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Posted on 01/22/2012 2:14:48 PM PST by Berlin_Freeper
Two of the key arguments of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's presidential candidacy—that he knows best how to handle the economy and stands the best chance of beating President Barack Obama—were dismissed by conservative South Carolina voters in the Republican primary Saturday, according to exit poll data from the state.
That finding shows why former House Speaker Newt Gingrich won a solid victory, and also suggests the Romney camp may seek new ways to drive home its core message in the contests that lie ahead.
In all three nominating contests so far, at least a plurality of voters have said the economy and electability were important factors. In Iowa and New Hampshire, such voters backed Mr. Romney. But in South Carolina, they backed Mr. Gingrich.
Indeed, South Carolinians placed an even higher priority on beating President Obama than did their counterparts in Iowa and New Hampshire. About one-third of voters in each of the other two early states told pollsters that the ability to defeat Mr. Obama was the most important candidate quality. In South Carolina, 45% said that was their highest priority, according to exit poll data released by CNN. Half of them voted for Mr. Gingrich, while fewer than four in 10 voted for Mr. Romney.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Goes to show you that Iowa and NH should be dead last in 2016.
I’ll say! Start the primaries in the Southern States.
Lord knows the South has been saving the union from the democrats for decades.
Solid red Republican and TEA Party patriot.
So much for another elite GOP meme being peddled these last 24 hours or so...
Yep...and in spite of this historic turn-out, Mittens still can’t manage to get above the 20’s. Time for Mitten’s to bow out!
Is there anybody who doesn’t want to watch Newt and Obama in three debates...?
...Besides Obama?
Would have liked to see Santorum come in second in SC. WOnder why Romney did...
But glad Newt got it there. It IS his backyard after all.
Newt laid the challenge of 7 three hour Lincoln-Douglas style, and Obama can bring along the prompters. I would assume that Obama would not agree to any debates, no matter the format.
Looking at the results through Patchwork Nation’s demographic/geographic breakdown, Mr. Gingrich could not have done much better.
After Daniel Boone, Newt is the greatest American (although not as good as Davey Crockett)
And the fact that Romney has been running since 2008 (well, 2006, which was when he started his failed 2008 run). He has used his huge personal fortune to buy about 25% of the voters- but they have gone neither up nor down, while his main rival who started only months ago has almost literally gone from zero to 60.
Mitt should go bye-bye.
NO NO NO NO...these facts do not fit the MSM and Republican Olde Guard Narrative about Newt. He is NOT electable, so all these people they polled must be WRONG! Don't you know? Only Mittens is "electable".
Newt Gingrich has his political deficits but he also has a ‘fire in the belly’ attitude of wanting to take on and beat Obama then get our country back on track. S.C. primary voters saw that - and liked it. Romney comes across as no more passionate than he has to be. His CEO look and mannerisms don’t impress voters. Newt is not my absolute favorite candidate but because Sarah Palin isn’t running, Cain and Bachmann have dropped out and Santorum can’t get traction, I’ll take Newt over Romney, any day.
WSJ must not have gotten the memo from the GOP elites that Romney is the ONLY Republican that is electable, no matter what the voters say!!!!
Romney’s house of cards is collapsing faster than MF Global.
You have to be willing to fight, to win!
This about the only thing that makes me feel good, such is my disdain for the GOP elite. As much as I love to listen to Gingrich speak, he is the one candidate still in the race who is more liberal than Romney. A year ago, he was persona non grata here for his liberal ways, but now people are cheering for him.
Conservatives are suffering from BNS: Battered Newt Syndrome. He writes a book and lets a wacko environmentalist professor write a chapter, and we are outraged. He attacks the media, and we love him again. He sits on the couch with Pelosi, and we say we're through with him for good. He apologizes, and we take him back. He supports Romneycare, and we curse him, but after a good debate, we love him. He tours with Al Sharpton promoting socialist education policies, and our jaws drop. A few conservative words, and he's back in our good graces.
We seriously need to form a support group to help all you people remember why we left him a hundred times! Sometimes I could use this group myself as I've found myself forgiving him. I realize why conservatives oppose Romney, but but for sins far less than Gingrich's. Romney just can't figure out how to say anything inspiring, so conservatives love to hate him. I don't want Romney either, but with Gingrich as the alternative, it's Romney.
Still I wouldn't vote for either of them in a primary.
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