The Midday Brief: Jan. 4, 2012

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "Despite a disappointing fifth place finish in Tuesday night's Iowa caucuses that led Rick Perry to say he was returning home to Texas to reassess his candidacy, the Texas governor surprised everyone — including some of his own staff — by announcing this morning that he would stay in the race." — Perry Says He'll Stay in Presidential Race

• "Some of our most popular data apps deserve a new year's makeover. The Tribune's original Census 2010 population viewer has been updated with new functions that make it faster and easier to use. Explore U.S. Census Bureau population data with our improved county-by-county maps." — Updated Interactive Map: Census 2010 Populations by County

Your afternoon reading:

• "On the morning before Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses, Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota said she was counting on a 'miracle' to resurrect her faltering campaign. On the morning after, she acknowledged that it was beyond saving. Mrs. Bachmann said on Wednesday morning that she would not continue her campaign for the Republican presidential nomination." — Bachmann Says She Will Not Continue in the Race, The New York Times

• "A group of movement conservatives has called an emergency meeting in Texas next weekend to find a 'consensus' Republican presidential hopeful, POLITICO has learned." — After Iowa caucuses, GOP elites seek 'consensus' candidate, Politico
  

• "I called Perry spokesman Mark Miner. No answer. I then called Perry press person Catherine Frazier. This time, I somehow was connected, though she didn't say hello. I heard Miner telling her, 'He tweeted we're going on to South Carolina. Every reporter in the world is calling.'" — Inside Team Perry: It's a little crazy right now, thank you, The Dallas Morning News