The Midday Brief: Jan. 5, 2012

Your afternoon reading:

• "The bounce that candidates receive in the polls after a primary or caucus is typically as much a function of exceeding expectations as their actual performance. Although Mitt Romney won the Iowa caucuses by eight votes, it looks as though Rick Santorum will see the largest improvement in his poll numbers." — First Post-Iowa Polls Show Bounce for Santorum, FiveThirtyEight

• "Why did Mr. Perry decide to remain in the race? Knowing the answer is crucial to understanding whether Mr. Perry has any chance of mounting a comeback — and how his decision might reverberate upon Mitt Romney and the other Republican candidates." — Perry, Perry, Quite Contrary, FiveThirtyEight 

• "When she filed last month to run for the state Senate, Texas Railroad Commission Chairwoman Elizabeth Ames Jones swore she was a resident of San Antonio. The state Constitution, however, requires that railroad commissioners 'reside at the capital of the state during (their) continuance in office.' Now, state Sen. Jeff Wentworth, her opponent in the Republican primary, is accusing Jones of violating the Constitution by holding onto her office while claiming to live in both places at once." — Wentworth sparks a residency battle in state Senate race, San Antonio Express-News

• "The pro-Ron Paul super PAC Endorse Liberty is out with a series of bizarre web videos, featuring (slightly scary-looking) impersonators of Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Rick Perry and Newt Gingrich responding to the Iowa caucus results." — Pro-Paul super PAC parodies Paul's GOP rivals, Politico

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "Payday lenders are about to come under the microscope — the result of new laws designed to curb predatory lending and prevent a cycle of 'debt and dependency.' It could be just the beginning of regulation for an industry opponents say has run amok with promises of quick money in exchange for exorbitant rates." — Texas Payday Lenders Face New Rules, Scrutiny 

• "Is UT the new Wall Street? A group of students taking their cues from the worldwide Occupy movement is preparing for a battle with University of Texas System regents over proposed tuition increases." — Forces On Left and Right Aligning in Tuition Fight