Afternoon Fix: Sarah Palin rules out bid for Republican National Committee chair; White House denies reaching deal on tax-cut extension

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WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED

* Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) won't run for Republican National Committee chairman despite the urging of a national tea party group. In a statement to ABC News, Palin wrote that "the primary role of the RNC chair seems be that of fundraiser-in-chief, and there are others who would probably be much more comfortable asking people for money than I would be, and they would definitely enjoy it more."

* Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) is urging attorney Joe Miller (R) to drop his legal challenge in his race against Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), calling Miller's case against the state "virtually certain to fail."

* The White House pushed back against a report that President Obama and congressional Republicans have reached a deal on extending the Bush-era tax cuts and are slated to present the proposal to congressional Democrats this afternoon.

* Days after he was censured by the House, Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) faces a new ethics probe: the Federal Election Commission is investigating a complaint that Rangel improperly used his leadership PAC to fund his defense before the House Ethics Committee.

WHAT YOU SHOULDN'T MISS

* New Hampshire Republican Party Chairman John H. Sununu will not seek a second term, an announcement with potentially big ramifications for 2012 White House hopefuls. State Republicans will elect a new chairman at their 2011 annual meeting on Jan. 22, and the winner can expect to be courted by national Republicans almost immediately.

* Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink (D), who ran unsuccessfully for governor this year, tamped down on speculation that she's considering a bid for Tampa mayor. Asked whether she's considering a run, Sink smiled and said she didn't think a bid was likely.

* Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) has formed a new leadership PAC, BudgetHawks.com, as he steps up his profile ahead of a potential challenge against Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).

* Retiring Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) said that he will oppose any extension of the Bush-era tax cuts that doesn't include an attempt to tackle tax reform, calling an unpaid-for extension "completely irresponsible."

THE FIX MIX

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With Felicia Sonmez and Aaron Blake