Posted on 01/13/2012 5:08:47 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Call it the case of the rising Texan and plunging Pennsylvanian.
Here’s how GOP presidential hopefuls fared in a second round of South Carolina polls released Friday. (The fine print: Two sets of polls from Rasmussen Reports, Public Policy Polling and American Research Group have been released in the past week -- before and after the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday):
Winner: Ron Paul Who cares if the Texas congressman has made one announced campaign visit in South Carolina since finishing second in the New Hampshire primary. He’s got the momentum, gaining 22 percentage points combined in the three polls after his Granite State game-changer. Still, gaining all that support has only moved him from fourth to third in the Palmetto pecking order. Paul’s small-government speak is surely a hit in South Carolina but will it be enough to get a higher finish on the podium? We’ll see. He reportedly returns to the state on Sunday for a final push after raising money back home.
Not bad: Newt Gingrich The former House speaker and one-time South Carolina poll leader has taken a firm hold of second place behind Romney. Gingrich gained five percentage points, not surge -- but not bad either for a guy who finished fourth in New Hampshire. Gingrich is banking on his attacks on Romney’s Bain Capital days, record as Massachusetts governor and ability to speak French to help his numbers. He might be turning off some voters all the Bain questions, but a real boost could come after the debates, where Gingrich has won over voters.
Loser: Rick Santorum So much for the Iowa bounce. Santorum was second with Gingrich in South Carolina polls after his near-Hawkeye win. Then he fell to fifth in New Hampshire and so did his numbers. The former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania dropped 30 percentage points in the S.C. polls in the past week and is the fourth-place candidate at the moment. He could use a big swing in support. Can evangelicals save his day? Could the Tea Party look past some of those earmarks he approved while on the Hill? Could sweater vest lovers band together?
The rest
Mitt Romney lost a little support -- 2 percentage points among the three polls -- but he kept his spot at the top of the pyramid in all three polls. Rick Perry and Jon Huntsman have stayed consistently in single digits. Time to say “uncle,” fellas?
Bonus winner: Tim Tebow More South Carolina voters said they like Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow (76%) than the top GOP candidate (Romney 57%) in Public Policy Polling’s new poll.
GO NEWT! Beat Mitt in South Carolina. We have to stop Mitt.
What crap. Since when do they do a stupid analysis like this on some poll this far out. I am so sick of this primary. Rick Santorum is the ONLY morale good family man who DESERVES to be President. I just listened to Newt and he is so full of great ideas but he has ZERO follow through. I swear you all can pick Newt and I am going to be telling you all “I told you so” soon enough. I has happened so many times. When is this dang Primary over.
It’s like Rocky.
Newt’s the big bad. This is his press conference where he’s going to destroy Rocky.
psst - pass it on! Santorum can’t win (never mind the fact that the poll shows Newt 4 points up on Paul in SC) ;)
Yeah. Your right. lol. What a crock of a primary so far. Well I am just glad that Santorum is the adult in the room. I think he will end up very well in SC and FL. People couldn’t him out in NH and he beat both Perry and Newt.
He just keeps winning.
When is this dang Primary over.”
Sadly, the the thing may be over if Romney wins decisively in SC.
Why on earth the good conservative folks of SC should be swayed by Romney’s victories in NH and IA is beyond me...especially since IA is a beauty contest and NH is not in any meaningful sense even a Republican primary.
Alas.
I fear the inevitability of Romney.
Romney has been working and laying the groundworks for 2012 over two years ago. He organized, networked, and set up for the primaries. All others did not. It is pretty sad three of them did not have the resources to get on the ballot in VA, how are they going to go up against Obama with a 1 billion dollar war chest???? Romney is the only one who marshal the resources, financing and people. His early prep is paying off right now as the conservatives are badly divided and lacked resources. Ron Paul is the only one with the money, but his organization varies from state to state. Romney is pretty well organized and established. Like it or not that is the way I see it. Personally I want Newt, but his organization and fund raising needs to catch up big time if he wants to win the primary.
I don’t disagree with any of that. (Nor, incidentally, do I begrudge Bain Capital...but that is a whole ‘nother matter...).
I just want to beat obama, and with the most conservative candidate possible.
I fear both prospects: 1) that Romney will actually be part of the Dole/McCain party, and 2) that even if he wins, he won’t repeal obamacare.
These are desperate times. And I think obama has about a 50.50 shot at re-election.
And that scares me big time.
I share your fear about abolishing Obama”care.”
BTW, why aren’t ANY candidates targeting the disgust of those 53 % who pay personal FIT? By the time April 15 th is over, so will be the chance to be the Nominee Apparent!
THERE IS NO POINT IN WAITING TO MAKE TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION AN ISSUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All Candidates: start talking about “fair share” taxation now! The 53 % plead for you to make taxation flat for all, not free for all.
Are you delusional, or are you simply rejecting reality? Read it again:
"So much for the Iowa bounce. Santorum was second with Gingrich in South Carolina polls after his near-Hawkeye win. Then he fell to fifth in New Hampshire and so did his numbers. The former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania dropped 30 percentage points in the S.C. polls in the past week and is the fourth-place candidate at the moment."
Newt, unlike the rest of the candidates, actually has a record of major conservative victories to talk about. He has, first and foremost, the republican revolution of 1994. He has the only significant welfare reform since the inception of welfare. He has four balanced budgets under his belt that he deserves major credit for also. he is also responsible for the largest capital gains tax cut in US history. It is the house and the senate that creates legislation, not the President. The pres simply agrees to it or not. Newt deserves credit for much of the legislation of the 1990s that resulted in very good economic times for America. None of the other candidates can make the kind of claims that Newt honestly can. Newt is a political and intellectual giant.
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