Very interesting developments in South Carolina. The post-debate polls have given Newt a big lift, with all three polls dated yesterday having Newt edging out Romney. SC voters who had to choose between Gingrich and Santorum opted for the guy next door (or at least next door back in his congressional days).
The bigger news of the day is Rick Perry dropping out and endorsing Gingrich. Just as ABC was about to drop an interview with Newt's second wife Marianne (who he cheated on with current wife Calista), Newt gets a Spy-vs-Spy riposte with the Perry news.
Will the "open-marriage" story bring Newt down a peg? Yes. He'll have some 'splainin' to do, but much of what Marianne Gingrich brought out is already factored into the price, as they'd say on Wall Street. We knew he had been a cad more than once in his past, even back as a high-schooler dating his math teacher on the side, but that's part of the package.
{Update 330PM-There is a yuck factor there that I haven't fully gotten past. Enough to get me to vote Romney in a Romney-Newt fight? Good question. My hope is Santorum rallies and can be part of the mix}
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That means we only have four folks dancing the Charleston tonight. Rick Santorum is the new weakest link, assuming that Paul sticks in the race until beamed up to the mothership. However, if we settle into four-way race with no one getting much past 30%, there are still some windows for Santorum.
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