Charleston, South Carolina (CNN) - 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%.
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.
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The survey was released Wednesday, on the eve of a CNN-Southern Republican presidential debate, the final showdown for the candidates before Saturday's primary, the third contest in the primary and caucus calendar. And the poll came on the same day that Romney and his campaign appeared to step up their attacks on Gingrich.
"Gingrich appears to be the only candidate with momentum as the race in South Carolina enters the final few days," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "Support for Romney and Santorum appears to be slipping, and Paul and Perry seem flat. Gingrich, however, has gained ground and cut Romney's lead in half since early January."
"All of Gingrich's increased support comes among tea party movement supporters, where he's at 31% support, up ten points from early January," adds Holland. "That suggests that Sarah Palin's remarks urging South Carolina voters to choose Gingrich may have a receptive audience."
Among voters who oppose the tea party or are neutral towards it, Romney holds a commanding 30 point lead over Gingrich and the rest of the field of candidates. The survey indicates that born-again Christians are divided, with 26% supporting Romney, 23% backing Gingrich, and 20% saying they'll vote for Santorum. Among those likely primary voters who don't identify themselves as born-again, Romney has a large lead.
Nearly all the interviews were conducted before the Palin's Tuesday night remarks and before Monday night's presidential debate. Most pundits agree that Gingrich had a strong performance at the debate in Myrtle Beach, S.C. At the same showdown, Romney came under attack by his rivals for hedging on whether he would release his tax returns.
The Thursday night CNN debate could further influence South Carolina voters. And with more than four in ten likely primary voters saying that they could still change their minds between now and Saturday, a last minute surge for one candidate or another could materialize.
Florida's GOP presidential primary follows South Carolina's contest by ten days. A CNN/Time/ORC International poll of likely Sunshine State primary voters indicates that Romney still has a commanding lead, with more likely voters in his camp than Santorum and Gingrich combined. According to the survey, which was also released Tuesday, Romney stood at 43%, with Santorum at 19%, Gingrich 18%, Paul 9% and Perry at 2%.
"As in South Carolina, Romney does better among voters who do not support the tea party and those who do not consider themselves born-again Christians. In fact, he finishes second to Santorum among born-again voters," says Holland. "But, as with South Carolina, more than four in ten Florida voters have not made up their minds, and with the all-important South Carolina primary still in the future, the poll does not stand as a prediction of what will happen in Florida."
The poll in South Carolina was conducted for CNN and Time magazine by ORC International from January 13-17, with 505 voters who are likely to vote in the Republican primary questioned by telephone. The survey's overall sampling error is plus or minus 4.5 percentage points.
The poll in Florida was conducted for CNN and Time magazine by ORC International from January 13-17, with 391 voters who are likely to vote in that state's Republican primary. The survey's overall sampling error is plus or minus five percentage points.
Also see:
Christie to Romney: release tax info 'sooner rather than later'
Perry defends controversial comment on Turkey
From CNN Politics
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No matter how you spin it, Republican "trickle-down" economics = Tea Pee
Let's elect any of these Republicans for President, and have them promptly rip us a new one like before. Nice.
How exciting....The corporate raider vs. Freddie Mac's historian.....I'll pass.
Mitt, sign the lady's poster already.
Don't forget that SC is a very conservative state. Super Tuesday won't be as conservative. And if Gingrich does win or finish closely it adds pressure to Romney and the Democrats are going to be very happy.
Where did these polls come from? The SC Poll only selected whites over the age of 50. This does not accurately represent the voters in South Carolina.
Romney is not the evil money-grubber that some would paint him to be....Most of us would pay the least amount of tax that the LAW would allow. Can't fault him for that.
So SC Would Vote for a War Monger and someone flip flops? thats new.
we all know Ron Paul will take the nomination, no matter the lies and censorship, the people will rise and voter for real freedom. Ron Paul 2012
Ron Paul 2012
Santorum that high? Really South Carolina? Really?
You deserve to burn.
I don't think that Mitt is the evil money-grubber that some would paint him to be. Most of us would want to make the most income possible and pay the least tax under the rule of law. I think that I can make the best decisions on what to do with tne money that I earn.
It's like a race for who's the most whacko.
Glad Newt got back on track. His voice needs to be heard. Still gonna be a climb for him to beat Rom, but Santorum dropping out would make things very interesting.
Heh.. Time and time again, CNN continues to distort its poll numbers. It says the poll polled "likely voters" in the Republican primary, but unlike every other poll out there, it only used registered Republicans in the survey. South Carolina has an open primary, so Democrats, independents, and Republicans can all vote. This will dramatically change the results.
Snooty, Mittens, Sanitarium, and the Anarchist.
It doesn't matter.
None of these GOP clowns stands any chance of being elected.
.
My favorite part about this "poll" is that you only polled white people over 50 who make more than $50K/year. Real good representation of America.
Look who is backing Romney and Gingrich (and Obama for that matter, Goldman Sachs and other huge companies (that received bailout money from tax-payers).
Look who is supporting Ron Paul: The united states military.
More lobbyist dollars do not make a candidate better, but perhaps, makes them more corrupt.
and this is why we can't have nice things.... idiots vote for gingrich and romney.
The people of South Carolina actually listen to Sarah Palin? Maybe we should have let them leave the union when we had the chance!
It looks like the South Carolina Klu Klux and the tea-party vulture Christians will decide the Republican candidate
for President. That's no way to run a party or a country.
Romney is such a stooge. Ron Paul is the only GOP candidate that I don't want to punch in the face.
Mitt Romney is the man for 2012.
He's up by 10%...yea, the race is REALLY close.
For our countries sake I hope Newt wins. It is hard for me to vote for a guy who lost to the other guy who lost to Obama. This country is in such a mess we need a leader with ideas. Obama and his cabinet has run out a long time ago.
It only polled registered Republicans in SC even though it's an open primary.
I would LOVE to see Newt win South Carolina, just to screw up the Republican party even more! These candidates are so screwed up, so disconnected from middle class America that you couldn't write a better comedy script if you worked for Saturday Night Live!
Romney is the best, and will be the next President of the United States. He is intelligent successful and like things to be perfect. He is the character that the United States needs to lead us to success. Wake up people and smell the coffee. We Need Romney ...
Newt has some weapons grade family values backing him up.
Romney is not as bad a choice as I once thought, after a lot of research into his policies and plans, he is really quite brilliant, regardless of his religion! As a conservative southerner, Mitt's fiscal policy is super sound, his ideas are refreshing and he is by far and away the most electable candidate. I used to like Newt, but the more I learn, the more I realize that he is not what this country needs right now. I now truly hope Romney wins the nomination.
mitt is going to be history
John McCain won SC with about the same percentage in 2008. It is a definite indication the Mitt Romney has about as much appeal as the guy who forgot his name endorsing him. I expect he will do as well in November as McCain did in spite of having large contributions from the big Wall Street financial firms.
I am tired of poles. Been wrong before. Go Ron Paul !
A unethical, 84 corruption charges, Serial Adulterer and a Vulture Capitalist with magical underwear and an insane old coot...wow, the Republican candidates are sure impressive this year.
Gov Romney is the only GOP candidate that can beat Obama. Just look at the head-to-head polls. Gingrich loses to Obama on average by 10%. Newt's got no chance winning the Independents unlike Romney.
Hard to believe Romeny is doing so well,,he really isn't a Republican or a Bible believing Christian either being Mormon, so I don't get it. If Romney wins the republican nomination we haven't learned anything in the last 4 years and might as well re-elect Obama and suffer the consequences.
What a diverse crowd surrounding Mit....NOT. Notice, no Asians, Blacks, Hispanics etc. etc. Typical GOP ...
to be blunt about it... we will have a polarizing crusty fat old white guy as the nominee guilty of ethics violations, cheating on multiple marriages, etc. who will not be able to win the White House.
Mark my words. Newt = 4 more years of Obama.
According to the full results, all of those polled in both states were over 50 years old. How is this at all representative of true voter sentiment?
No surprise here. The dirt on Romney was going to come out sooner or later.
SHAMELESS BIAS IN THE SAMPLE!!! Cody's post at 4:12 PM Jan 18 is correct. This is a horriblly skewed sample and this poll should be laughed at. They only sampled old white people, and excluded an entire geographical area. Something tells me this sample was chosen in order engineer a certain result to provide bias against someone who would do well with younger voters, or biased in favor of someone who does well with older WHITE voters. This poll is racist and agist! SHAME ON CNN!
Another phony, bias CNN poll. In Florida, 1,508 adults interviewd by phone, 1525 adults in South Caroline. All of them are white and over age 50. Since when the minimum voting age become 50 and limited to white only in America?
None of these candidates will win. The Grinch sounds like a mean old man, Santorium is just nutz, Perry is rediculous and that leaves Paul. The ditherer. Let's deregulate everything. No one to check the food supply, drugs not one to report deseases too, no one to report consumer affairs complaints too. The only one that looks Presidential is Barack....oh yeah. he is the President. They have all distorted his record too.
But then that's what these clowns do. Say and do anything to get elected. I thought they were for less government and in the end they are actually for more. They just want to control every aspect of your life...even your reproductive cycle and what you do in your own bedroom. Enough already!
I really do not have a horse in this race, but I just hope whoever is the Rep nominee can beat out Obama. America has suffered for the last four years as a result of Obama being elected because of his skin color. america cannot handle another 4 years with him at the helm.
There's only one right choice, Ron Paul 2012!
I am actually cheering for Newt, because he is an easier candidate for Obama to beat in November, so the gap between Romney and Gingrich in S.C. shrinking would be good news. However, the headline is not accurate. The difference in numbers between the most recent poll and the previous one is within the statistical sampling error. So, there may be a slight trend in Gingrich's favor, but the gap is nowhere close to shrinking. CNN, take STAT101 and stop beating a dead horse.
After the Civil War, hordes of Republican Yankee carpetbaggers descended on the South like locusts, corrupting their elections and pillaging their state. Who would have thought that a bunch of GOP carpetbaggers from Washington could do the same thing in 2012.
Ron Paul 2012 - the real conservative choice!
Anybody but RINO ROMNEY !!
And why shouldn't Gingrich be gaining momentum?? After all, he's giving conservatives what they want–i.e., more thinly-veiled insults and stereotypes about minorities the poor people. Romney's really got to step down his game if he wants to compete with that! Santorum's already got the gay bashing locked up tight. Newt's going for blacks now (taking the reigns from Paul, who refuses to own his d1ckishness).... Mitten's had better hurry and snap up a historically disadvantaged group to publicly disparage before they're all gone!
How much do you all think the R design on Romney's campaign signs and placards cost(if you haven't studied it then please refer to the picture at the top of the page and observe the "R")? I'll start the guessing at around 5 million and we can probably work up.
The only thing that makes Romney "marketable" to Republicans is literally his money. I owe money in the State of MA for not having health insurance following my graduation from college when my father lost his job and I subsequently lost my health insurance. I was not permitted to receive the health insurance because placed upon the state health plan. If this man had 1/100th of the money he has now, people should realize that if they vote Romney, they are voting for someone to the Left of the present White House administration.
LMAO- and 3 weeks ago somebody on these boards told me Newt was already dead in the water and did not have a chance,when I said Newt is the only one with a real chance to beat Obama. Fool.
A POX on A-L-L their houses ! ! ! ! ! !
More power to Gingrich and Paul I will vote for Obama.
three more days????? Please god, NOOOO! Make it go away!
I have full confidence in Newt's ability to lead us. To an all-you-can-eat buffet.
@"JARIV" Romney supports (he said so in the last debate) the NDAA *indefinite detention of American citizens without due process*...Anyone who WANTS that law is a tool of the tyrant. Use your head man! Ron Paul is the only one who will preserve liberty, the rest really literally do not care about your liberty. To quote Braveheart, "What will you do without freedom?!?!?!"
I'm Republican – however, I'd take Obama again than to have Romney as President. So glad to hear the news from any poll that puts him behind.
"Where did these polls come from? The SC Poll only selected whites over the age of 50. This does not accurately represent the voters in South Carolina."
It may be because those Republicans who traditional have voted in the SC primary in the last few elections had tended to be predominantly white and over 50. I'll admit it's not a good "look" for a national political party, but it is believable.
Romney is not a conservative; in south still Newt have more supporters than Romney
Republicans establishment forcing many to get on board with Romney that made some to support Romney many are saying they will stay home,
If Romney is the nominee democrats will take over the house again
I just don't understand how hard working, blue collar Republicans can vote for Romney. He is so out of touch with the average American and his comments prove it ("Corporations are people too," "[my speaking fees in 2011] were not much money (yea, only $374,000!!!!!!!!!!!). Can't wait to see what rich guy, elitist comment is going to come out of his mouth next.
So Sarah & Hubby's endorsement of Newtie Baby has influenced SC voters? Why am I not surprised. A state full of dumba$$ holy rolling hypocrites.
If South Carolinian voters manage to render Rick Perry to the dust bin of presidential aspirants, that's accomplishment enough for me. Send the guy back to Texas, please!. We're all better off if he spends his time fighting feral hogs than if he were sitting around contemplating how to get U.S. troops back into Iraq.
i am tired of polls that try to influence voters.
i wonder if people would vote different if we did not have all these polls.
@ Daniel, you wrote, "My favorite part about this "poll" is that you only polled white people over 50 who make more than $50K/year. Real good representation of America." Actually, this was a random sample of registered Republicans likely to vote in the primary. The fact that they didn't come up with anyone under 50 y.o. making less than $50k reflects who the Republicans likely to vote in the primary are. Apparently, young, lower income people aren't likely to vote in the GOP primary...
I will vote for anyone that will stop destroying our future with deficit spending. Currently, Ron Paul is the only that says he will even try to balance the budget by 2016. We are floating along today only because Washington is borrowing $4.2 billion from our future every day. Pretty soon the only projection the CBO will be able to make is one of impending economic doom.
I welcome any poll that shows Romney shrinking in 1st place.......And I am a Republican.
I hope Newt the Nit does secure the nomination overall. That would be the best thing for Obama's re-election chances ever!
Don't forget the Colbert on the Cain Train. I see him beating Rick PArry.
Herman Cain is closing fast. Watch out Romney and Gingrich! Santorum is so last week.
I could never vote for Romney, his father was born in Mexico, however, Romney seems to want to forget that detail and pretend it never happened. My first choice is Obama but if the Republicans have a better candidate perhaps I could change my mind , anyone but Romney. Latino voters care for the economy and education more than immigratin issues.
Is Colbert ahead of Perry?
If so, Perry should drop out.
S.C. Racism sells.
South Carolinans go to church faithfully twice a week. Apparently they don't listen to the part about adultery. And Newt's current chippie is just as guilty as he is. You know, the woman with the Flying Nun hairdo.
love it, love it, love it......the more these clowns are divided among them themselves, the better. I look forward to everyone of their idiotic debates (at least the media short version). It becomes more & more obvious that none of them can beat Obama.
You keep promoting Romney and Gingrich-the annoited ones by CNN who offer nothing new for our country-only more of the same : endless wars for the 1% profits,open borders, importation of slave labor products to kill the remaining jobs.
Born again = born yesterday. You should at least have to wait 18 years after your "rebirth" to vote again.
Moot Gingrich, Kick Perry, Split Romney, Con Paul - or Pick Santorum?
Why does CNN keep releasing 'creditable' 'national' polls that do not include anyone under 50?
The GOP slate is a little dangerous, and leave me wanting something else.
I hear "Anyone but Romney" from basically everyone I talk to about this... Romney cannot win against Obama...I think Newt can if he picks a good VP!
Newt may not be the greatest guy in terms of morality but then neither was Bill Clinton. He still will make a better conservative president than Oromney. Oromney will not drive the GOP voters to the poll to support him. A vote in the GOP primary for Oromney is essentially a November vote for Obama. You are basically saying you think Obama's policies are fine and we don't need any change. IMO Newt or Paul would be a better representation of GOP voters than Oromney. They probably still wouldn't beat Obama but they would stand a better chance. Better luck in 2016 GOP!
Could someone with a sound mind please tell me why they would vote for Newt Gingrich!
Oh boy, now we have two "bozos" on the bus. One who claims to be a job-creator while killing good companies. He decries, "corporations are people" which makes him a serial murderer. The other, loaded down with so much baggage a baggage-handler can't deal with him. Someone once write: "Quick send in the clowns. Don't bother they're here."
Ron Paul 2012!
Do we really care what South Carolina thinks? Its just a bible belt state with a twisted view of the world.
Remember this is the state that elected Nikki Haley as governor, a woman who bounced from bed to bed with lobbyists while she was still married, but still wants us to think she's for strong family values.
I say we do a Mulligan and move on to the next state.
The pattern to pick up here is that Romney is weak among all of the typically ignorant voter groups who vote on fringe non-issues or religious beliefs instead of voting for an effective leader.
Anybody who says the US military supports Ron Paul is delusional or a liar. The US military does not support candidates. Thats what makes our military special...they stay out of politics and work for the country under the leadership of the Commander in Chief.
But Brice, feel free to quote any poll you can use to back your point.
Keeping Gingrich in this race would definitely show the rest of the world just how amoral and just plain dumb we can be.
I can just see Mr. O smiling with glee now. Maybe he will get reelected after all, and Obamcrats will rejoice.
Mitt will be the only Commander-in-Chief who sat out a wartime draft on a RELIGIOUS deferment!
As to Mitt Rmoney's 5 military age sons, Mitt explained that they were serving America "better" by working on his decades long political campaigns. When Mitt attacks Iran as he threatens, he will send YOUR sons as his have "better things to do".
This man is an empty suit.
Whats going on ther are no lesser of two evils they both suck.
None of these losers has even a chance against Obama.
Anyone thinking they can stay the present course is not paying attention. What this administration has done to the country is appalling. There is no such thing as a perfect politician nor are there perfect people but increasing the debt by 43% in three years, turning the EPA loose with idealogues, establishing a Consumer Protection Czar without over sight, etc. and then playing the populist card is atrocious. We stop the growth of government now, take the pain and quit relying on false promises from the government or we will make Greece look like a success story. Socialism does not work regardless of your political stance. Anyone is better than Obama and his czars even if not perfect.
So if you are under 50 years of age, anything but white, or make less than than 50K a year, THIS POLL DOESN'T REPRESENT YOU! Call CNN and ask for representative polling with a true representative polling sample. This is disgusting.
I'll just say I think it's hilarious when people question polls with, "They only asked 1,026 people!" or see "CNN/Time/ORC International poll" and think they literally polled people in Slovakia. Ahh... people and their total lack of understanding. It's just so depressing.
I'd vote GOP if Stephen Colbert gets the nomination.
CNN propaganda. Ron Paul has immense support in S.C. and NO ONE likes Gingrich here. Newt already burned his ties with the southern demographic. We don't tolerate adultery here, after Sanford's blemish on our state, we've wised up to slimy politicians like him. We're going to see another close one between Paul and Romney. The gist of things 'down hur' is Romney is a capitalist Yankee, Santorum is a bigot Yankee, Newt is a transplanted Yankee, Perry is the only thing more laughable than this article. I'll be busing in people to the primaries, people who are tired of watching Wall Street and Capital Hill leech the life out of middle class/military class people.
Be advised! Once again as others have pointed out, CNN has conducted an over 50 age poll only, and failed to mention this. Deceptive reporting at it's best.
Why, CNN, are we excluding the under 50 crowd and failing to mention this very important fact?
Seriously....
Did anyone read the PDF
This poll is comprised of all 50+ year old white people.......
And we are supposed to view this as some type of bearing on opinion in that state
CNN yall are looking more and more like fox every day............
We are all just jealous of Mitt that is why he won't win in November.
I almost qualify for your poll. I will be 49 this year and I make 49.5K. I am white. Furthernore I support the President and would not vote for any one of the GOP /Tea party cry baabies for any post any where at any time.
Why is Rick Perry still in this race?
Yes the 250million candidate will go to war with Iran with his sons avoiding the military. What is new?
Good way to let America know racism is alive and well.
How can South Carolina really matter, if you have ever been through that place it has to be the worst state in the union it contains the worst part of Inter-state 95....lol
dont waste your vote for any of these establishment cronies. reserve your right to vote until there is a candidate who rails at the real problems facing this country.. capitalism, greed, and disrespect for each other.
I don't care who wins the nomination as long as we turn the direction of this country around. Thanks to Obama and the liberal Dems'; astronomical debt in the Trillions, economy worse than it was 3 years ago, no jobs and no company is going to give up profit margin to pay more for employee health benefits so kiss that goodbye. I wonder if anyone judges a president based on performance metrics anymore or is it just 'smear the challenger and stay the course over the cliff' like a bunch of lemmings...
ad nauseum politics
Um – many people are pointing out that the poll is only of white voters over 50 years old and find it somehow different from 'likely voters." I will point out that if the voter ID laws work as planned, these will be the only people who CAN vote. Then I have to ask why anyone would give a rat's behind what Sarah Palin has to say but alas, it IS South Carolina....
Wow. I guess we know where Obama's 40% of supporters are... CNN forums are a magnet for them. Amazes me how a president can screw things up as badly as he has and still have the unwavering support of some people. Please do this country a favor and elect someone with actual, workable plans for improvement... not a pretty smile, empty promises, and a proven track record of epic failure.
If Romney releases his income tax returns, he wont win in SC!!!!!
We've been telling this to CNN for weeks now. Newt, Paul and Santorum are much better organized in SC with much more enthusiasm than the Romney camp. You can't help but notice. This is no secret at all – CNN just has no boots on the ground in SC>
What would you expect from the South, where they still operate under the good old boy philosophy and where racism is thinly disguised. The Newt fits right in.
It's too bad about Jon Huntsman.
President Obama needs four more years to work on all the programs he promised during his campaing. I am 100% sure he will be re-elected. OBAMA 2012-SI, SE PUEDE!!!!
Romney can't be beat unless Santorum or Gingrich drops out (thus benefiting the other).
Where is Colbert? I thought he had 5% and that is why whats his name dropped out?
May the best loser win!
Did anyone watch the debates the other night? All I got out of it was South Carolina should not be in the union and are primarily racists.
Once again, CNN conducts a poll in where they speak with NO ONE UNDER THE AGE OF 50. Just like last weeks "National Poll" where NO ONE UNDER THE AGE OF 50 WAS POLLED!
Take a look at pages 6 & 7 of the PDF. Black and white, right there. Just another instance of CNN CREATING their own news.
The only job for South Carolinians is rubber stamp New Hampshire and go back to marrying their cousins.
The fact that there is any movement in South Carolina at all, just shows how little people like Romney. And why would he be liked? He's the club pick like George H.W. Bush – he can barely tolerate or even remember to pretend to be conservative.
Taxes? Romney loves taxes, he won't rule out giving us a europe style V.A.T. tax. George sure couldn't remember he was against taxes.
HIs supporters are ready to debate the relevant merits between Romneycare and Obamacare, between stimulus-dee and stimulus-dum, between nation building this country vs. that – but who is looking forward to that debate?
My gosh, I'd rather have a real debate between people that substantively disagreed with each other – instead of all these tempest in teapot arguments.
These polls are ridiculous. They only polled white people over the age of 50. The more the controlled media does this, the more they show their bias. To contrast this, Fox news used input from twitter to decide who won the last debate in Myrtle Beach, and Ron Paul won by a landslide. Mitt Romney got owned (he really is owned though anyway). It goes to show you how you can manipulate and control what news gets put forward by our media.
Another stupid landline telephone poll... basically tells you who old people are going to vote for. Useless.
These numbers are in direct contrast to the ones Wolf Blitzer showed that said 20% were for Ron Paul in SC.
Romney is a wet noodle
The only job for South Carolinians is rubber stamp New Hampshire and go back to marrying their cousins.
The fact that there is any movement in South Carolina at all, just shows how little people like Romney. And why would he be liked? He's the club pick like George H.W. Bush – he can barely tolerate or even remember to pretend to be conservative.
Taxes? Romney loves taxes, he won't rule out giving us a europe style V.A.T. tax. George sure couldn't remember he was against taxes.
HIs supporters are ready to debate the relevant merits between Romneycare and Obamacare, between stimulus this and stimulus-that, between nation building this country vs. that – but who is looking forward to that debate?
My gosh, I'd rather have a real debate between people that substantively disagreed with each other – instead of all these tempest in teapot arguments.
nobody sounds as authoritative as romney on economics, not even the sitting president. economy is the real and only issue in this election, the rest is a distraction (including the foreign stuff)
Whether it be Coot or Mutt really doesn't matter - they both suck.
unless Santorum or Gingrich drops out (thus benefiting the other)."
Agreed. However, Santorum is not going to drop out because being the family values guy he is, he would rather see a Romney presidency than a Gingrich presidency. He also realizes that Gingrich is more likely to lose to Obama than Romney.
Gingrich is not going to drop out because his ego is too big.
Ron Paul is the only presidential candidate who wants FREEDOM for the American people.
This Democrat is backing Romney for the GOP nomination. That way, if he (somehow) beats Obama, America will still have a liberal in office. How do you like them apples tea baggers??
I will only support Ron Paul this election season!
If Gingrich does well, it's a sign that people like what he says and forget how he has behaved. He has been unfaithful to his wives. The PAC that supports him is backed by a Zionist casino owner.
just shows you how easily independents and idiot republicans can be fooled
About that poll sampling . . . does anyone else matter really?
Newt Gingrich is a phony, pious, ethics violator. And how is it that religious and fiscal conservatives go for a two-time adulterer and Tiffany's account high-spender? It was Newt after all who took 1.6 million to "consult" with Freddie Mac before they caused the huge Real Estate meltdown. Did Newt's big ideas sink Freddie and us?
Newt's core is very suspect – with his inconsistencies in prosecuting Clinton for his affair with Lewinsky, while he himself was betraying his own wife, to his latest Obama-line-of-attack against free enterprise and private equity.
Newt wants to say that he's a leader but keeps having to explain his bad decisions and behavior. Sorry Newt, but your big talk is not consistent with your bad walk.
South Carolina, please show Newt the door. Then perhaps Sarah Palin will realize that the South Carolina primary doesn't exist to line the pockets of Fox News in advertising but represents American freedom in action to change the direction of our country.
Briggs, No actually we do NOT all know, and you speak only for you. It's that kind of creepy know-it-all arrogance that turned me off Paul to begin with.
Ron Paul!!!
People should be judged on their character; instead of how much money they make. A lot of us believe, if you are in certain occupations, like being a doctor, a lawyer, or just plain rich. We should look at them the most favorably.
I hope instead, whether you have a quick mind or not; the tests of character be what everyone should be judged on. That janitor, grocery clerk, and others; may have better character than even some doctors or some of the rich.
There are many people in certain occupations, I admire. That I could not match their worth in terms of their character and determination. Those include occupations such as our soldiers, EMT's, snow plow drivers and many truckers working nights. How do they do it? How do they find that inner strength?
We talk about our nation needs new work ethics for many. We should reward hard work. Then why do we reward no work from those simple capital gains transactions; Then those who work hard, like truckers, nurses and store clerks. These hard working Americans are taxed higher than the no work required capital gains tax.
I believe, we as a society, should judge people by their determination and character; and not by their money or occupation. As the Declaration of Independence says ...All men are created equal...Therefore, we should look at people of all occupations equally....It really depends on their character; no matter what occupation they are in...
The Ron Paul campaign should create another media ad that exploits 'Serial idiocy' by the American people. Wake Up Sheeple! Romney and Gingrich are tools to promote anything but a better country.
And as for Ron Paul...what a joke! 24 years he's tried...GET THE MESSAGE PAUL!
he's only doing this to set up his equally crazier son for future Presidential bids! we have nut job son to deal with for years to come!
"All interviews conducted by telephone among 391 likely
voters in the Florida Republican primary and 505 likely
voters in the South Carolina Republican primary"
Ya nothing like calling a race with less than a thousand votes... CNN really needs to get it stuff together what a joke
searched the news for Ron Paul news and the only thing I got was these three warmongers , Mitt,Newt and Santo. Did you even know that FOUR SC senators have endorsed Ron Paul but the only thing CNN reports is some religious loony endorsing Santorum. Check out for yourselves. . Hear is the link of the endorsments if any one intrested.... http://irmo.patch.com/articles/paul-gains-endorsements-from-4-s-c-senators
I just do not trust Romney on any issue, he seems like he will say or do anything to be President and I just can not in good faith vote for him.
cojudos – go romney get 270
Go Newt!
I have to in-laws who are both on disability, who NEVER would have saved enough to retire or pay their medical bills, who still have the gall to ask "What's the govt ever done for me??" I think the average Ron Paul voter would be stunned and clueless suddenly deprived or our modern government and left "on their own." Ann Rand was an atheist, social-security-collecting hypocrite whose altar I don't worship at.
No matter, Obama will get a second term.
Obama 2012!!
The older I get, the more I see that this stuff is entertainment, that big money is pulling the strings, and the people are being conditioned to select the pre-approved candidates. Why should the outcome in New Hampshire be a sure predictor of the outcome in Arizona? Because candidates run out of money? Then it is all controlled by wealth, is not free elections. The only time the establishment doesn't win is when they put forward a terrible candidate. Like Romney.
Bill Clinton: Newt Gingrich And Mitt Romney Can't Tell The Truth And Win GOP Nomination
Former President Bill Clinton said Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney can't say what they believe and get nominated in a GOP primary, in an interview with Esquire published Wednesday.
"As a private citizen he [Gingrich] was for certain important health-care reforms and believed in climate change and believed there had to be a strong reaction to it. And now he's just like Romney," Clinton said. "Neither one of them can say what they believe to be true and get nominated. Romney's still trying to figure out what he did as governor of Massachusetts and still appeal to this driving vituperative energy."
Gingrich has cited his work with Clinton when he was Speaker of the House as evidence that he can fix the economy. Other times, he has left out Clinton and touted balancing the budget and creating 11 million new jobs.
When asked last December whether Gingrich could take credit for balancing the budget, Clinton said, "Not really, but I think he did work with me to pass some good budgets."
Clinton, however, praised his former adversary last November to NewsMax, saying, "I think he's doing well just because he's thinking, and people are hungry for ideas that make some sense."
Clinton also praised Romney's record as governor of Massachusetts in December, adding that it would be a "mistake" to underestimate him.
Clinton told Esquire that Republicans have been pushed farther to the right.
"Every time the president adopts a plan that they [Republicans] once advocated, they abandon it and push farther to the right," he said. "But the voters can push them back."
I'm voting for Ron Paul because I don't think he would vote for SOPA or PIPA to close the internet.
Ron Paul 2012
Wow people are crazy. The income is getting larger and larger, but they want to vote someone who'll support corporations over people? And Obama is even more nuts than every Republican, he may be smarter than most, however how can you vote someone who pretty much screwed up American (collectively with other former leaders) and then let NDAA pass.
Ron Paul is the only person who can even pass off as votable. I don't support most of what he wants done however he's consistent with his idea's, he will not be bought by businesses and he is not a liar/politician. Ron Paul is by far the favourite candidate Internationally.
Who cares? SC doesn't matter anyway. They'd vote KKK if one ran openly.
Does anyone here believe this POLL ,, is this CNN's way of screwing with the public,,, give me a break,, i'll wait till the votes come in ,, Ron Paul in 4th CNN wishes,,
Thank god Ron Paul will be out soon! Woo hoo!!!
How come I see practically no support for Romney in these comments?
Ron Paul 2012
Remember this is a "Party", this Republican "Party". Like all parties, sooner or later someone is dancing on the table top with a lampshade on his head. Of course, Gingrich came to the party wearing a lampshade, and Romney is just the designated driver, his only value at this party. I trust the people of S. C. to make the right choice, and not vote.
I'm writing in Ron Paul if it comes down to it.
Dear Newt, (PLEASE read before debate..PLEASE)
It is great to see that we are getting a real GOP nominee for this election..An ANTI ROmney Middle class Leader defineatly NOT a leader who DOESN"T LIke to FIRE PEOPLE(Like Romney in his own words and Actions before)..
We Americans, Christians wheather it be Catholics, Evangelicals, Baptists, Jews, Salute you...America Salute you..
But ROmney is going to spend more time and person effort in digging all the past records of his opponents..Our Trump CARD is Romney's wealth..We all know that HE will NOT release his tax returns before April..The more he waits the more good for him because his weath is around 250 Million..COmes as .5% of americans..
Important point dear speaker...Please READDDDDD>..............
.I know that u will release your tax return of 2011 tommorow..If Romney still maintains that He is NOT releasing his current year tax before APRIL, Please ask to him in the debate. for the general Public Information if he can release his tax return information of LAST YEAR ie 2010..IF he really wants to give americans information about his wealth he has to do that..IF he objects that is all we need..AMerican people will realize something is FISSHY..South Carolina and rest of america will VOTE aganist him..IF he spells out his 2010 tax return that is also will be bad for him..because $200 Million and his statement of $375K fees last year he earned for speeches is not much for him..that too will make his campaign big trouble and we will have a true conservative leader.. He is NOT a CEO of any manufacturing or service company who created jobs in usa..HE is a CEO of invetsment company who doesn't matter JOB is created in US or NOT, but only how to make money by bankrupting any company , by closing factories shipping jobs overseas so to force americans scample for life and unemployment checks and HE can keep building MANSIONS..Seems he has got 8 Homes with each valued at around 7-8 Million dollars...
Go Get AMericans HEART dear leader...
I don't why anybody would want to vote for Newt Gingrich. He Cheated on two wife and the last one was dying of cancer at the time. He help cause the trouble America In now when he was working for Fannie mack and Ferdie may, so this make him a crook. And beside that he all most LIE every time he talk and he Is racist.
Gawd... Go away already Newt. You will not win the nomination despite your secret grandiose plans. You are done... it's over, let it go already, think about the future of the country for once instead of yourself.
The gap between the most wealthy and the rest of the people has grown disporportioning to the wealthy and this is largely a result of tax policies that reduce the taxes for the rich. Romney's tax rate of 15% is due to income from investments rather than pay checks. Why shouldn't his earnins be taxed at the regular tax rate table as every worker? The breaks have been gained by excessive influence of the corporations and their lobbyists affecting our Congress. The advertising bought by this money distorts the interests of the people.There are efforts reduce the influences of money in the political system such as at the site of GetMoneyOut
Big money PACs buy commercial time to condition the mass audience to accept their political product, just like auto Insurance. However, with car insurance there are laws forbidding negative advertising. With politics, all is regarded fair, and we must endure a seemingly endless stream of misrepresentation and villification. If ever there was a corrupt system in need of reform, this one is. Yet the press remains silent, quite unwilling to rock this boat, while they reap enormous profit.
Ron Paul only has support from young people, who are more inclined and have a need to use the internet. That's why he appears to have so much support in the comments sections of all these articles. But the reality is the younger voters are but a fraction of the voting public, and many of them don't even bother to go to vote. That's why this old dog is going to be dropping out very soon. He's finished.
Wake up Paul supporters! Ron Paul 2012!
cnn knows paul loses among the old folkes vote and possibly he may have many blacks too behind him. Completly blatant and biased.
We ALL listen too much to polls!!!! We All listen too much to BS media!!!! Too many allow both to influence their vote, which is exactly what both are designed to do. How about doing a bit of research and making an informed decision for yourself? And, my opinion is: NO OBAMA 2012!!!
America is exceptional. Exceptionally stupid, that is.
Obama would have hayday with Gingrich and his record, I was liking him tell I read more about him and being kicked out as Speaker of the house his own party didnt like him, oh my goodness and then his love affairs in the office, and he just goes off and doesnt control himself, Santorum is just not ready to be commander in chief nor his family they would be crying all the time, Paul is out he was just the flavor of the month. People need to wake up and smell the mess coming and Gingrich may be a great debater but washington has alot of files on him and you think they have stuff on Romney just wait tell Gingrich is the one. Obama will be laughing all the way back to the White house. Wake up south carolina, and whats even morefunny isthese media talk shows will back anyone just to see this Go on longer and cause more points for obama media and make more money for there shows. Wake up people.
Newt suggested Santorum and Perry drop out of the race. He forgot to include himself. More entertainment from the GOP circular firing squad.
This is so cool! Four Republicans! Each one battling as hard as he can to prove to the people of South Carolina that he and he alone has the best plan for destroying America.
a man who claims he should be president of the United States cannot understand why his remarks are offensive. The overwhelming majority of African-Americans are not on food stamps. Indeed, the majority of people who receive food stamps are white. Most recipients are also either children or seniors who are of retirement age. In 2010, working women represented only 28 percent of recipients, and working-age men represented only 17 percent.
Gingrich’s suggestion that food stamps are somehow a preeminent black issue flies in the face of reality. Worse, it lumps all African-Americans together as federal aid recipients when the overwhelming majority of working-age black men and women are self-supporting taxpayers. Thousands of them are professionals such as doctors or lawyers. One of them is the President of the United States.
Sadly, Gingrich’s snide answer earned an enthusiastic response from the largely white, Republican audience at the debate. The only thing more disturbing than the fact that Gingrich cannot understand why his comments are so deeply offensive is the fact that his ignorance is shared by others.
I think that Newt Gingrich should be arrested for using racism in S.C Newt called president Obama a food stamp president, now this is a racist. statement and white America should demand that Newt stop racially polarizing the election. Rev. Brown.
Ron Paul 2012, I've yet to hear a valid argument against it. Give the government back to the people!
Who could hope to top most of these comments?? I'll just say my vote will be for our current pres.
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012/WARREN ANYTIME
It's funny no matter how hard the media tries to put up fake surveys to favor Romney or Gingrich as the main candidates the forums of the internet favor something completely different, Ron Paul. RON PAUL 2012.