Primary coverage live blog:
6:02pm: Fox News - Newt wins, Romney second, Santorum and Paul fighting it out for third, too close to call.
6:04pm: Pundits saying Gingrich victory prolongs nomination process, has momentum going into Florida primary.
6:05pm: Gingrich outspent 2-1 in South Carolina, Romney bucks didn't get the win.
6:07pm: Shot of Romney headquarters only 25% full, very quiet.
6:10pm: Newt Gingrich wins the most Independents.
6:15pm: With 1% reporting, Gingrich is at 37%, Romney is at 36%, Paul is at 11% and Santorum has 9%.
6:17pm: Pundits, Romney just can't seem to connect with voters. What many pundits were predicting about a week ago for Romney; to be a wrapping up of the nomination with a win in South Carolina, hasn't panned out. Romney is now 1-2 in the political races so far instead of being 3-0.
6:23pm: CNN is showing Romney with the lead at 38%, but still with just 1% of precincts reporting.
6:26pm: Santorum has pulled ahead of Paul for 3rd, 13% to 9% respectively.
6:31pm: Fox News projects that Rick Santorum will take 3rd.
6:43pm: CNN calls it for Gingrich, Romney second, Santorum third, Paul fourth.
6:47pm: Shot of Romney headquarters, Mitt about to make speech, room is not jam packed.... a lot of faithful supporters yes, but it's not packed.
With the results pretty much set in stone, I'm out... Here's a chart on where candidates have placed so far in the various races to date:
| Iowa | New Hampshire | South Carolina | |
| Newt Gingrich | 4 | 5 | 1 |
| Ron Paul | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| Mitt Romney | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Rick Santorum | 1 | 4 | 3 |
Jon Huntsman finished 3rd in New Hampshire, but dropped out of the nomination race soon after.
Florida will be very telling. If Romney cannot hang onto his lead there, it truly will be a fight to the convention. Romney's lack of experience as a politician showed in South Carolina. He will either need to become more skilled in the art of politicking or the country will have to decide they will accept a non-politician as president.
It would appear that it is over for Santorum. He is a real good guy, but it looks like it is over. Ron Paul will be in to the end to get his message out and influence the party platform. After Florida, it would appear that it will be a 3 horse race for the needed 1144 delegates.
Charles Krauthammer's article below is a little frightening.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/republicans-legitimize-obamas-reelection-rhetoric/2012/01/19/gIQA5pB5BQ_story.html
Posted by: SDJammer | January 21, 2012 at 07:11 PM