It was a whirlwind day in politics. Texas Gov. Rick Perry bowed out of the presidential race and endorsed Newt Gingrich, who is hot on the heels of frontrunner Mitt Romney in recent South Carolina opinion polls. But Rick Santorum had his own bit of good news - it turns out he actually won the Iowa caucuses earlier this month. Romney's 8 vote election night margin evaporated when the Iowa GOP recounted its precincts. The victory is small comfort for Santorum, who has lost steam since his Iowa showing.

Last night Mitt Romney was the only Republican candidate ever to win both Iowa and New Hampshire. Today he has just won New Hampshire and is fighting for his life in South Carolina. Texas Rep. Ron Paul is already looking beyond South Carolina to a delegate strategy that could drag the race out.

CNN is hosting a final GOP debate before South Carolina's Saturday primary. Click below for live analysis and coverage from ABC News and Yahoo News of the CNN debate in Charleston, South Carolina.