South Carolina Primary: Romney 28%, Gingrich 21%, Santorum 16%, Paul 16%

Rasmussen ^ | January 13, 2012 | Scott Rasmussen

[Qbert]

Mitt Romney still holds first place in the South Carolina Primary field, while his opponents jockey for second with the voting eight days away.

The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Republican Primary Voters in South Carolina finds Romney ahead with 28% support, but now former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is in second place with 21% of the vote.  Support for former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum who was in second a week ago has fallen back to 16%, putting him dead even with Texas Congressman Ron Paul who also earns 16%.

This South Carolina survey of 750 Likely Republican Primary Voters was conducted on January 12, 2012 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC.

[altura]

If that’s true, then woo hoo.

[altura]

You know what? You and all the other ‘drop out’ people need to drop out.

Nothing has been decided yet. Only a tiny fraction of delegates have been won by anyone.

Rick Santorum doesn’t need to drop out, although he’s not my candidate.

Newt doesn’t need to drop out.

And Rick Perry doesn’t need to drop out.

We need to let things play out and see who emerges as a genuine favorite.

If you’re depending on your rivals to drop out, that’s kinda like depending on the opposing team to forfeit so you can win.

You need to win by winning.

[astratt7]

I know too many women, and some men who won’t vote for someone who cheated on there spouse. Plus, aren’t we the party of character? I can understand losing your way once, but twice? What if there we other times that the democrats have proof of and are holding to use against him?

I think Newt loves this Country more than his wive(s). He has never done anything in his career to purposely hurt or damage this country....and he really believes what Reagan stood for....that is great news to me!

[dontgivein]

We need to make sure Huntsman DOESN’T drop out as his numbers will surely go to Romney if he does.

[Dan.israel.2011]

Bingo! And SC being an open primary state is not the most accurate test of who is best. If every NOT- Romney voter rallied behind Rick Santorum we would have a clear path to victory. 75% of conservative votes will split their vote and give Romney the nod if we dont get behind Rick Santorum now and into Florida!

[Sola Veritas]

“I wish I trusted newt the way you all do.”

Well, it is just a matter of being analytical and not emotional.

However, I do not expect Newt to be a “great” POTUS...just an acceptable one. Romney won’t be, and the current POTUS isn’t. Talk about someone that will hurt conservatism....that is Romney.

We aren’t going to get a perfect candidate. Ronald Reagan is dead.

[littleharbour]

Newt would certainly be the strongest candidate to compete in the South against Romney, but will he be able to stop Romney in the vote rich midwest states? I do, however agree, that whatever happens in SC two of the three remaining conservative candidates need to bow out and support the survivor. It may be too late if Romney wins SC by another vote split, but a win in FL will at least give conservatives a glimmer of hope.

[david1313]

Well maybe because he is going to play it out. His money is gone. Read the news.

[david1313]

First, if you don’t call being speaker of the house governing I really don’t know how to explain it.

Second, ALL great president reach across the isle, including Reagan. Geez

[david1313]

Very few people make it through life without mistakes, even serious mistakes. He has asked for forgiveness. They do not come more conservative than my wife, nor more forgiving. She is voting for Newt.

[Timber Rattler]

Being the Speaker of the House does not constitute governing--he was in charge of one-half of Congress. By your logic, GOP Senate Majority leader Bob Dole governed too in 1995 and 1996.

And so I guess you're A-OK with reaching across the aisle and compromising Rat socialists, right?

[wardaddy]

all other polls show Newt in margin of error....(-2)

this is a race between Mitt and Newt

forget looney Paul

if the others had a commitment to beat Mitt and give someone with a much stronger record a chance

they would drop out and endorse Newt...soon

but as one can tell...it is all bout Romney from any GOP person with a voice and they must be loving Newt, Rick and Rick dividing up the righty vote

what a waste

we may end up with a candidate somewhere between Nelson Rockefeller and Bush I

[traviskicks]

“Conservatives have to make a move and unite behind a single candidate NOW or Romney is going to be the nominee even though he is uwanted by 75% of the GOP voters.”

My 2 cents:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2832196/posts?page=2#2

[wardaddy]

They might, but I for one will never vote for Gingrich. Period

we are all well aware of that...will you vote for Romney then?

[david1313]

I am sorry we just disagree on what constitues governing. That is ok.

And of course he has to reach across the isle to ‘govern’.

[Windy City Conservative]

That’d be great. If Newt won in 2012, Santorum would be a great candidate for 2020.

[david1313]

So then you are supporting Obama right? That is the only conclusion I have.

[Windy City Conservative]

Ditto

[Windy City Conservative]

The GOP is not the party of character. If it were, the GOP and the country would be much better off. How much character do you think weeping John Boehner has? No political party in the world can claim to be the party of character.

[Antoninus]

This is not good news for Newt.

Yeah, you said that yesterday. Defeatism, particularly when backed with a bunch of meaningless statistics, is boring.

My prediction for South Carolina?

Newt in first.
Santorum in second.
Romney in third.

SC will not go for Romney.