It's amazing...a week ago Mitt Romney led comfortably in South Carolina. Tonight, with just a few minutes to go before the polls close, it appears not only will Newt Gingrich be the victor, but may win be a decisive, double digit margin. His late rise in the polls is nothing short of breath-taking, given how much coverage and how many debates have taken place and how little was left to be learned about the candidate.
But South Carolina conservatives just needed a reason and a clear candidate that was the alternative to Mitt. Gingrich stormed through the two debates with fire and red meat and Mitt stumbled and bumbled around tax forms and health care.
A double digit Gingrich win makes it an effective two-man race. Rick Santorum may quit if he finishes fourth or a distant third (both distinct possibilities.) And Gingrich is much more capable of attacking in a one-on-one fight versus in a multi-front campaign with a divided "not Mitt".
But Gingrich's challenges with organization and money aren't going away, and while he may be able to mount a charge in Florida, when the campaign spreads out to multiple states at a time shortly thereafter, he is still a heavy underdog to Mitt.
Expect the news networks to call it at 7:01.
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