Oh my: Gingrich’s lead increasing in final hours before South Carolina vote? (Newt by 9 or 10)

HotAir ^ | 1/20/2012 | ALLAHPUNDIT

[TBBT]

Normally I wouldn’t build a post around a single tweet but this one from PPP is too tantalizing to ignore. Polls open in SC tomorrow bright and early at 7 a.m.:

Newt posted his best numbers of our 3 day field period tonight

On Wednesday, they found Gingrich with a six-point lead. Yesterday they found the same. Today it’s … greater than six, although they haven’t posted the exact numbers yet. Jed Lewison of Daily Kos, which uses PPP as its pollster, guesses it’s now Newt by nine or 10 points, which makes sense if you assume another little boost from last night’s debate plus Perry dropping out and endorsing Gingrich. The exact numbers are less important, though, than the fact that Newt’s apparently putting distance between himself and Romney as time runs out. Hard to see how he doesn’t win now — dirty tricks notwithstanding. (He’s at 82 percent on InTrade, up more than 10 points from this afternoon.)

[meadsjn]

The only areas Romney has any kind of lead in are Charleston, Beaufort, Richland, McCormick, and Horry.

Romney has the Gay Vote locked up.

[Salvation]

Newt has changed dramatically. Here are some FR links about his conversion.

Newt Gingrich: What Kind of Catholic Is He? [Born Lutheran, Turned Baptist, Now Catholic]
Newt Gingrich: America’s Next Catholic President?
Clemson Palmetto Poll finds Gingrich (38%) momentum growing, most S.C. GOP voters still uncommitted
Gingrich Threatens GOP's Chance to Nab Independents

The Evangelical Case for Newt Gingrich
Gingrich Represents New Political Era for Catholics
Gingrich Represents New Political Era for Catholics [ecumenical}
Newt Gingrich on Catholicism and JPII
Why Newt Gingrich Converted to Catholicism
Exclusive: Newt Gingrich Opens Up on Catholic Conversion and Embracing 'Overt Christianity'
Newt Gingrich on his conversion to Catholicism
Gingrich Keeps Quiet on Catholic Conversion (received into Church over the past weekend)
Exclusive: Newt Gingrich conversion details; plans release of JP2 documentary
Gingrich to Become Catholic During Easter Season
The Newt Evangelization: Gingrich to become Catholic

[Wiz]

Santorum is the best, but if not him, Gingrich is still better than Romney. As long as it is not RhinOMoNEY Romney, Gingrich is tolerable.

[GlockThe Vote]

I am a b o regardless, but to be honest, mittens is showing massive weakness.

I prefer Ron Paul to Romney at this point.

[Bailee]

Mittens could have made SC close possibly even winning it. His Failure to release tax may give Newt a 10-15% advantage when the final numbers come in on SC.

Failing to release before FL will give the win to Newt.

[annieokie]

What I noticed about Dick Morris, in each race he begins to defend the underdog. I think this is just his way of staying revelant to get another day on Hannity or Greta. “Got to hear what Dick Morris has to say about this”.

[2ndDivisionVet]

How many Massachusetts babies did he kill by philandering?

[Mountain Mary]

Morris is looking worse and worse..and he seems to be just throwing spaghetti against the wall lately.
I think you’re right, annie. His appearances are most important to him, even if he has to say that Bo Obama will win the election.
And notice that he never, ever, ever forgets to remind us that his website is “Dickmorris.com”. If he spoke longer, it would be a good drinking game for consecutive honorable mentions.

[katiedidit1]

I am saving your post. Thanks for the hard work and time spent analyzing the primary:)

[untwist]

I understand and appreciate your view. What I will say is that Morris did not write Newt off after Iowa and did map out what he needed to do to first take out Santorum before he can take Romney. Morris also noted that Newt was in the game going into NH because of 8 debates this month.

I was dubious of the attack Santorum strategy given a very divided base, and because I think most of us conservatives see that Newt wins by far on experience, ‘gravitas’ and overall debate performance. Another thing Morris advised after Monday’s debate is that Newt should just make 30 sec. commercials out of his best debate performances and play those. I like that idea because I heard rumblings today that Romney may want to curtail future debates - he knows it’s risky for him and Newt is on fire right now.

This is turning out to be a historic year as we all expected. This week alone could be made into a movie, with the climax coming tomorrow.

[annieokie]

Understood, thanks. I can tolerate Morris just fine, even though it seems he waffles on the candidates.

Romney to curtail future debates?? Indicates Panic.

NEWT is definately on fire, and the rest are in the hot seat. This election certainly is a history maker.

[untwist]

Here is the story on Romney maybe pulling out of NBC debate in Tampa on Monday:

http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/Romney-May-Skip-Florida/2012/01/20/id/424964

This is panic. The debate was already pre-scheduled. He only increases the perception of meltdown if he backs out.

[ansel12]

LOL, I feel your pain, when you feel discouraged just watch him slap around that CNN guy at the beginning of the debate, that is one of the great moments in conservative political history.

[ansel12]

Gingrich will make him pay dearly if he pulls out, and Romney will be showing fear to the conservative base, fear of us and our own primary process.

[b9]

I won’t relax until after the votes are all counted.

Same here.

I won't count my Newties before they VOTE!!!

[annieokie]

Very interesting read:

Is NBC saying they may cancel the debates?

Sounds like it, in other words "if we can't have our BOY at the debates, we take our marbles and go home". Appears they are all afraid of NEWT.

Very interesting indeed, and the PANIC is delicious. Romney may quit soon. He can't be liking what he is getting, after all he was promised the WIN.

[untwist]

I think the debates are arranged by the RNC with the networks. The only exception to that that I know if is the Donald Trump debate that was canceled. So if Romney backs out, it is like a stab in the back to the RNC, who has to cut the deal with the networks and of course there is money involved.

I haven’t heard that NBC will cancel. What I would expect is that the heat will be on Romney to be in the debate or he will take a serious hit. I am in S. Florida, happily in Allan West’s district. The colonel is very popular here and does not suffer cowardice well. We will see...

[annieokie]

The idea that NBC may cancel is in the article. just wondering. I don't see that the RNC would have the nerve to cancel, that would openly expose they were in the tank for Romney to begin with.

You are very fortunate to have Allan West, great man. I saw him on Greta the other night, and he stopped her cold when she tried to go off on Newt and the Food Stamp issue.

He let her know the food stamps issue was not about Black or white, and that issue we no longer have to be afraid of. It is now an every American issue. Expecially since Obama has put so many on the rolls.

He also seemed to indicate he would be open to VP. not bad.

[Caipirabob]

The fact is romney doesn't even stand up to mccain as a conservative. At least mccain is a certified patriot who served his nation at risk of his life. Romney has been a committed liberal who destroyed the economy of an entire state with reckless liberal idiot policy.

He is completely unacceptable to the thinking American. Neither is obama, but then again there's a huge number of Americans who just don't think.