IOWA: The politics of corn: “Federal subsidies for corn ethanol have long been considered untouchable in Washington -- not least because politicians want the votes of Iowans, who have traditionally held the first nominating caucuses in the contest for the presidency,” the New York Times writes. “But this year, cutting the budget deficit holds more allure than courting corn farmers, making a turning point in ethanol politics.”

NEW YORK: “New York Assemblyman David Weprin will be the Democratic nominee in the 9th district special election, a well-placed Democratic source in the Empire State confirmed Thursday,” Roll Call writes.

SOUTH CAROLINA: “A plan in which the South Carolina Elections Commission would run next year’s Republican Presidential Primary and bill the costs to the state GOP is taking shape,” the Southern Political Report writes. “The state legislature last week overrode Gov. Nikki Haley’s veto of a bill which included funding for the closely watched early primary, and Attorney General Alan Wilson ruled the commission could run the election.