or a month ago, that he would be the Republican nominee and that you could come back here next January or next February with a President Gingrich?

PELOSI:  Let me just say this.  That will never happen. 

KING:  Why? 

PELOSI:  He's not going to be president of the United States.  This is -- that's not going to happen.  Let me just make my prediction and stand by it.  It isn't going to happen. 

KING:  Why are you so sure? 

PELOSI:  There's something I know.  The Republicans, if they choose to nominate him, that's the prerogative.  I don't even think that's going to happen. 

Looks like Mitt Romney likes Michele Bachmann.

After she left the Republican presidential race, Romney praised the Minnesota congresswoman, saying her "tenacity and leadership inspires millions."

Here's his statement:

 “Ann and I salute Congresswoman Bachmann. She ran a campaign to advance the principles of limited government that I hold dear. Michele is a friend and a strong competitor. Her tenacity on the campaign trail and her fierce intelligence in the debates have left me no doubt that, as advertised, she does indeed have a titanium spine. Michele inspires millions of Americans by the way she has lived her life, raised her family and served her country. With leaders of her caliber coming up the ranks, the future of the Republican Party – and the future of the country – is bright.”

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.”

Texas Rep. Ron Paul has pulled ahead in the latest Iowa poll.

A new Iowa State University/Gazette/KCRG survey of Republican voters in the nation's first caucus state found Paul with 27.5 percent. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich had 25.3 percent, and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was third with 17.5 percent.

The survey of 333 likely GOP caucus-goers has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points. It was conducted Dec. 8 to 18.

But, the poll analysis warns, the race is "remarkably fluid," though Paul's supporters tend to be solidly behind him. Iowa voters will caucus Jan. 3.

 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."