The Evening Brief: March 6, 2012

Culled:

• 10 things to watch on Super Tuesday (Politico): "There are 10 Super Tuesday states to watch, and a number of possible outcomes. Will Mitt Romney smack down Rick Santorum in Ohio, or will it go the other way around? Will Newt Gingrich be relegated to the status of regional candidate with a single-state win in Georgia? Does anyone remember Ron Paul’s caucus strategy?"
  

• A Guide to Super Tuesday Possibilities (FiveThirtyEight): "With only 10 states voting on Super Tuesday, it would be easy to dismiss it as a little wimpy compared to past years. But nearly 20 percent of the delegates to the Republican convention will be chosen on Tuesday night — and the outcome could reasonably range from one in which Mitt Romney seems to have the nomination all but wrapped up to a situation that casts his nomination in doubt."

• Downplaying Super Tuesday, Ron Paul Says Race May Continue into Spring (Fox News): "Ron Paul is downplaying the idea that any kind of finality should be associated with Super Tuesday. 'We're going to find out something very special today, but this won't be the end all, this is a long term operation,' the Texas Congressman told supporters on Tuesday."

• Paul hits Romney on health care, 'flip-flopping,' (Politico): "Ron Paul told Laura Ingraham on her radio show today that Romney is 'not a free-market conservative' and that his 'flip-flopping' suggests he may try to keep the national individual mandate in place."

• In day of big primaries, Va. ballot pairing Romney, Paul generates little enthusiasm from GOP (The Associated Press): "With high-energy Super Tuesday primaries elsewhere, Republicans turned out in paltry numbers in Virginia for a primary ballot with only two candidates because of the state’s rigorous candidate qualifying laws."

• Texas Teacher Pension Buys Bridgewater Stake (The New York Times): "The Teacher Retirement System of Texas just went from hedge fund investor to hedge fund owner. Last month, the Texas pension took a $250 million stake in Bridgewater Associates, the giant money manager. Now, rather than plowing money into specific portfolios, it can claim a piece of the whole operation."

• Documents show Estes involved with company (Times Record News): "When Texas State Sen. Craig Estes, R-Wichita Falls, responded to questions in a candidates' forum Feb. 20, he said he did not own the agriculture chemical company, Estes, Inc., when that company — which once had about $175 million in sales — went into bankruptcy in 2010. But bankruptcy court documents tell a different story about the business that bears his family's name."

New in The Texas Tribune:

• Hundreds Attend Rally Targeting Possible End of Women's Health Program: "At a rally today at the Capitol, protesters denounced the impending end of the Women's Health Program. GOP lawmakers are facing off with the Obama administration, pledging to end the entire Women's Health Program rather than allow Planned Parenthood to participate."

• Executive Director Leaves Railroad Commission: "John Tintera, executive director of the Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates the oil and gas industry, is leaving less than one week after the election of a new chairman, Barry Smitherman, to lead the agency."

• DPS Renews Warning Against Spring Break Trips to Mexico: "The Texas Department of Public Safety today renewed a warning that cautions Texas students against traveling to Mexico. The break begins next week for most of the state’s schools."

• T-Squared: Aman Batheja is Trib's Latest Hire: "I'm excited to announce that Aman Batheja of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, one of the state's best political reporters, will soon join the Tribune staff."