The Midday Brief: Jan. 24, 2012

Your afternoon reading:

• "Rick Perry was not the fundraising force many had expected him to be, but he did have some key bundlers behind him as he raised more than $17 million in the third quarter of 2011. Now, those backers appear to be divided between the top tier of Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich." — Perry's money men split between Romney, Gingrich, Politico

• "Two of Rick Perry’s top fundraisers are in discussion with Newt Gingrich about raising money for his presidential bid." —Perry fundraisers discuss how to help Gingrich campaign, The Dallas Morning News

• "Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ted Cruz raised $1.1 million in the last three months of 2011, bringing his total to more than $4 million. That sum means Cruz has 'effectively tied' the $4.2 million that Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has drawn in contributions, Cruz’s campaign announced on Tuesday. Dewhurst reported raising more than $1.5 million in the last quarter." — Cruz claims to “effectively tie” Dewhurst in fund raising, Austin American-Statesman

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "He's come a long way since President Obama told him he thought he was a White House intern. San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro was invited to Tuesday's State of the Union address, and he received a coveted seat near the first lady." — San Antonio Mayor in State of the Union Spotlight

• "In Texas, the unemployment rate dropped significantly at the end of 2011. Check out the annual industry changes in Texas' major cities and the unemployment rate in each county with this updated interactive map." — Interactive: Texas Economy by Region, December 2011

• "The dean of the University of Texas at Arlington's College of Nursing on the college's growth, its online studies program, state budget cuts and the critical shortage of nurses that Texas is facing." — Elizabeth Poster: The TT Interview