The SCGOP Palmetto Pick Begins ... And Ends

The polling trends of the last week, both nationally and in South Carolina, indicate that the race for the Republican presidential nomination has taken another dramatic shift. At face value, these trends suggest that Newt Gingrich has moved into the lead in South Carolina and now stands a good chance of winning the state's primary on Saturday. Image Credit: Joe Raedle - Getty Images via Examiner

The SCGOP Palmetto Pick Begins ... And Ends

After a ton of debates over about an eight month period, and two spirited debates in South Carolina, Republicans get their first real pure test as to who they would like to see replace Barack Obama as the leader of the free world, oh, and the president of the United States.

The two warm-up acts, the Iowa Caucuses and the New Hampshire Primary had an element to them which have both voting processes tainted by being loose as it relates to who could sign up to vote (in Iowa, one may not even live in the state) or which political party affiliation one happened to be representing in order to vote.

South Carolina wants registered Republicans to vote in the Republican primary for president, or any other office for that matter. Good, clean, and clear democratic politics.

It turns out that the candidate that has the most money, and the backing of the Republican professional politician elite (the string pullers) has the most to lose here in the Palmetto Pick because, as it turns out, Gov. Mitt Romney did not win the Iowa Caucuses by eight votes over Sen, Rick Santorum, but lost to Rick Santorum by about 30 votes with a total of around 120,000 votes being cast. That is one win for Senator Rick Santorum.

In New Hampshire, where registered Democrat Political Party voters can openly go to the polls and vote for a Republican in a republican Political Party primary, Governor Mitt Romney won by 39% of the vote over Congressman Ron Paul who got about 23% of the vote (this will be the best that this Libertarian purist Republican will post - normally is stuck at around 16% - the rest of the primaries due to a Democrat crossover vote). Mitt Romney expected to win in the low 40 percentile range because he is very moderate and he was the elected Governor of a neighboring liberal state, Massachusetts.

So now we come to South Carolina, the Palmetto State, where the politics are big "C" Conservative, a little big "C" Christian, and always big "C" Contentious!

This vote was presumed to be able to be won by the candidate supported by the Republican Party elite as it was four years ago with John McCain ... the man who lost to Barack Obama and now currently endorses ... Mitt Romney. If Mitt Romney were to win, and win decisively, the rest of the primaries would probably end up going for Mitt Romney as the Republican nominee.

The two debates in South Carolina, however, have pointed out a weakness in Mitt Romney's ability to respond to pointed and tough questions ... not by the press who have run the debates, but by the other candidates on politically conservative positions. This has exposed Mitt and may have moved him out from the presumptive front-runner position.

The latest polling shows just this trend:

This excerpted and edited from Public Policy Polling -

Newt expands South Carolina lead
January 20, 2012

Newt Gingrich heads into South Carolina election day as the clear front runner in the state: he's now polling at 37% to 28% for Mitt Romney, 16% for Rick Santorum, and 14% for Ron Paul.

Gingrich's lead has actually increased in the wake of his ex-wife's controversial interview with ABC. Although one night poll results should always be interpreted with caution, he led the final night of the field period by a 40-26 margin. One thing that continues to work to his advantage are the debates. 60% of primary voters report having watched the one last night, and Gingrich has a 46-23 lead with those folks.

The other reason his ex-wife's interview isn't causing him much trouble is that there's a lot of skepticism about it. Only 31% of voters say they think her accusations are true while 35% think they are false and 34% are unsure. 51% of voters say that they have 'no concerns' about what came out in the interview.

The skepticism of Republican voters toward the media is helping Gingrich as well. Just 14% of likely voters have a generally favorable opinion of the media, while 77% view it negatively. Gingrich's attacks on the media have clearly played well with the party base.

Gingrich is leading with pretty much every key segment of the Republican electorate. He's up 41-21 on Romney and Santorum with Evangelicals, he has a 52-18 advantage on Romney with Tea Partiers, he leads Santorum 44-21 with 'very conservative' voters with Romney at 20%, and he's up 39-26 with men.

In the final week of the campaign Gingrich rose from 24% to 37% in PPP's polling while Romney basically stayed in place, going from 29% to 28%. Romney saw a 15 point decline in his net favorability in the closing stretch from +24 (57/33) to just +9 (51/42). Gingrich saw a modest increase in his numbers over the final week from +14 (51/37) to +17 (54/37).
----
Mark Blumenthal's piece today for Huffington Post about 'expecting the unexpected' tomorrow is well worth a read. Gingrich will probably win tomorrow- but there's a higher than normal chance for a surprise given everything that's gone down in the last 48 hours.

Full results here
[Reference Here]

Other interesting developments that are of note come in the area of endorsements. Michael Reagan, the nationally syndicated radio talk show host (5 million listeners) and adopted son of Ronald Reagan, came out with an unqualified endorsement of Newt.

Michael Reagan said in a statement released Friday afternoon that Gingrich “exemplifies the conservative principles my father championed.”

Reagan urged “fellow Republicans and conservatives” to vote for Gingrich, citing the contrast between Gingrich’s Reagan conservatism and President Obama’s “European style” socialism.

“We cannot afford a candidate backed by the same Washington insiders who repeatedly tried to undermine my father and the Reagan revolution,” he added.
Official Statement

This is pretty serious ... much more serious than Sarah Palin's "If I were a person voting in South Carolina ..." endorsement of Newt.

The Palmetto Pick Is ...

POLLS Close In South Carolina - FOXNews projects Newt Gingrich with strong support from all voting demographics including independents, evangelicals, and ... married women!

This is a slam to the established "ruling class" Republican elites and moderates who think that a Republican needs to be measured in his or her support of core Conservative values of self-reliance, right-to-work, and smaller Government.

Full Vote Results HERE -- Exit Poll Analysis HERE>>

Most Telling Takeaway:

How do you feel about the Tea Party movement?

Total - Paul | Gingrich | Romney | Santorum
Support
64% 12% 45% 25% 17%
Neutral
27% 15% 35% 30% 18%
Oppose
8% 21% 19% 32% 13%



- Article first seen as The SCGOP Palmetto Pick Begins … And Ends at Technorati -

Let’s Try Four – CNN SCGOP Debate Tweet-By-Tweet

Ron Paul gives an answer during the last debate before the primary vote in South Carolina. Image Credit: CNN

Let’s Try Four – CNN SCGOP Debate Tweet-By-Tweet

With three days to go until the first-in-the south primary, Mitt Romney remains in the lead in the Palmetto State, but according to a new poll, his advantage over Newt Gingrich is rapidly shrinking.

A CNN/Time/ORC International poll indicates that 33% of likely South Carolina Republican primary voters say they are backing Romney, with 23% supporting Gingrich. The former Massachusetts governor’s 10 point advantage over the former House speaker is down from a 19 point lead two weeks ago. According to the survey, former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania is at 16%, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas is at 13%, and Texas Gov. Rick Perry stands at 6%.
(ht: CNN)

The following presidential hopefuls are participating in the event: Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum.

The following audit trail of real-time postings are 140 character (or less) responses and reactions found on Twitter and this is a process of reporting termed “Tweet-By-Tweet”!

BEGIN

AlexPappasDCAlex Pappas – Think Progress, The Other McCain and TPM are only ones in press filing center standing for pledge yfrog.com/kgo4rstj

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LessaTLessa – My thoughts: Marianne #Gingrich behavior is of a bitter,angry women out for revenge & $ #Wicked

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IngrahamAngleLaura Ingraham – Make sure to watch me on The O’Reilly Factor tonight at 8pm!

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Yeah …. riiiiiiight!

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stix1972Doug Welch – RT @ohconservatism: Prediction for the night. Most people still hate everyone who isn’t their guy. Many end up drunk. Few change their mind.

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kerpenPhil Kerpen – I really can’t take anything Wolf Blitzer says seriously after seeing Andy Richter embarrass him on Jeopardy.

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PolitisitePolitisite – Watch the CNN Debate – Charleston, South Carolina GOP Debate Coverage #CNNDebate tinyurl.com/7zcsxc7 #sctweets

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INTRO With John King

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EdMorrisseyEdMorrissey – Say his name 3 times in the mirror …. RT @rsmccain: Jon Huntsman, we miss you. (Just kidding.)

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FlapGregory Flap Cole – Seriously, the CNN intros are laboring at best….get on with it!

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pinkelephantpunTabitha Hale – So wrong. But not. RT @BlameTelford: Question for Gingrich: do you support gay open marriage? #CNNDebate

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EdMorrisseyEdMorrissey – “The Fight for the South”? Er … #scdebate

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EditMeDavidDavid Martosko – any one getting game-show deja vu as they emerge from between the set pieces?

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kiradavis422Kira Ayn Davis – A year ago I’d have said u were effing crazy if 2 of the last 4 GOP candidates would be Newt and some guy named Santorum #CNNDebate

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mattklewisMatt K. Lewis – “I’m the only U.S. veteran on this stage tonight.” – Ron Paul

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AKaczynski1Andrew Kaczynski – Shorter Ron Paul : Newt is a draft dodger!

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So, Newt, do you want to comment on comments made by your ex-wife?

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jamiedupreeJamie Dupree – Gingrich gives John KIng the Juan Williams treatment: “I AM APPALLED”

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mattklewisMatt K. Lewis – Newt starts off on in his wheel house — hitting the media.

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DrtySxyPoliticsDirtySex&Politics – NOOOOOOOOOOO WAAAAAAAYYYYY!!! They are really effing going there! Assholes. #CNNDebate

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EdMorrisseyEdMorrissey – Well, Newt won this debate. Let’s all watch Knight and Day now.

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EdMorrisseyEdMorrissey – Wow … this is a smackdown to end all smackdowns. #cnndebate

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pinkelephantpunTabitha Hale – RT @KatiePavlich: “I am frankly astounded that CNN would take trash like that and use it to open a presidential debate” -Gingrich

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mattklewisMatt K. Lewis – “I am tired of the elite media protecting Barack Obama by attacking Republicans.” – Newt

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TheFixThe Fix – Smart by Romney too. “Let’s get on to the real issues.” #cnndebate

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PolitisitePolitisite – Yeah, What about the corporations that run the media #Paul #cnndebate tinyurl.com/7zcsxc7

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EdMorrisseyEdMorrissey – John King: OK, let’s get started now that I’ve thoroughly embarrassed myself and my network #cnndebate

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SalenaZitoTribSalenaZito – Who knew that Ron Paul would be the first normal part of the debate? #CNNDebate

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IngrahamAngleLaura Ingraham – Ron Paul on wife of 54 yrs…nice…

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daveweigeldaveweigel – RT @AlexNBCNews: Speaking of Newt… where are his tax returns? They were supposed to come out tonight… #decision2012

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FreedomWorksFreedomWorks – Ron Paul: “what about the corporations that run the media?” #CNNdebate #tcot #teaparty tells “govt. to get outta the way”

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DanRiehlDanRiehl – OK, Newt, now try to not look at John King like u want to chew his nuts off on live TV.

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IngrahamAngleLaura Ingraham – Newt needs to drop Bain Capital attacks…counterproductive for conservatives.

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pinkelephantpunTabitha Hale – RT @StevenErtelt: Crony capitalism? Someone was listening at #BlogCon in Denver…

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thebookguyPeter Marx – #CNNdebate I give John King credit for letting Gingrich clear the deck right off the bat

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GottahrdtKarl – @@Politisite @alexwagner What a pile of crap #departed

#CNNDebate

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DonIrvineDonIrvine – It is capitalism and freedom that makes America strong. @MittRomney #cnndebate

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TPMTalking Points Memo – Romney on capitalism: “We’re going to stuff it down [Obama's] throat.”

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CommentaryCommentary Magazine – RT @tobincommentary: Santorum goes populist and says he’s for capitalism for working people but not “high finance.”#CNNdebate

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DonIrvineDonIrvine – Keep the focus on Obama. #cnndebate

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RadiobloggerDuane Patterson – Good rhetoric by Santorum. People are living in obama-caused economic squalor. #hhrs

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Role Of Government

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lesliecarbonelesliecarbone – Aren’t most of the Reagan Democrats dead by now?

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DickMorrisTweetDick Morris - #cnndebate #hannity #tcot #gop #talkmaster Romney really scored with his answer and Newt made it an anti-Newt answer by his own attacks

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EdMorrisseyEdMorrissey – Good answer from Santorum, who also chooses to attack Obama rather than Romney. #CNNDebate

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DanRiehlDanRiehl – RT @ktumulty: Ron Paul says they dnt need any “special programs” 4 military returning from WWII. Has he not hrd of the GI bill?

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pinkelephantpunTabitha Hale – RT @JazzShaw: Nobody has boo’d Ron Paul yet. We must still be talking domestic policy. #cnndebate

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CommentaryCommentary Magazine – RT @tobincommentary: Ron Paul uses question about unemployed veterans to brag about military support. #CNNDebate

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BeregondTom Reynolds – Mitt is almost right, then he says “bundle it and send it to the state level.” That leaves DC in charge via strings. #CNNDebate

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DailyCallerThe Daily Caller – SC treasurer on Romney endorsement: ‘There were some problems’ – thedc.com/yIsziy

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BlameTelfordErik Telford – The American People, fresh off their Herman Cain endorsement, are really killin’ it in this debate tonight.

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prismsincRic = AmSpec: Newt Gets Two Standing Ovations bit.ly/zAkinT #tcot

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DickMorrisTweetDick Morris - #cnndebate #hannity #tcot #gop #talkmaster Romney is winning. Newt is so smart, but somehow it seems a sidebar to Romney’s focus on today

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sanuzisSaul Anuzis – #cnndebate Santorum goes on the offensive – attacks both Romney & Gingrich – about to get womped back I’m sure:)

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Romney – “Thank You.”

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RichLowryRich Lowry – “playing footsies w/ the left”–rick s came ready to play on health care

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DLoeschDana Loesch – This is a fantastic answer from Santorum. The best attack on Romneycare of the debates. If only the rest of his record matched.

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politicalmathPoliticalMath – Just tuned in. Who is the new guy? He looks like Rick Santorum, but he’s also an effective speaker. I’m confused.

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IngrahamAngleLaura Ingraham – Mitt as good as possible on Romneycare…but Rick scored a few pts…

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CommentaryCommentary Magazine – RT @tobincommentary: Santorum’s point about how Obama will attack Romney is right. Strong moment for Santorum. #CNNDebate

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mboyle1Matthew Boyle – Romney just took Santorum to school on healthcare. If you wanna be gov of MA, fine. I wanna be president.

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foxnewspoliticsfoxnewspolitics – Gingrich: I’ll have Lincoln-Douglas debate with Obama. He can use teleprompter, I’ll just use knowledge

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Jamie_WeinsteinJamie Weinstein – Newt finds it amazing that Santorum thinks he would have trouble debating Obama. DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM, RICK?

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ColorMeRedOpionionated – Woo Woo #Newt! Let Obama use a teleprompter…I’ll rely on knowledge #CNNdebate

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BREAK – Tease: Gingrich released tax returns online … we will ask what is in there!

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DavidLimbaughDavid Limbaugh – Romney says he wants the federal government out of healthcare but he just said he wants to impose pre-existing coverage.

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EditMeDavidDavid Martosko – NOTE: Newt’s 2010 tax return shows $19,800 for alimony. #cheap thedc.com/yNEEBV

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SooperMexicanel SOOPer – ROn paul is a one trick pony.. he could turn a question about his favorite color into a slam against zionism #CNNDebate

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Back From BREAK – Asked to get out of race

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politicalmathPoliticalMath – RT @freddoso: SANTORUM: “Grandiosity has never been a problem with Newt Gingrich.”

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Santorum – I’m steady, I’m solid, I’m here

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WSJWall Street Journal – New filings: Gingrich and wife earned adjusted gross income of $3.1 million in 2010 and owed $994,708 in federal taxes

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No Question By CNN On Newt’s Taxes

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mattklewisMatt K. Lewis – Margaret Thatcher was also pushed out by her own party. I’m always surprised Gingrich the historian never mentions that.

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jeff_poorJeff Poor – Here’s where Newt can win it all by saying he is on par with Churchill, Thatcher, Julius Caesar… #CNNdebate

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Jamie_WeinsteinJamie Weinstein – Newt: I invented the airplane and I wasn’t even born yet, Rick. How do you like them apples?

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Santorum slams Gingrich

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foxnewspoliticsfoxnewspolitics – Gingrich: Long before Rick came to Congress I was a rebel. For 16 years — those are facts even if inconvenient for his campaign

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ZekeJMillerZeke Miller – Yep RT @GarrettNBCNews: This battle between Santorum and Gingrich is Romney’s best moment of the night so far. #cnndebate

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lesliecarbonelesliecarbone – Gingrich has ditched two wives. Of course he’s unreliable. Duh.

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pinkelephantpunTabitha Hale – Santorum is having a really good night. First time I haven’t loathed his presence.

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Dean_LDean_L – #cnndebate Mitt Romney’s holier than thou moment. He should have let Newt and Rick bash each other. But he couldn’t resist the face time.

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EditMeDavidDavid Martosko – Mitt says he’s lived “in the real streets of America” — the ones paved with gold, perhaps?

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EdMorrisseyEdMorrissey – GREAT line by Mitt: I don’t recall a single day when I said Oh thank heaven for Washington. #CNNdebate

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mboyle1Matthew Boyle – Romney to Newt: You’re mentioned ONCE in Ronald Reagan’s diary. My dad was even mentioned once!

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Jamie_WeinsteinJamie Weinstein – This is a losing argument for Gingrich methinks

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OHCONSERVATISMAndrew Staroska – Who gives a crap about the damn tax returns. FFS!

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hughhewittHugh Hewitt – Romney: A president who has played 90 rounds of golf….Keystone again… #hhrs #tcot

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robertcostaNRORobert Costa – Noooooooo. As an avid golfer, who respects the prez’s bad lefty swing, i must object to this attack on O.

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prismsincRic – RT @MicahSquires: So now @NewtGingrich is taking credit for his work in govt making the business environment better? PALEEEZE! #cnndebate

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TPMTalking Points Memo – Newt on Mitt’s tax returns: “If there’s nothing in there, why not release it?”

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foxnewspoliticsfoxnewspolitics – Santorum: I do my own taxes and they are at my computer at home. No one is there to get them. I will when I get home

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SaveJerseyThe Save Jersey Blog – I really like Santorum’s tax return answer! Three cheers for #turbotax. #cnndebate

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sanuzisSaul Anuzis – #cnndebate “I am not going to apologize for being successful.” — Mitt

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andreamsaulAndrea Saul – .@MittRomney: I’m going to be able to talk to @BarackObama in a way no one else can #WorkedInRealWorld #CNNDebate

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politicalmathPoliticalMath – RT @JonahNRO: Really, John. Apple’s success takes your breath away? Really?

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ZillaStevensonZilla Stevenson – Tax returns? How about releasing the docs relating to Obama’s name change from Soetoro? Was he ever repatriated from Indonesian citizenship?

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RadiobloggerDuane Patterson – santorum going on too long about this china issue. clouding it rather than concise and with clarity. #hhrs

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michaelemlongmichaelemlong – bit.ly/yQSlH8 Rush: ABC’s Goal Was To ‘Take Mitt Out This Week,’ Newt Next Week – But Drudge ‘Messed Them Up’ #tcot #tcot_talk #right

—-

SOPA & PIPA Question

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Gingrich: You are asking me, a conservative, to weigh in on protecting the rights of Big Hollywood!

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SueDTweetsSueDTweets – #CNNDebate Newt favors freedom and won’t let gov’t censor the internet!! He gets points!! #tcot —-

RadiobloggerDuane Patterson – Romney understands SOPA, too. Very reassuring to me as an Internet guy. #hhrs

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foxnewspoliticsfoxnewspolitics – Santorum on #SOPA: I’m all for free, but our products made in USA being stolen and sold back here … there oughtta be a law or something

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BREAK

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DLoeschDana Loesch – Poor, more big government answer from Santorum. Again, this is why I question him.

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mattklewisMatt K. Lewis -Disappointed so little time has been devoted to gay marriage and contraception.

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daveweigeldaveweigel – Weird. Santorum doesn’t like the idea of “anything goes” on the Internet. I’ll google his name and figure out why

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EdMorrisseyEdMorrissey – New debate horror movie: I Know What You Did Last Marriage.

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brooksbaynebrooks bayne – santorum gave an answer about individual liberties vs ip rights circa 1999 and napster. time machine response. geez. zzZZzzz..

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christinakbchristinakb – yikes – it sounds like Santorum is quitting “to be here in the final four…” #cnndebate #tcot

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Back From BREAK – Audience – Immigration

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Gingrich – FIRST, control the border | English as official language | etc., etc.

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DrtySxyPoliticsDirtySex&Politics – It’s really difficult watching the GOP debates and NOT use the following words..crazy, pussies, anger issues, certifiable

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mmshowalter1Monica Showalter – Love Newt’s response on illegals, making it easier to immigrate legally than illegally! #cnndebate

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Jamie_WeinsteinJamie Weinstein – How would Newt deal with an illegal grandfather or grandmother who is apart of a El Salvadorian gang?

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JonahNROJonah Goldberg – These local draft-immigration boards wouldn’t attract bribes at all.

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RMA_DougDoug Winegardner – No bueno pic.twitter.com/BmD43lif

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brooksbaynebrooks bayne – my family came here via lord balitimore’s commission in 1633. we didn’t sneak across the border. we just pushed indians aside. #CNNDebate

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mboyle1Matthew Boyle – Santorum: Romney has flip-flopped on immigration/amnesty for illegal ALIENS. Just like other issues.

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prismsincRic – SANTORUM great answer on immigration! #tcot

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RadiobloggerDuane Patterson – santorum trying to pick nits w/mitt over immigration, when mitt is very clear what his position is, & it’s near identical to rick’s. #hhrs

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kirstenpowers10kirsten powers – Romney always says that illegal immigrants shouldn’t get ‘preference.’ TOTAL STRAW MAN. Ted Kennedy agreed they shld go to back of line.

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brooksbaynebrooks bayne – ron paul has no lips. #CNNDebate #importantissues

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secuppS.E. Cupp – Ron Paul doesn’t like laws that prosecute illegal immigration, wants more legal immigration, but tighter borders to prevent immigration.

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DickMorrisTweetDick Morris – #cnndebate #hannity #tcot #gop #talkmaster Ron Paul is wrong. Texas does not have to provide medicaid to illegals

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JasonBWhitmanNatl Policy Chairman – There is a reason why I have been calling Santorum the Angry Candidate. Can’t hide it forever… #cnndebate

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dmataconisDoug Mataconis – RT @Tom1247: Santorum has less than 27 minutes to keep this from being a 3-man race in Florida. My bet is he doesn’t make it. #ByeByeRick

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MySecondEmpireChris Jones – I haven’t seen four white dudes with less stage presence since Bread.–

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hughhewittHugh Hewitt – #hhrs #tcot #CNNdebate Romney should bring up Mary Ann Glendot -

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CommentaryCommentary Magazine – RT @sethamandel: Santorum whispers into microphone. Not creepy, not creepy at all. #CNNDebate

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benshapirobenshapiro – Mitt Romney’s attempt to run from his pro-abortion record in MA is weak in the extreme.

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HowardKurtzHowardKurtz – Rick says Newt downplayed social issues as speaker. Problem is that most voters don’t care about internal House battles of the ’90s

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SooperMexicanel SOOPer – Ron Paul is being marginalized at the kiddie table.. where he belongs. #CNNDebate

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secuppS.E. Cupp – Haha. Audience reminds John King that Dr. Ron Paul is also on stage. How hard can this be? There are only four

of them now.

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kathrynlopezKathryn Jean Lopez – that might be romney’s best defense of his record on life as governor ever

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BREAK

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TPMTalking Points Memo – First time Mitt says ‘Romneycare’? tpm.ly/xlnTJP

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DavidMDruckerDavid M. Drucker – “I wasn’t even thinking about you when I was giving my opening statement so you were overly sensitive.” @RonPaul to Santorum #CNNdebate

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HotlineReidReid Wilson – Paul, to Santorum: “Just for the record, I wasn’t even thinking about you when I was giving my statement, so you are overly sensitive.”

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mkhammerMary Katharine Ham -#ronpaulfacts RT @KarolNYC: Ron Paul doesn’t even think of Rick Santorum.

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Back From BREAK – John King: Closing pander comments please

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politicalmathPoliticalMath – OK. Ron Paul should *never* say “my modest proposal”. It frightens me.

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conor64Conor Friedersdorf – Looks like John King won’t ask anything about Iran, contra his comments on Hugh Hewitt’s show. #CNNDebate

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TPMTalking Points Memo – Newt: “I want to thank CNN.”

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christinakbchristinakb – Newt: “… a Saul Alinsky candidate who is incompetent cannot be re-elected …” zzzzzzzing! #teaparty #tcot #cnndebate

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ToniNoBolognyToni Backdahl – Harry Reid makes the trend and Ron Paul doesn’t! That means that they r purposely blocking Ron Paul from trending on Twitter -

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michaelemlongmichaelemlong – bit.ly/Abbe3o Is Newt Gingrich About to Be Herman Cained? #tcot #tcot_talk #teaparty #sgp #right #gop #con

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SooperMexicanel SOOPer – WHo else calls Obama an Alinskyite? NO ONE. thats why i’m #WithNEWT #CNNDebate

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hughhewittHugh Hewitt – #tcot #hhrs #CNNdebate @RickSantorum the question is who is the best person to take on Obama. That is the right question.

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mattklewisMatt K. Lewis – Santorum calls himself a “conviction conservative.”

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ToniNoBolognyToni Backdahl – Because the tweets were comparing Harry and Ron Pauls abortion records.. so that means if Harry trended Ron Paul should have too! #CNNDEBATE

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END OF DEBATE

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FlapGregory Flap Cole – Santorum’s debate performance was the best, Newt was OK and held his own, Romney was shaky and if he doesn’t win on Saturday is in trouble

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fivethirtyeightNate Silver – Here are those much loved/hated debate grades: Santorum A-, Gingrich B+, Paul B-, Romney C.

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FoxieNewsDebbie – RT @ReconChesty: Tonight Newt will leave the Debate with John King Strapped to his Truck Hood!!! LMAO!! #CNNDebate #tcot // Heck Yeah!!!

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EdMorrisseyEdMorrissey – Winners: Gingrich, Santorum, Paul. Romney fumbled the taxes question again, but otherwise did no harm. #CNNDebate

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brooksbaynebrooks bayne – RT @irishspy: Of course, Santorum forgot to mention the race against a Democrat he lost… #CNNdebate

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allahpunditAllah Pundit – Newt should have mooned King at the beginning for emphasis

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sanuzisSaul Anuzis – #cnndebate Santorum had a good night & strong close; Romney perfermed very well under attack; Newt strong start then waned; Paul consistent

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JohnAvlonJohn Avlon – Newt drinking game – “radically” or “fundamentally” -

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DeanClancyDean Clancy – OK, so which guy is the conservative, again?

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JsrRogerRogersdaughter – #cnndebate Newt Gingrich knows how to take on Obama – the others aren’t tough enough…or experienced enough to do it and win.

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jdhenchmanJoe Henchman – Gingrich taxes: chipped into the presidential election campaign fund, lost $74 selling Campbell Soup stock, donated 2.5% to charity.

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DrtySxyPoliticsDirtySex&Politics – Highlights tonight were Mitt using the term “Romneycare” Santorum crying and Newt throwing his shoe at John King #CNNDebate

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secuppS.E. Cupp – Thought Santorum won the debate. Mitt lost. Newt and Paul were predictable. Anyone else miss Perry?

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ENDS

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Thank you for your time and involvement in reviewing this experimental effort.

UPDATE:
Mitt Romney won the primary to lead the Republican Political Party into the 2012 election cycle to replace the 44th President, Barack H. Obama. Romney lost in a humiliating defeat primarily because he never fully defended the positions of strength through Capitalism a free market economic approach holds for all and the fact he had no response to the fact that ObamaCare (imposed upon the nation through a one-party political process - NO Republican Political Party votes) socialized medical insurance approach (as opposed to free market) was based on the state plans Romney implemented in Massachusetts during the time he was Governor.

He remained off of the political scene over the next three years until the next election cycle.



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