Chrome Store. Can you debunk this? Some people with statistical backgrounds think they have uncovered UNDENIABLE evidence of voter fraud. (This post is not politically motivated.) : AskReddit. FIRST ON CNN: Sources: Perry dropping out of GOP race. Charleston, South Carolina (CNN) - Rick Perry is telling supporters that he will drop his bid Thursday for the Republican presidential nomination, two sources familiar with his plans told CNN. The Texas governor will make the announcement before the CNN debate in South Carolina, the sources said. Tune in Thursday at 8 p.m. ET for the CNN/Southern Republican Presidential Debate hosted by John King and follow it on Twitter at #CNNDebate. For real-time coverage of the South Carolina primary, go to CNNPolitics.com or to the CNN apps or CNN mobile web site.Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @politicalticker The move comes two days before the South Carolina primary and hours before the final debate ahead of the voting, which will take place on CNN Thursday night.
The campaigns of Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum reached out to the Perry campaign Thursday morning in an "aggressive effort" to get his endorsement, according to a source close to Perry. – CNN's Josh Levs contributed to this report. Also see: Perry Dropping Out; Will Endorse Gingrich - Alex Roarty. Strassel: Romney's Rivals Fizzle in South Carolina. Romney Put On Defense At South Carolina Debate, As GOP Rivals Fight For Edge In State Primary. MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Republican candidates were returning to the campaign trail Tuesday slightly bruised but unbowed after a raucous debate that left Mitt Romney fielding attacks from the get-go and all five candidates earning wild reception from a fired-up audience that will be casting votes alongside fellow South Carolinians on Saturday. Romney was put on defense out of the box at the Fox News/Wall Street Journal/South Carolina GOP debate -- answering questions about his record at private venture firm, Bain Capital; distancing himself from super PAC ads against fellow candidates; defending his record as Massachusetts governor, and dodging demands that he release his tax records.
But Romney held his ground against the onslaught, saying he is proud of his record in business and as governor. "We were fortunate to have an unemployment rate by the time I left office of 4.7 percent. Sounds pretty good today," Romney said of his one-term leading Massachusetts. Romney disagreed. Poll: Obama tied with Romney & Paul in November showdowns. Washington (CNN) – Mitt Romney is all tied up with President Barack Obama in a likely general election matchup, with the president showing signs of weakness on the economy and Romney seen as out of touch with ordinary Americans, according to a new national survey. And a CNN/ORC International Poll released Monday also indicates that Rep. Ron Paul of Texas is also even with Obama in another possible showdown this November.
The survey also suggests the Republican advantage on voter enthusiasm is eroding, which could be crucial in a close contest. See full results (pdf) Tune in Thursday at 8 p.m. According to the survey, if the November election were held today and Romney were the Republican presidential nominee, 48% say they'd vote for the former Massachusetts governor, with 47% supporting the president. The poll also indicates Paul statistically tied with Obama, with the president at 48% and the longtime congressman at 46%. CNN Political Editor Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report. South Carolina Primary: Newt Gingrich Will Defeat Mitt Romney, ABC News Projects. <br/><a href=" US News</a> | <a href=" Business News</a> Copy Newt Gingrich defeated Mitt Romney today to win today's South Carolina primary, boosted by a fiery debate performance this week that deflated the former governor's front-runner status overnight.
Rick Santorum will place third and Ron Paul will be fourth first-in-the-South contest. Propelled by voters who were heavily influenced by the pre-primary debates, and a strong evangelical showing, Gingrich claimed a landslide victory, winning virtually every county in the Palmetto State save for a handful that went to Romney. "It's not that I am a good debater," Gingrich said in his victory speech tonight, surrounded by his family and an enthusiastic crowd of supporters. Praising all three of his rivals, Gingrich, who made more than $3 million in 2010, per his tax return, repeatedly berated Washington and New York "elites.
" "The Republican Party doesn't demonize prosperity. Newt Gingrich | Ann Coulter | South Carolina. On a Sunday morning appearance on “Fox & Friends,” conservative columnist Ann Coulter explained why Romney fell short in the South Carolina GOP presidential primary, blaming the priorities of South Carolina voters for Gingrich’s success. “Apparently, South Carolinians would rather have the emotional satisfaction of a snotty remark toward the president than to beat Obama in the fall,” Coulter, the author of “Demonic: How the Liberal Mob Is Endangering America,” said. “We saw it in the debates when Gingrich would say things that didn’t really make sense. That is what you usually associate with Democrats, which I described in my last book, ‘Demonic,’ how mobs behave.” Some of what Gingrich has said might appear to make sense, she said, but should be analyzed more closely. “Something that sounds like it makes sense like, ‘Mitt Romney doesn’t have influence over his super PAC — that makes you wonder if he’ll have influence as president,’” she continued.
“No, he’s doing fine,” Coulter said. Election 2012 - Estimated Republican Delegate Scorecard. Despite Gingrich win, Democrats still fixated on Romney. GOP Race Intensifies as Huntsman Exits. Rivals attack Romney in testy Republican presidential debate - The Hill's Ballot Box. Republicans took every opportunity to jab at Mitt Romney at a Monday debate - one of their last chances to undercut him before he seals his fate as the GOP nominee. The debate, sponsored by Fox News, was easily one of the liveliest and testiest encounters the candidates have engaged in thus far. Romney was the target from the start and he remained there as opponent after opponent piled on, leaving no issue off limits as they worked to chip away at Romney ahead of Saturday’s decisive primary. With only five candidates remaining in the race, each contender got plenty of air time and they used it in the first of two debates to take place this week.
Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry lunged into Romney over his record at private equity firm Bain Capital. Romney seemed knocked off his game by the unrelenting course of attacks in his first debate since winning the New Hampshire primary. But it was Perry who offered Romney his most direct confrontation. “This is Martin Luther King Day. “Mr. 5.02M Watch CNN South Carolina Debate - TVNewser. Newt: I had to go negative. Fox News correspondent Bret Baier opened the debate with quite a segue, pivoting from MLK day and jobs to asking Newt Gingrich about the attacks he has been making against Mitt Romney, which he'd promised he wouldn't use. "Why" use them? Baier asked. “If that’s a part of your campaign, then questioning it has to be equally legitimate … We need to satisfy that whoever we nominate has a record that can stand up to Barack Obama in a very effective way.”
Baier then read from the WSJ editorial criticizing his lines of attack as similar to President Obama's campaign. "I raised questions that I think are legitimate questions," said Gingrich, adding it's "part of his responsibility as a candidate" to answer questions "before you get to a general election. " Baier asked a third question about Gingrich's statements criticizing Bain Capital. Gingrich said there was "a pattern with some companies of leaving them with enormous debt. " Gingrich delivers show-stopper at beginning of South Carolina debate. Gingrich replies angrily to first question on ex-wife's allegationsSantorum says Romney, Gingrich played "footsies with the left"Debate comes at end of one of the wildest days in a volatile campaignRomney has been front-runner but polls say his lead is fading Editor's note: For coverage of the South Carolina primary, go to CNNPolitics.com or to the CNN apps or CNN mobile web site.
Charleston, South Carolina (CNN) -- The four remaining GOP candidates played to their individual strengths on Thursday and tried to leave a lasting impression in a final, boisterous debate two days before South Carolina's pivotal primary. In a campaign cycle where debates have had direct consequences on the ebb and flow of the race, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich turned his contempt for the media into one of his strongest performances yet. Gingrich's response elicited loud applause from the audience. The debate came at the end of a ground-shaking day that saw former Pennsylvania Sen. Texas Rep. Romney downplays expectations, Gingrich surges as South Carolina votes. "I articulate the deepest-held values of the American people," Newt Gingrich saysNewt Gingrich wins South Carolina primary in stunning turnaroundGingrich surged in polls in week leading up to primaryMitt Romney comes off a tough week with Rick Santorum's official Iowa win Columbia, South Carolina (CNN) -- Newt Gingrich won Saturday's South Carolina GOP presidential primary, marking a stunning turnaround for a candidate who finished fourth in Iowa and New Hampshire and whose campaign had been left for dead -- again -- by observers just weeks ago.
With about 95% of polling places reporting, Gingrich had 40% of the vote, with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney getting 27% and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum getting 17%. U.S. Rep. In his victory speech to supporters, Gingrich thanked "everyone in South Carolina who decided to be with us in changing Washington. " Up-to-minute updates on CNN.com's live blog Candidates tout primary success Newt Gingrich's 'sledgehammer' approach. Gingrich, Romney ’Neck and Neck’ in South Carolina. Striving to regain ground in the final hours before the South Carolina Republican presidential primary, Mitt Romney raised questions about rival Newt Gingrich’s business dealings as the former House speaker aimed for an upset victory that could prolong the nominating race.
“I’d like to see what he actually told Freddie Mac (FMCC),” Romney told reporters gathered outside his campaign headquarters in Greenville. “Let’s see what his report was.” Gingrich, who might win or pull even with Romney in today’s voting, has faced questions from his Republican presidential rivals about his business dealings and consulting work for Freddie Mac, the government-backed home mortgage company, after he left Congress. Freddie Mac and its sister company, Fannie Mae, have received about $153 billion in taxpayer aid since losses from risky mortgages caused them to be brought under U.S. conservatorship in September 2008. Slipping Support “Where’s Mitt?” ‘Massachusetts Moderate’ Nominating History.
On primary eve, Romney says SC race neck-and-neck. NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - Mitt Romney pronounced himself in a neck-and-neck race with Newt Gingrich on the eve of South Carolina's pivotal presidential primary and pressed his chief rival Friday to release more details about his ethical problems as House speaker. Gingrich's camp countered that Romney's campaign was "on a panic-attack" after losing ground in recent polls. Rick Santorum and Ron Paul argued they were still in the mix as South Carolina's Sen. Jim DeMint declared the state a "two-man race. " Little more than a week ago, DeMint had been predicting a Romney win. Romney's new focus on Gingrich's past ethics problems was a sure sign of the momentum behind the former speaker's rise-and-fall-and-rise candidacy. "Frankly to be in a neck-and-neck race at this last moment is kind of exciting," he said Santorum, who opened his day on C-SPAN, said the GOP presidential race "has just transformed itself in the last 24 hours" and that he's still very much a contender.
Brokaw: Republican "Jihad" Underway In South Carolina. South Carolina Republican Presidential Primary. South Carolina Presidential Primary Preference: Likely Republican Primary Voters Jan 19-20 Gingrich Paul Romney Santorum Other Undecided Newt Gingrich leads the South Carolina Republican presidential primary with 40% and is followed by Mitt Romney with 26%, Ron Paul with 18%, and Rick Santorum with 13%. Gingrich has gained 7 percentage points since the survey conducted January 17-18 and Romney has lost 6 percentage points since that survey. Gingrich leads Romney 47% to 24% among self-identified Republicans, followed by Paul and Santorum with 14% each. Gingrich leads among those likely primary voters saying they are supporters of the Tea Party with 48%, followed by Romney with 19%, Santorum with 16%, and Paul with 14%. Gingrich leads Romney among men 38% to 25%, followed by Paul with 21%. Gingrich leads Romney 43% to 24% among likely Republican primary voters saying they will definitely vote.
Comparison to Past Surveys: Apr Jul Oct Nov Jan 4-5 Jan 11-12 Jan 17-18 Bachmann ni Barbour Cain Daniels Giuliani Huckabee. Romney opens 21-point lead in South Carolina: Reuters/Ipsos poll. Romney sings Happy Birthday to S.C. governor. By David Jackson, USA TODAY Updated 2012-01-20 6:13 PM Mitt Romney and Nikki Haley By EMMANUEL DUNAND, AFP/Getty Images NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Mitt Romney added a festive air to an end-of-the-campaign rally today, singing Happy Birthday to one of his top backers: South Carolina Gov.
Romney noted that it's an especially big day for Haley: "She turns 40 years old. " The Republican candidate also produced a cake for Haley and invited backers to partake after the rally. Haley told the crowd: "All I want is President Romney for my birthday. " Earlier, Haley told supporters to make sure they crank out the vote for Romney on Saturday, as he tries to fight off Newt Gingrich in the South Carolina primary. "We've got to end this," Haley said. Haley wasn't the only governor to speak on Romney's behalf in North Charleston. Virginia Gov. See photos of: Mitt Romney, Nikki Haley, Bob McDonnell. South Carolina Democrats unamused by Colbert's ploy.