South Carolina primary exit polls: 2/3rds say debates mattered

cbsnews.com ^ | 1/21/2012 | Brian Montopoli

[livius]

I guess that means he weighed the alternatives and decided that a no-show would be even worse. He got ridiculed for it a lot here when the news came out.

[livius]

I live in FL, and even by floating this, Romney made himself seem like an idiot.

[Bigg Red]

My point is that it should be a non-issue.

[musicman]

Help End The Obama Era In 2012
Your Monthly and Quarterly Donations
Help Keep FR In the Battle!

Sponsoring FReepers are contributing
$10 Each time a New Monthly Donor signs up!
Get more bang for your FR buck!
Click Here To Sign Up Now!

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks TBBT.

• Dick Morris: Santorum Won Debate and Mitt will win SC
• Open Line Friday: Have the Last Two Debates Changed Your Mind?
• Gingrich's Record On The Hot Seat In SC Debate
• Full Transcript of the CNN Southern Republican Debate
• 3 polls show Gingrich leading SC race after debate
• Gingrich looks to recharge profile in South Carolina after debate
• Newt Gingrich's Standing Ovation at S.C. GOP Debate
• Newt Gingrich PUMMELS Juan Williams at GOP South Carolina Debate (Video)
• Video: Gingrich vs. Juan Williams on the "food-stamp president"

also:

• SC Republican primary voters focused on economy, defeating Obama, early exit polls show
• Lessons From the South Carolina Exit Polls [Late Deciders Go for Gingrich!]
• McAlister and Quinn Endorse Gingrich
• Small SC wildly succeeded at making voice heard
• Tea Party bides its time in Republican race
• Rush: Republicans Were 'Thirsting' For Newt's Message
• Newt 2012 Announces Faith Leaders Coalition
• A Letter from Dr. Tim LaHaye to South Carolina Pastors and Evangelicals (ENDORSES NEWT!!)

damage control:

• Haley: South Carolinians don't care about Romney's tax returns
• Romney downplays expectations, Gingrich surges as South Carolina votes
• Newt smacks Romney down and destroys his aspirations!
• Romney calls on Gingrich to release House Ethics report
• Tightening Race Comes as Abrupt Blow to Romney Team

Rick Santorum:

• Rick Santorum the 2012 version of Mike Huckabee
• (Video)Rick Santorum is Tired of People Wanting a Small Government That Leaves People Alone
• Santorum rips Romney over Romneycare (includes video)
• Santorum Goes After Romney, Gingrich On Healthcare
• Among South Carolina Suits, Gingrich "Exciting," Santorum A Lot Less So
• 'Stop Romney' Christian conservatives give nod to Santorum ahead of S.C. balloting
• Religious leaders rally behind Rick Santorum
• They know who the real threat is (Team Romney attacks Newt, not Santorum)

more sidebars:

• Stephen Colbert, Herman Cain to host a campaign event in South Carolina today
• Stephen Colbert, Herman Cain to hold joint event in South Carolina today
• Herman Cain: I'll make an "unconventional" endorsement two days before South Carolina votes
• Major SC newspaper endorses Huntsman
• Newt wins
• FOX News declares Newt Gingrich winner in South Caroline
• FOX News calls it for NEWT!! WOO HOO!!
• Gingrich appears headed for victory in South Carolina

Partisan media shills:

• MSNBC's Bashir Superimposes Republican Candidates In Front Of Confederate Flag
• Kathleen Parker: Newt Gingrich and the forgiveness ploy
• Where's Newt? SC campaign stumbles plague Gingrich
• Gingrich confronted on race, agrees to meet with Sharpton
• Newt Gingrich: Unscathed by Marianne's Cheating Charges in South Carolina?
• Marianne Doubtful

[presently no screen name]

It should be an issue and will be for barry and media if mitt gets that far. And, then what happens, if he’s the nominee? Mitt SHOULD want to be upfront with us but he doesn’t. He’s already too much like barry - now we can add hiding things.

[AFPhys]

Very interesting: Actual results were (with 67% counted)

Current count - 60% counted

Newt  41%
Mitt  27%
Rick  18%
RonP  13%

It seems likely the final will be very similar. Major difference is that the percentages for Santorum and Paul are reversed in the actual count. Probably some self-selection going on there that favors RPaul (similar to the internet "polls".)

[Monorprise]

Given the News Media’s favoritism toward Obama, what do you think the odds are that they will allow Newt to do anything when Obama Refuses to debate Newt?

This is not 1860, and Lincoln never won a majority in his election in the first place. Lincoln won against 2 opponents that were more similar to each other then they were to him. He thus divided the opposition against him.

Newt won’t have that option, and even if he did Lincoln’s other strategy is unlikely to work in today’s world with regard to today’s mass media technology.

Obama will used his gigantic campaign chest to fire salvo after salvo at Newt and never give Newt any kind of form in which he can respond to any of it. Newt will be even more helpless than he was in Iowa & New Hampshire without substantial campaign skills & money.