Gingrich Delivers a Statewide Drubbing in S.C.
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(Paul Sancya/AP Photo)
Newt Gingrich nearly swept South Carolina on Saturday, winning all but one of the state’s bellwether counties and collecting votes from every region.
Mitt Romney’s bright spot came in Charleston, the city on South Carolina’s coast that’s home to moderate GOP voters who handed John McCain his largest county victory in 2008. Romney edged Gingrich 36 percent to 33 percent in Charleston on Saturday night. Romney also won the neighboring coastal county of Beaufort.
Romney also managed to take Richland, a large county in the Columbia area in the center of the state that also supported McCain in 2008.
Gingrich won every other county, going 43 of 46.
Exit polls and the final results map showed Gingrich winning both social-conservative votes that went to Mike Huckabee in 2008, enough coastal moderate votes that went to McCain, and most of the McCain-backing center of the state.
The former House speaker dominated in the socially conservative northwest portion of South Carolina, Huckabee’s stronghold in 2008.
Despite Rick Santorum’s continued play for the socially conservative, family-values vote, exit polls showed Gingrich dominating statewide among “very conservative” voters, tea-party supporters, voters who say abortion should be illegal in all cases, and white evangelical or born-again Christians. Gingrich took Greenville, South Carolina’s northwestern bellwether county, 40 percent to Romney’s 25 percent and Santorum’s 18 percent.
The former speaker won in coastal Horry County, where moderate voters could have given Romney a boost, with 46 percent to Romney’s 30 percent. Exit polls showed Gingrich trailing Romney among self-declared moderates 31 percent to 36 percent statewide.
The middle of the state, which supported McCain in 2008, figured to be a battleground — and Gingrich dominated there, too. While Romney took Richland, Gingrich took Lexington, the other large county in the Columbia area, with 37 percent to Romney’s 31 percent. Gingrich won seven of the eight central counties that all supported McCain in 2008, counting the two mentioned above.
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I can’t imagine the beating Obama will take in a debate against Newt. Obama can speak well that which he reads, but he can’t speak without reading and sound intelligent. The man makes Bush look good. This fact will likely cause a good number of liberals to commit suicide as they will not be able to see a Harvard educated liberal get pummeled and absolutely destroyed and made to look like a stuttering fool with an IQ of maybe 50.
Posted by: kate | January 22, 2012, 7:29 am 7:29 am
This is smilitis for the Democrats. Gingrich’s lack of character is so severe that not only the trick line of “I found God” is going to convince people he’s electable.
Posted by: The_Mick | January 22, 2012, 8:04 am 8:04 am
the so called christians of sc that voted for newt are fakes. what true christian would vote for someone who ran around on two of his wives changed his religion and now claims he is a changed man.lobbied in washington so freddie and fannie could give loans and then cause many people to loose their homes and money.make over 3 million dollars and then charge their own church for singing in the choir.sc has a high unemployment rate very low education rate.very low min wage.i hope the people of sc get exactly what they voted for(NOTHING0
Posted by: guy | January 22, 2012, 8:09 am 8:09 am
This election will be a first for Obama as he will be forced to run on his record, a very poor record. Obama had both the house and the senate for his first two years, and nothing was done but spend a colossal amount of money that has brought our credit rating down.
Put Obama’s record up against Newt’s, and now it isn’t even a contest, Newt wins hands down.
Now enter the topic of our debt and compare the two people. Obama spent more than any president in the history of this country and spent more than all presidents before him added together. Absolutely appalling!
Newt was Speaker in the 90′s and put forth a balanced budget AND a projected surplus.
I also have to agree with everyone else. There is no way, none, that Obama stands any chance against Newt in a debate. Obama is like a puppet on a string. The only way Obama could face Newt in a debate would be for Obama’s puppet master to be pulling Obama’s strings.
Posted by: vic | January 22, 2012, 8:27 am 8:27 am
This just goes to show how extreme the Republican Party has become. God help us if Newt ever becomes President. We’ll go back to the good old days of the Robber Barons. Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt must be spinning in their graves.
As far as Newt gooing up against President Obama in a debate. It will be hard for Obama to beat Newt, because Gingrich is a facts optional debater. Here’s a hint, the phrase “promote the general welfare” actually is in the Preamble to the Constitution. Republicans never seem to remember that.
Posted by: mike | January 22, 2012, 8:46 am 8:46 am
Dang! Maybe we will get to see a Gingrich/Obama debate. But you can bet your bottom dollar Obama won’t want it non-scripted.
Posted by: newcountryman | January 22, 2012, 8:48 am 8:48 am
Shut the Gov’t down, then blinked.
Fined $300K by the House, who the Repbubs controlled.
Legally an adulterer.
On wifey #3, and counting.
Paid to Lobby for Freddie and Fanny, except he’s not a “lobbyist”.
Yea this guy is real electable.
Posted by: Atilathehun101 | January 22, 2012, 8:50 am 8:50 am
I smell fear.
Posted by: newcountryman | January 22, 2012, 8:50 am 8:50 am
Newt is way worse in every dimension than Obama. Incredible that the people of South Carolina voted for this tyrant. Listen to the people who have worked with Newt. They are not voting for him.
We need a third party.
Posted by: welldirected | January 22, 2012, 9:39 am 9:39 am
Newt is in the wrong party. His favorite presidents are FDR, Wilson (gave us the IRS and the Fed), Teddy, and LBJ? He is/was for cap and trade, as well and universal health care. He was kicked out of his position as Speaker of the House (by the Republicans). Is this guy just a Republican in party name only?
Posted by: deanbob | January 22, 2012, 9:52 am 9:52 am
VIC | JANUARY 22, 2012, 8:27 AM …..”This election will be a first for Obama as he will be forced to run on his record, a very poor record.”…..And he may be subpoenaed to appear in a Georgia court (the first of several states challenging his natural born citizen status) to prove his constitutional eligibility.
Posted by: deanbob | January 22, 2012, 9:58 am 9:58 am
……. I see there’s still a radical faux nonnews rush believing birther puppet in the crowd.
Posted by: Navin | January 22, 2012, 10:31 am 10:31 am
LOL! …… the fact that Newt Gingrich won in South Carolina just confirms my opinion of southern Republican women. They like to play the good, church going “angels” in public, but deep down inside they really do appreciate it when they’re “traded-in” like used cars. How an entire group of Republicans could support this guy after looking at his ethical AND moral character record, puts the Republican party in a position where all their bullogni talk about being the “family values” party is thrown right out the window.
Posted by: Forrest Gump is DEFINITELY a Republican | January 22, 2012, 10:35 am 10:35 am
My God!! I really thought us Republicans had a chance to get President Obama out of office and try to get our country turned around. A man that thinks with his “little head” will not be able to beat Obama. We are in for 4 more years of nightmare.
Posted by: Suebelle | January 22, 2012, 10:38 am 10:38 am
NEWCOUNTRYMAN | January 22, 2012, 8:50 AM, SAID:
I smell fear.
===============================
Actually NewCountryMan, Newt Gingrich just farted…. that’s what you’re smelling.
(heehaw, heehaw, heehaw!)
Posted by: Forrest Gump is DEFINITELY a Republican | January 22, 2012, 10:45 am 10:45 am
It is sad to think 1/3 of my gene pool entered this country through S. Carolina.
Posted by: jean2009 | January 22, 2012, 11:16 am 11:16 am
If you think that was a drubbing, just wait until Newt debates Obama. Ooooh my! Even if msnbc hosts and gives Obama all questions and even gives him scripted answers, maybe, but even then, the odds are really against Obama on this one.
Posted by: Gretch | January 22, 2012, 11:32 am 11:32 am
“Exit polls showed Gingrich trailing Romney among self-declared moderates 31 percent to 36 percent statewide.”——————–Gingrich certainly can’t beat Obama at a debate , but he won’t get the chance to even try . Gingrich is unelectable , many moderates won’t support him . He’ll be sent home soon , but not until after there is some good amount of mud slung this way and that among the GOP candidates. Team Obama will be smiling all the time. ;)
Posted by: davem | January 22, 2012, 12:16 pm 12:16 pm
The democrats had no problem electing Bill Clinton even though everyone knew beforehand he was a serial philanderer. Bill Clinton created a group he called the “bimbo eruption squad” whose job it was to silence any of his previous flings. The dems also had no problem electing a string of Kennedy’s even though they were well known for their issues with alcohol and the ladies. If the dems can elect people like that then so can the Republicans.
Posted by: afkbrad | January 22, 2012, 12:18 pm 12:18 pm
Davem…Gingrich certainly can’t beat Obama at a debate ,—-Gingrich would wipe the floor with Obama in a debate…..Obama wouldn’t stand a snowballs chance in hell.
Posted by: gary | January 22, 2012, 12:32 pm 12:32 pm
Xrepub Actually NewCountryMan, Newt Gingrich just farted…. that’s what you’re smelling.—No thats your upper lip
Posted by: susan | January 22, 2012, 12:36 pm 12:36 pm
The democrats had no problem electing Bill Clinton even though everyone knew beforehand he was a serial philanderer. ——————-Do you have any proof that “everyone” , or even anyone , had any real empirical evidence of Bill Clinton being an adulterer even once before he took office ? You do realize that making false statements in public regarding a person is illegal ? It’s called slander .
Posted by: davem | January 22, 2012, 12:39 pm 12:39 pm
Gretch | January 22, 2012, 11:32 am….
LOL! … yeah, sure. The only thing that gives Newt Gingrich any leverage with a moronic audience (like the one in the last CNN Republican debate), is the fact that he spits out false statements that the moronic audience doesn’t even know are not true, and believe completely just because “Newt said it”.
For example, during that last debate, Gingrich said ……. “Under Jimmy Carter, we had the wrong laws, the wrong regulations, the wrong leadership, and we killed jobs. We had inflation. We went to 10.8 percent unemployment. Under Ronald Reagan, we had the right job — the right laws, the right regulators, the right leadership. We created 16 million new jobs.”
And, of course, the morons in the audience applauded Newt’s statement.
THEN, DOING SOME RESEARCH, COMES THE FACTS: Under Carter’s presidency unemployment never topped 7.8 percent. The unemployment rate did reach 10.8 percent…. LOL!…. but not until November and December 1982, nearly two years into Reagan’s first term (22 months into Reagan’s presidency.
Posted by: Forrest Gump is DEFINITELY a Republican | January 22, 2012, 12:40 pm 12:40 pm
.Obama wouldn’t stand a snowballs chance in hell.———— Obama is a professional debater , a law professor from Harvard. Gingrich is a liar with a degree in history who is the only Speaker ever to be fined in Congress , and he’ll be rightfully exposed instantly for his past ethics violations as Speaker during any meaningful objective debate or public forum , which has not even taken place yet . And that is just the beginning of the awful public whipping he’d take . Personally I hope Gingrich does win the nomination , although It’s very doubtful that he will . Team Obama will be ready for whoever , but Newt would be too big of a gift methinks . The RNC will never allow it.
Posted by: tim_s_minton | January 22, 2012, 12:48 pm 12:48 pm
Newt gave America a surplus. Obama has given so many future generations enormous debt and down graded our credit rating.
Based on those facts alone. Newt wins hands down.
Posted by: mak | January 22, 2012, 12:53 pm 12:53 pm
I completely agree with the majority that say Newt will destroy Obama in any debate.
Look, impromptu speaking is just not Obama’s specialty. He has to have prepared notes. And that’s fine. Most speeches are from a teleprompter, but all debates are not. Therefore it is absolutely a fact that Obama will not do well in a debate against Newt Gingrich.
Another knock against Obama is Newt is a walking history book of facts who also has the ability to flat out deliver a knock-out punch to the media if when they show their bias against him. Obama – not so much. Ok, not at all.
This is why the democrats are trying to all of a sudden have such a care for morals and trying to make a case against Newt.
Posted by: Flo | January 22, 2012, 1:01 pm 1:01 pm
Tim Minton Obama is a professional debater===Thats like saying the Dolphins are a professional football team but like the Dolphins record this season Obamas record is in the toilet.
Posted by: allen | January 22, 2012, 1:02 pm 1:02 pm
Gingrich stood up for the middle class majority, and not the top 1%.
That’s the bottom line.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | January 22, 2012, 1:36 pm 1:36 pm
Lawyers are professional debaters. Anyone who thinks a History professor can win a fair debate against a good lawyer needs to hire a history teacher as legal counsel next time they are on trial for something like murder 1 or going through a nasty expensive divorce , etc. . Sounds pretty stupid eh ? Well , that is what is going to happen when Newt the history professor runs up against Obama the Harvard lawyer . It’d be total political slaughter after slaughter right out in in public that might even just tip the boat and kill / seriously damage conservatism altogether in American politics , and the RNC knows this very well . Won’t ever happen. Newt is toast , and you conservatives will suck it up take Mitt the Flip , and like him . I can see it now: Mr. Obama starts out the debate unrelentingly hammering Newt the Toad about Grover Norquist and his pledge signing Right wing puppets , aka the majority House Reps …owch ! Dream come true !!
Posted by: davem | January 22, 2012, 1:44 pm 1:44 pm
Mr. Obama starts out the debate unrelentingly hammering Newt the Toad about Grover Norquist and his pledge signing Right wing puppets , aka the majority House Reps …owch ! Dream come true !!
POSTED BY: DAVEM | JANUARY 22, 2012, 1:44 PM \\\\\\\\Obama doesn’t have what it takes to hammer anything. Hope and Change…Hope and Change….
Posted by: susan | January 22, 2012, 1:55 pm 1:55 pm
As an independent voter I say ANYBODY but Obama. I will not vote for him again.
Posted by: Sarah in Philly | January 22, 2012, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm
Got to go , have a nice day !
Posted by: davem | January 22, 2012, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm
Forrest (Xrepub) cutting and pasting his usual blah,blah,blah….nobody is listening to him, blah, blah,blah
Posted by: yankee | January 22, 2012, 2:06 pm 2:06 pm
ROTFLMAO !!!!! Just an FIY for the right wing nut jobs, Obama will use his Executive Order to allow bluetooth device in the Presidential debate 2012.
Without the tele-prompter, Obama ‘s “uh…uh.. oh.. you know uh uh …you know…” will reveal his real out-of- the-norm Harvard IQ as we have seen before. Wonderful hi-tech generation, Obama talks after having Axlerod prompted the answer.
Posted by: hopeforchange2012 | January 22, 2012, 2:06 pm 2:06 pm
DaveM Lawyers are professional debaters.””””””””””Who are you trying to kid? I know a few lawyers and debating is not a skill some of them have by any stretch of the imagination no matter what school they attended.
Posted by: Boston Pop | January 22, 2012, 2:09 pm 2:09 pm
yankee | January 22, 2012, 2:06 pm ………………… Uhmm, I’m reading Forrest post, and looking up those articles he referenced (2:00PM post), and apparently you are too, otherwise you wouldn’t be commenting on his post.
One thing is for sure, his comments are much more educated than yours are.
Posted by: UofAustin Grad-Student | January 22, 2012, 2:18 pm 2:18 pm
Newt is exactly the nominee Democrats want. If Newt is the nominee, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Ohio , Wisconsin, and Iowa will vote for Obama. It doesn’t even matter then what Florida, Virginia, and North Carolina do. And that will be the ball game. GOP had a chance to win and nominate Romney. I’ve been saying on this board for months they would not. It’s all about the electoral college; Romney’s power in the west and the swing states could have brought him over the top. Newt is disliked even by many GOP evangelicals here in the Northeast. So I guess Obama is not going to need the Hillary as VP card.
Posted by: Troy Wood | January 22, 2012, 2:20 pm 2:20 pm
UOFAAustin Grad-Student (2:20 PM); “One thing is for sure, his (X-Repub) comments are much more educated than yours are.” Do you mean the “fart” comment or the borderine manic yeehaws?
Posted by: newcountryman | January 22, 2012, 3:37 pm 3:37 pm
I’m a life long Republican from New Mexico, who changed my vote in 2000 because I didn’t like what Karl Rove had done to the Republican party, i.e., attracting and pulling-in a lot of the extremist viewpoints into the party. I had planned on voting Republican this time around, but my question is this….. “How the Hell did we end up with this current group of candidates to choose from?” …. It’s cray! Our only choices are:
Mitt Romney – a flip-flopper and a liberal at heart (RomneyCare).
Newt Gingrich – I lived through his mess when he was Speaker of the House, and WILL NOT vote for him again.
Rick Santorum – I don’t like his way-out there social positions.
Ron Paul – I don’t like his way-out there positions on pulling our troops out of bases around the world, which will destroy our nation’s strategic positions that took generations to build.
I’m left with no other option than to vote for Obama again, as I did the last time.
Posted by: Still An Old Cowboy | January 22, 2012, 4:30 pm 4:30 pm
Insanity is doing the same time over and over gain and expect a different result. This is brilliant ! Another 4 more years of eating dog foods? I do not think so. Anyone but the anti-Capitalist.
Posted by: hopeforchange2012 | January 22, 2012, 5:28 pm 5:28 pm