The Daily Digest (Hearing on child care vote, Candidates ramp up for Iowa Caucuses, MNGOP tries to organize after Sutton quit)

A judge will hold a hearing today on an effort on whether to stop a unionization vote of child care providers.

The vote of some in-home day care providers starts on Wednesday.

Supporters and opponents of the union vote stared ramping up their organizing efforts on Saturday.

The PoliGraph says Childcare Freedom released a misleading ad.

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A test of the state's health insurance exchanges begins today.

Gov. Dayton offers help in the American Crystal Sugar labor dispute.

Party politics

Republicans are looking to elect a new party chair after Tony Sutton abruptly quit his position on Friday - one day before the State Central Committee meeting.

Kelly Fenton has been elected Deputy Chair.

Republican leaders are calling for unity after Sutton's abrupt resignation but some barbs are still being thrown over how the party got so deep in red ink. Former Deputy Chair Michael Brodkorb said Tom Emmer's campaign is the reason. He called Emmer the "Bill Buckner of Republican politics."

Vikings Stadium

The Star Tribune says a Vikings move to L.A. would not be easy.

MPR says the Vikings could sell personal seat licenses as a way to pay for the new stadium.

The city of Santa Clara and the San Francisco 49ers have reached a deal on a stadium financing plan.

Economy

Leaders are piecing together an effort to keep the Euro afloat.

Congress

Democrats will offer a payroll tax-cut compromise.

The AP says cutting the U.S. deficit is much harder than talking about it.

The Postal Service says mail service will slow down if cuts occur.

Carbon emissions show the greatest jump ever recorded.

DFL Sen. Al Franken creates a Secret Santa program in the Senate with the hopes of ending the partisan divide.

GOP Rep. John Kline is citing a Goodhue County wind program as a reason to end a grant program for renewable energy.

Wisconsin

Former Sen. Norm Coleman spoke at a rally for Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.

Special Elections

There are two special elections for legislative seats on Tuesday. Both races, one in the House and one in the Senate, are in Minneapolis. The Star Tribune takes a look at the race to replace DFL Sen. Larry Pogemiller.

Race for President

There is less than one month until the Iowa Caucuses.

A Des Moines Register poll says Newt Gingrich is leading in Iowa.

A Marist poll also finds that Gingrich is gaining on Mitt Romney in New Hampshire.

The New York Times says Gingrich still faces major hurdles.

Politico looks at Romney's difficulty in dealing with the national press.

The New York Times reports that Romney's campaign flipped out when it found out a reporter was backstage at Saturday's debate. Aides told the reporter not to physically approach Romney.

Herman Cain suspended his campaign.

There are reports that Cain will back Gingrich.

Michele Bachmann says Cain's supporters are moving to her.

Social conservative Phyllis Schlafly is backing Bachmann.

MPR says Bachmann's campaign is hoping their organizational efforts pay off.

Bachmann accepted an invitation to participate in Donald Trump's debate.

Pro Publica takes a look at Bachmann's efforts to pardon Frank Vennes.

AP profiles Bachmann.

Tim Pawlenty reportedly referred to Bachmann as "Sarah Palin's stunt double."

Pawlenty also played up Romney's "character" during a campaign stop in New Hampshire.