OVERNIGHT CAMPAIGN: Second lawmaker to resign

By Emily Goodin, Cameron Joseph and Alexandra Jaffe - 12/03/12 07:10 PM ET

TOP STORY: Rep. Emerson to retire

Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.) will retire from the House in February of next year, cutting her tenure short to become president and CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and setting off a GOP frenzy for her seat.

Her district is heavily Republican, and whoever is nominated by the district GOP committee will likely go on to take the seat.

Missouri GOP executive director Lloyd Smith, a former Emerson chief of staff, told The Hill he is considering a bid. Other Republican names being tossed around are Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman, state Rep. Todd Richardson and state Sens. Jason Crowell and Kevin Engler.

Emerson is the second lawmaker to announce her resignation since the November elections, following Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.).

TOMORROW’S AGENDA TODAY: President Obama will meet with several of the nation's governors at the White House to discuss the debt negotiations.

TWEET OF THE DAY: “Welcome to Twitter Pope Benedict. U will find it useful and interesting.” — Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa)

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Those who sign here petition the United States government to secure funding and resources, and begin construction on a Death Star by 2016.” — A petition on the White House’s “We the People” website

POLL POSITION:

Members of Congress barely edge car salesmen in trustworthiness, according to a poll released by Gallup. The survey, which asked respondents to rate the "honesty and ethical standards" of 22 different professions, saw some 54 percent of respondents grade members of Congress's honesty as "low or very low." That's the worst of any of the professions scored — only car salesmen ranked worse overall.

BATTLE FOR THE HOUSE:

CALIFORNIA: Rep. Bob Filner (D-Calif.) has officially resigned from the House, leaving his seat open until the new Congress is sworn in next year. Filner was elected mayor of San Diego this fall, and resigned from Congress on Monday, soon after he was sworn in. He'll be replaced by Rep. Juan Vargas (D-Calif.) next year, and his seat will remain vacant until then.

TENNESSEE: Beleaguered Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R) says he plans to run again in 2014, but could find it difficult to raise funds after damaging details surrounding his past affairs became public. DesJarlais collected $71,000 from health industry political action committees during his last bid for Congress, 20 percent of the overall $400,000 he collected from PACs this cycle, but according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press, at least six of those won't donate to the congressman again in 2014.

SENATE SHOWDOWN:

ALASKA: Alaska Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell (R) is considering a run against Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska), who is thought to be one of the more vulnerable Senate incumbents up for reelection.

WEST VIRGINIA: Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) acknowledged that part of the appeal of her candidacy for Senate is that she's a woman running in a party that has had trouble with female voters in the past.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

President Obama will ask members of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to reelect Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fla.) to serve another term as chairwoman. The election will take place when the DNC meets in Washington on Jan. 22, one day after Obama is sworn in for his second term, according to a DNC official.

Obama held a Twitter Q&A on Monday, using social media to lobby hard for public opinion to rally to his argument that the tax rates on the "top 2 percent" of income-earners should expire at the end of the year.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) gently mocked Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) about speculation the former Democratic presidential nominee could be named the next secretary of State — and earned a playful rebuke from the Massachusetts lawmaker. "Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary," McCain said after Kerry finished addressing reporters about a pending vote on a disabilities treaty. "Thank you very much, Mr. President," Kerry quipped, in reference to McCain's failed presidential bids in 2000 and 2008.

Mitt Romney joined the board of Marriott International.

Rick Santorum has taken a job as a columnist for World Net Daily, a conservative website best known for articles advancing "birther" conspiracy theories about Obama.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich could pop up in an episode of NBC's sitcom "Parks and Recreation" this season, according to a tweet from actor Rob Lowe.

Obama has congratulated Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge Katherine over the news that they are having a baby.