(
)
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Newt Gingrich scored a stunning landslide victory in the South Carolina Republican primary last night, blowing past Mitt Romney and opening up the GOP nominating contest just days after an ex-wife gave a sensational TV interview accusing him of wanting an “open marriage.”
With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Gingrich led Romney 40-28 percent, followed Rick Santorum at 17 percent and Ron Paul at 13 percent.
“It is very humbling and very sobering to have so many people who so deeply want their country to get back on the right track,” Gingrich told a cheering crowd of supporters after securing the double-digit blowout, fueled by slashing debate performances and broadsides against media “elites.”
Gingrich’s come-from behind win sets up a recast multistate slugfest — a remarkable turnaround for a candidate once left for dead and dismissed in attack ads as having too much “baggage.”
He spoke generously of his GOP rivals last night as evidence that “in America you have a chance to make your case no matter what the elites think in New York and Washington.”
He mentioned his wife, Callista, four times, saying she would be a “great first lady.”
It’s the first time since the initial South Carolina primary in 1980 that Republicans have split the first three nominating contests.
“We’ve still got a long way to go and a lot of work to do,” Romney told supporters.
It was a second come-back for Gingrich, who suffered an embarrassing staff walkout early in the campaign, only to see himself shoot up in the polls, collapse in the face of attacks, then rise again.
Just a week ago, Romney led Gingrich in South Carolina polling after a convincing win in the New Hampshire primary that had some insiders declaring him the inevitable nominee.
But Gingrich seized the initiative in the first southern battleground, skewering the media and mocking President Obama with cutting monikers such as “the “first food-stamp president.”
The fight now moves to Florida, the first big primary state with several major media markets, where Romney is counting on his financial and organizational edge to snuff out Gingrich’s burst of momentum.
The drubbing down South leaves Romney in a much weaker position. Just days ago he held a big lead in national surveys.
Nearly two-thirds of South Carolina voters said the debates were an important part of their decision, according to CBS exit polls.
Gingrich turned in strong performances last week — including where he exploded at CNN moderator John King after King asked about ex-wife Marianne Gingrich’s recent claims that her husband sought an “open marriage.”
“It’s not that I am a good debater. It’s that I articulate the deepest-felt values of the American people,” said Gingrich in assessing his victory.
Santorum said Gingrich “kicked butt and I give him a lot of credit for what he accomplished.”
Gingrich cleaned up among conservative voters (44 percent), Tea Party voters (45), and evangelicals (44), according to CNN exit polls.
Half of voters made up their mind within the last few days, just as Gingrich passed Romney in the polls.
Gingrich immediately left to fly to Orlando. He urged supporters: “Anyone here who knows anyone in Florida, please contact them by tomorrow.”
SOUTH CAROLINA RESULTS
38% Newt Gingrich 12,884
32% Mitt Romney 10,775
15% Rick Santorum 5,264
12% Ron Paul 4,022
with 99%of precincts reporting, Source: AP
THE ROAD AHEAD
Jan. 31: Florida primary
* Current polling: Romney (41%), Santorum (19%), Gingrich (18%)
Feb 4: Nevada and Maine caucuses
Feb. 7: Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri caucuses
* Current Colorado polling: Gingrich (37%), Romney (18%)
Feb. 28: Arizona and Michigan primaries
* Current Michigan polling: Gingrich (31%), Romney (29%)
Mar. 6: Super Tuesday
* Primaries: Georgia, Massachusetts, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia
* Caucuses: Alaska, Idaho, North Dakota
Aug 27-Aug 30: Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla.