South Carolina Primary … Game On … Gingrich Leads Romney in Final Polls … Let the Voting Begin

Will the Gingrich late surge mean victory in South Carolina?

The South Carolina primaries are finally upon us, let the voting begin. Heading in to today’s SC primary it would appear that Newt Gingrich is expanding his poll lead. According to PPP, Gingrich now leads Romney 38% to 27%. It would seem that the MSM’s attempt to smear Gingrich with the last minute ex-wife interview has failed. In fact it might have have done just the opposite.

Gingrich’s lead has actually increased in the wake of his ex-wife’s controversial interview with ABC. Although one night poll results should always be interpreted with caution, he led the final night of the field period by a 40-26 margin. One thing that continues to work to his advantage are the debates.  60% of primary voters report having watched the one last night, and Gingrich has a 46-23 lead with those folks.

According to polls across the board, Gingrich is in the lead as Mitt Romney’s support waning. Gallup shows that Romney’s poll numbers are trending down and collapsing.

Gallup’s Editor-in-chief Frank Newport appeared on MSNBC to talk about the polling organization’s national tracking poll of the GOP primary race, which is changing rapidly in the last few days of the campaign for South Carolina. Newport said when their new data comes out at 1 pm eastern, “…we’ll see this gap closing more. Romney was up 23 points over Newt Gingrich. Now it will be down about ten points, so clearly things are collapsing.”

The Gallup tracking poll showed a huge lead for Romney after winning the New Hampshire primary and it seemed that he was on the way to locking down the nomination. Now that Newt Gingrich has resurged in South Carolina, and taken the media narrative along with him, Romney is faltering nationally.

At RCP, Gingrich is up 2.6% in the average of polling.

Clemson Palmetto Poll has Gingrich leading; however,  20% of South Carolina voters still uncommitted.

“Our head-to-head matchup of the candidates has consistently shown Mitt Romney competitive. The margin for Romney has evaporated this week, and we believe that Gingrich — who led our December poll with 38 percent to Romney’s 21 percent — will win the South Carolina primary,” he said.

Among poll respondents who had chosen or were leaning toward a candidate, this third Palmetto Poll showed Newt Gingrich (32 percent) leading the field over Mitt Romney (26 percent), up slightly from a month ago. Ron Paul came in third (11 percent), about even with his December poll rating. Rick Santorum remained in fourth place (9 percent), despite a significant jump over his ranking last month.

If Newt pulls off a South Carolina victory, which would have come about from his last two tremendous debate performances, will it have an affect in Florida? As the American Spectator writes, Romney has a big head start in Florida.

CNN GOP DEBATE: Newt Gingrich Slams CNN & Anchor John King for Opening Debate With “Ex Wife Open Marriage Question” … To the Roar of the Crowd & Standing Ovation!

MEDIA BIAS AND DOUBLE STANDARD …

In what is just another example of despicable liberal media bias, CNN and moderator John King began last night’s South Carolina debate with a question to Newt Gingrich regarding the story that his ex-wife accused him of wanting an open marriage. UNREAL. Newt Gingrich responded, “I am frankly astounded that CNN would take trash like that and use it to open a presidential debate.” Gingrich went on to say, “I am tired of the elite media protecting Barack Obama by attacking Republicans,” to the roar of the crowd and a standing ovation.

VIDEO Hat Tip – The Gateway Pundit

“I think the destructive, vicious, negative nature of much of the news media makes it harder to govern this country, harder to attract decent people to run for public office. And I am appalled that you would begin a presidential debate on a topic like that,” Gingrich said, prompting a standing ovation from the crowd.

“I am frankly astounded that CNN would take trash like that and use it to open a presidential debate,” Gingrich added.

The MSM is obviously more concerned with gotcha ratings moments and ambush journalism against any one running for President not named Barack Obama. Remember when the MSM used to say that Clinton-Lewinsky was a personal matter? Later in the debate Newt challenged Obama to a  3 hour Lincoln Douglas debate stating, that he would allow Obama to use his teleprompter, “I’ll rely on knowledge.” NICE!

If Newt Gingrich winds up winning the SC primary, he can thank his two strong recent debates and the MSM bias overplaying their hand. With one day to go before the primary, Newt is in the lead.

Daily Commentary – Friday, January 20, 2012 – Will Newt’s ExWife Put Him Through the Public Opinion Shredder

• Just as Herman Cain had to deal with ex female friends, Newt’s ex claims she can end his Presidential aspirations in one interview

Daily Commentary – Friday, January 20, 2012 Download

As reported at the Drudge Report, earlier this week  Marianne Gingrich sat before ABCNEWS cameras. Newt’s ex claims that he wanted an “open marriage”.

She spoke to ABCNEWS reporter Brian Ross for two hours, and her explosive revelations are set to rock the trail.

But now a “civil war” has erupted inside of the network, an insider claims, on exactly when the confession will air!

GOP Presidential Primary: Rick Santorum Now Appears to Have Won Iowa Caucuses Over Romney by 34 Votes

Who won the Republican Iowa Caucus, first it was Romney by 8 votes, now it appears to be Santorum by 34.

According to the Des Moines Register, there has been a reversal of fortune. Rick Santorum is now considered the winner of the Iowa Caucuses by 34 votes. Hmm, for a state that goes first in the primary/caucus nomination process of Presidents, one would think they could get their act together. If a state can’t handle a voting count, maybe you do not need to be first anymore.

THE RESULTS: Santorum finished ahead by 34 votes
MISSING DATA: 8 precincts’ numbers will never be certified
PARTY VERDICT: GOP official says, ‘It’s a split decision’

Rick Santorum – Final total: 29,839 Change: -168
Mitt Romney – Final total: 29,805 Change: -210

It’s a tie for the ages.

There are too many holes in the certified totals from the Iowa caucuses to know for certain who won, but Rick Santorum wound up with a 34-vote advantage.

Results from eight precincts are missing — any of which could hold an advantage for Mitt Romney — and will never be recovered and certified, Republican Party of Iowa officials told The Des Moines Register on Wednesday.

However, it appears that the Caucus has turned into a game of T-ball. The GOP party decision in Iowa might be one of the most lame things ever.  As reported at The Hill, the Iowa Republican party will release the certified vote totals from this year’s Iowa caucuses showing Rick Santorum defeating Mitt Romney with a 34 votes, but results from eight precincts are missing and one official called the result a “split decision.” A split decision? Seriously, what a joke. What is this, a boxing match looking for a rematch? This decision probably will not change Santorum’s position in the South Carolina primary; however, it certainly is embarrassing for the Iowa GOP caucuses.

RUT-ROH … Obama All Tied Up in Hypothetical Presidential Match Up with Mitt Romney and Ron Paul

RUT-ROH … Obama All Tied Up in Hypothetical Presidential Match Up with Mitt Romney and Ron Paul

So much for Barack Obama just having to worry about a head to head match up between himself and an unnamed Republican for the 2012 Presidential election. According to a recent CNN poll, Obama finds himself in a tie with GOP Presidential primary hopefuls Mitt Romney and Ron Paul. However, some wonder whether CNN is manipulating the polls again for for “Mittens”.

According to the survey, if the November election were held today and Romney were the Republican presidential nominee, 48% say they’d vote for the former Massachusetts governor, with 47% supporting the president. Romney’s one point margin is well within the poll’s sampling error.

The poll also indicates Paul statistically tied with Obama, with the president at 48% and the longtime congressman at 46%.

Full CNN poll can be read HERE.

Meanwhile, in the race for the GOP nominee, Mitt Romney is up big nationally according to Gallup … 23 point lead. Looks like Romney is up big in Florida as well.