Happy New Year Tim Murphy -- the conservative Club For Growth is trying to defeat you in this spring's GOP primary.

The anti-tax group (once led by Sen. Pat Toomey) today starting running two 15-second TV ads against the Upper St. Clair incumbent, hitting the so-called "liberal congressman" on favoring a bill on union rights and his record on earmark spending. Says a release from the DC-based group:

In Pennsylvania’s Eighteenth Congressional District, the Club for Growth PAC is launching two different 15 second advertisements aimed at encouraging the constituents of Republican Congressman Tim Murphy to ask themselves the following question: “Why’d he do that?” Tim Murphy’s record certainly might leave some Pennsylvania Republicans asking themselves the same questions.  Tim Murphy has supported pro-union “Card Check” legislation and billions in wasteful earmark spending.

. . . “Tim Murphy owes his constituents an explanation,” said Club for Growth President Chris Chocola. “He claims he’s fighting for Pennsylvania, but in Washington, he’s supporting liberal pro-union legislation and wasteful spending. Pennsylvania Republicans should ask themselves the following question: ‘Why’d he do that?’.”

The group says it's not making an endorsement in the primary, but the ad campaign is certainly a boost for former Hill staffer Evan Feinberg, who is courting nationwide conservatives in his run against Murphy and has friends in Tea Party favorites Tom Coburn and Rand Paul. The Club ads follow other third-party ads from a chemical lobby supporting Murphy.

The AP reports it's part of a $500,000 ad buy targeting three GOP moderates (including a US Senate race in Texas and Fred Upton's House seat in Michigan).

UPDATE 12:18 a.m. Chocola, a former Indiana congressman, voted for the earmark bill too.

UPDATE 11:20 a.m.: In a statement, Murphy campaign manager James Genovese says, "It's unfortunate that a group from Washington, DC is misinformed and cherry picking votes to mischaracterize Congressman Murphy's conservative record in Congress."

Full statement after the jump:

Good morning everybody.

Here's Jim O'Toole's morning setup on the other major sport in Iowa:

CLIVE, Iowa -- Tonight, thousands of Iowa Republicans, or soon-to-be Republicans, will gather in 809 churches, libraries, banquet halls and meeting places across the state to begin the process of choosing a nominee for president.

Plenty of other Iowa and New Hampshire coverage from Jim, Laura Olson and Tracie Mauriello in posts below.

It's also a big day in local politics, with the swearing-in of county executive Rich Fitzgerald and the choosing of a new Pittsburgh City Council president. The latter is sort of a Grant Street referendum on the Ravenstahl administration -- or, more precisely, whether the 5-vote bloc of anti-Ravenstahl votes can stick together. All eyes will be on young Corey O'Connor as he takes over his late father's old Squirrel Hill-based seat from Doug Shields

O'Connor has promised a "personal announcement" today, which could be all sorts of things: a wedding announcment?; joining brother Terry in the priesthood?; where Central will hold spring practices in Florida?

And, as ever, county property assessments roll on . . . funny how owners of expensive houses in places like Shadyside get values lower than sales prices (and therefore get a tax break) while owners of homes in the struggling North Side see the opposite.

Capping off the final full day of campaigning in Iowa was a large -- and at one point, somewhat raucous -- Mitt Romney rally, as the GOP frontrunner attempted to shore up a few more undecided voters for his camp.

Romney, who was joined on stage at the specialty advertising company by his wife and sons, sounded as though he was campaigning in the general election. He took sharp aim at President Barack Obama, criticizing the Democrat's foreign and economic policies.

"This has been a failed presidency," Romney said. "I remember, after he was inaugurated, he went on The Today Show, and he said, 'If I can't get this economy to turn around in three years, well, I'll be looking at a one-term proposition.'

"I'm here to collect!" he hollered, drawing cheers and applause. "We're taking it back!"

A brief break in the carefully scripted rally came as he had nearly completed his 15 minutes of remarks. Several protesters began to shout, "Stop the war on the poor! Occupy!" 

A larger number in the crowd began to shout back, "Mitt! Mitt! Mitt!," and one distinct "Go to work!," to which Romney smiled and chuckled. He quickly composed himself, diplomatically made a comment about the beauty of freedom of speech, and told the crowd to do the same when Obama comes through campaigning.

(The Des Moines Register reported later that three people affiliated with Occupy Des Moines were arrested at the rally.)

More photos after the jump...

A cacophony of voices fill a vacant store front sandwiched between a chocolate shop and a used-guitar store on the main drag in New Hampshire's biggest city.

“It’s really buzzing. It’s crazy here tonight. I don’t know if you can hear in the background but it’s a bit nutty,” Ann Krupp said to a New Hampshire Republican – one of several she telephoned tonight.

A regular at the phone bank, Ms. Krupp is used to quieter evenings but tonight was a big push and about 40 volunteers showed up. Their task: to round up support for Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign.

Fortified with lollipops, Laffy Taffy and SweeTarts, volunteers included former New Hampshire Gov. John Sununu, Manchester Mayor Ted Gatsas and New Hampshire State Sen. Jack Barnes.

“I’m calling from the Romney headquarters. There’s a big election coming up next Tuesday. Can you help us out?” Mr. Barnes asked one of the people on his call list.

Polls show Mr. Romney has a commanding lead in New Hampshire, and the evening’s phone bank calls seemed to reflect that.

That doesn’t mean it’s time to let up on the phone calls.

“We’ll run in New Hampshire like we’re three votes down with three minutes to go,” said Jim Merrill, Mr. Romney’s senior adviser in New Hampshire. “We’re trying to win this the New Hampshire way. That’s door-to-door, neighbor-to-neighbor.”

Ms. Krupp, 51, who grew up in Fox Chapel, said she appreciates face time with the candidates, some who made several dozen campaign appearances in New Hampshire this election cycle. Although she had her mind set on Mr. Romney from the start, she went to four or five other candidates’ events “just to make sure.”

As the first in the nation primary -- (New Hampshirites poo-poo the Iowa caucuses as not a real primary) – theirs sets the tone for what follows.

“It is a responsibility for New Hampshirites. It’s a responsibility we have to really vet the candidates,” said Ms. Krupp.

Richard Christie of Goffstown, who sat next to her at the phone bank, said anyone who has really vetted them knows that Mr. Romney is the only candidate worth supporting.

“He has the best prepared,” said Mr. Christie, 59. “If he doesn’t win, something’s wrong with this country.”