CNN/Time Poll: Race for South Carolina tightening

CNN ^ | /1/18/2012 | Paul Steinhauser

[TBBT]

Charleston, South Carolina (CNN) - With three days to go until the first-in-the south primary, Mitt Romney remains in the lead in the Palmetto State, but according to a new poll, his advantage over Newt Gingrich is rapidly shrinking.

A CNN/Time/ORC International poll indicates that 33% of likely South Carolina Republican primary voters say they are backing Romney, with 23% supporting Gingrich. The former Massachusetts governor's 10 point advantage over the former House speaker is down from a 19 point lead two weeks ago. According to the survey, former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania is at 16%, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas is at 13%, and Texas Gov. Rick Perry stands at 6%.

[CynicalBear]

>>How is that a fact?<<

Fact: The negative ads about Gingrich were virtually non stop.
Fact: Very little negative ads if at all against Santorum.
Fact: This country will not at this time elect a far right candidate with the degradation of society as it is.
Fact: Santorum has a voting record that if social and fiscal conservative really knew about he would lose support fast.

Fact: If the conservative vote continues to be split Romney will probably end up with the nomination.

[BenKenobi]

“Fact: This country will not at this time elect a far right candidate with the degradation of society as it is.”

So we give up before we try?

“Fact: Santorum has a voting record that if social and fiscal conservative really knew about he would lose support fast.”

So what are the parts of said voting records that make you consider him not to be a social conservative.

As for the attack ads, that would be because Newt was the frontrunner at the time. Newt imploded, so we know that attacking Newt works.

[CynicalBear]

>>So we give up before we try?<<

Taking a sure 6 yards on a second down instead of throwing a hail Mary is not giving up.

[BenKenobi]

But we’re in the first quarter.

See, this is the problem. Rather then even try for the TD when we’ve got yards and downs left, we’ve already given up before we even start?

What’s the point? If we are going to elect the squish, why not let the Democrats choose our nominee?

[CynicalBear]

>>If we are going to elect the squish, why not let the Democrats choose our nominee?<<

I believe it’s naïve to think Santorum is a fiscal conservative. Supporting who he supported in ’08 and supporting the pork he supported and then claiming to be a fiscal conservative is squishy. He lost his seat for a reason.

[BenKenobi]

“I believe it’s naïve to think Santorum is a fiscal conservative. Supporting who he supported in ’08 and supporting the pork he supported and then claiming to be a fiscal conservative is squishy. He lost his seat for a reason.”

That, I can understand. I was just mystified at the social conservative part of it. I can understand why someone who considers fiscal conservativism as their primary issue would not vote for Santorum.

I guess, here’s my problem. Newt’s a big spender too. I’m looking through his congressional record in 1993-4, and there is a lot of pork. The man had a huge number of earmarks through the years.

I’m seeing benefits for boat builders, special exemptions for all kinds of industry, just going through the bills that he sponsored.

[CynicalBear]

I never said Gingrich was squeaky clean. He’s not running as a far right fiscal or social conservative. He did work to balance the budget for four years. He showed strength of conviction by standing for what he did say and didn’t claim strong pro life positions and then support Specter. Newt isn’t everything I would want but he’s the one for this point in American history. Santorum can’t be trusted. The whole Specter deal proved that to me.

[Conservative Patriot86]

Lmao daaamn u ripped him good man u were spot on! He is completely impervious to simple logic he has got to be a paid staffer for Sanborem. N yes he’s very relentless with his santo posts. Give it up newts gona crush him! Vote for a hero not a 0. Vote for our future President Newt.

[campaignPete R-CT]

the 2012 GOP race started 3 years ago.

We’re very late in the 4th quarter and well behind. No room for error.

[Lauren BaRecall]

It’s over? Evidently I slept through the California primary.

[normy]

Hey genius. Why don't you check out what's coming out on Newt this Thursday. No not another "Newt was getting BJ's during the Clinton impeachment by his own staffer whom he eventually divorced his wife for, who will be the first lady" that alone would sink Newt in general election, but how Newt offered to get an Iraqi arms embargo lifted for 10 million. Apparently we are about to find out Newt had a scheme with his wife and an arms dealer to use his influence to lift the Iraqi arms embargo and it's about to come out.

Now if Free Republic could kindly gather at the footsteps of the next "not Perry".