The Morning Briefing February 1, 2012

LINCROFT - State Republicans owe a debt of gratitude to State Sen. Joseph Kyrillos. At 11 a.m. today in Lincroft, he will launch an uphill battle to unseat the well-financed Sen. Robert Menendez who's running on a ticket with the President at the top. Expect Gov. Chris Christie to play the role of rabid attack dog in the Kyrillos campaign, slamming Menendez at every opportunity. The first objective for Kyrillos is to win the GOP primary, which should be a slam dunk with the Governor's strong backing.

ATLANTIC CITY - In a never-ending cycle of redevelopment, the latest effort is expected to be approved today, when the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority announces a plan to recharge the nation's second-largest gambling mecca. Any proposed plan needs to focus on visitor safety, especially in the Atlantic and Pacific avenue commercial districts where pawn shops, check cashing joints and blinking "Sell Your Gold Here" signs aren't exactly enticing tourists.

ON THE ROADS - State Police to New Jersey drivers: Get drunk at home. In gearing up for Sunday's Super Bowl, in what will be akin to a second Christmas for Giants fans in North Jersey, Troopers will be out in full force on the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway, the Record reports. Police - likely annoyed they are stuck working during the big game - will be taking out their anger on drunken drivers, speeders, texters and belligerent Patriots fans.

FLORIDA - Looks like Mitt Romney is taking a page out of Chris Christie's playbook...and it's working. Shaking his comatose image as "the nice guy," Romney lunged for the throat of Newt Gingrich in easily winning Florida's Republican primary. Expect Romney to continue attacking Gingrich for many of his misdeeds on TV ads and debate stages, while Romney supporters boo and hiss at all of Gingrich's campaign stops. Welcome to the campaign, Mitt.

STATEWIDE - The slow economy has been absolutely brutal for New Jersey's historic sites, which have aged rapidly without the funding for upkeep. State officials are trying to figure out the damage, launching the first survey in 22 years to ascertain the enormous costs for proper repair and restoration at hundreds of sites. The results will be frightening. Just imagine the damage of one perennial leak - in a 250-year-old home.

TRENTON - The state certainly has a rosy picture on the returns of state investment funds. PolitickerNJ reports the state is factoring in a 8.25 percent return on investments in its pension fund. (Are we investing in a Ponzi scheme?) If those lofty returns are not met - which is likely - the state's pension deficit of $41.8 billion will continue to grow.

NEW YORK - Today may be the day when we can all finally "like" Facebook stock. The social network is expected to file to go public - creating a trading floor buzz that will rival the one that Google stirred up in 2004, when it did the same thing. If all goes according to plan, this filing will set Facebook's worth at nearly $100 billion (give or take a billion). And just imagine if Facebook could reap the same 8.25 percent return that New Jersey is sure it's getting?

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

The very first movie studio opened this day in 1893. In Hollywood? No. In New York? Nope. In West Orange, at the bustling laboratory of Thomas Edison.