Rivals say split SC conservative vote aids Romney

[Omaha Steve]

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20120116/D9S9NLC00.html

By BETH FOUHY

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - A splintered conservative vote in South Carolina could pave the way for Mitt Romney to win this week's pivotal primary, some rivals said Sunday, acknowledging an outcome that prominent state lawmakers suggested could end the nomination fight.

"I think the only way that a Massachusetts moderate can get through South Carolina is if the vote is split," said Newt Gingrich, portraying himself as the lone conservative with a "realistic chance" of beating Romney in the first-in-the-South contest.

Polls show Romney, the former Massachusetts governor who struggled to a fourth-place finish in South Carolina during his 2008 White House run, with a lead heading into Saturday's vote. The state has a large population of evangelicals and other conservative Christians, and concerns arose four years ago about his Mormon faith.

But Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Rick Perry all said Romney, after victories in Iowa and New Hampshire, continued to benefit from the fractured GOP field and the failure of social conservatives to fully coalesce around a single alternative.


Republican presidential candidate, former Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., speaks as he campaigns at the Faith and Freedom Coalition Prayer Breakfast in Myrtle Beach, S.C., Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)


FULL story at link.

[Pryderi]

1. True. This is why I was hoping Perry would drop out so his support would go to Santorum

[David__77]

2. Good thing.

I am hoping for a Romney nomination. It will cause serious problems for the right, and not due to his religion.

[EFerrari]

3. So, is SC still voting on 100% touchscreens?

[kenfrequed]

4. The good news is...

That this failing will force Romney to have to actually run to the right if he takes the nomination as he will not have completely wooed any of the ultraconservative true believers. If he wins this way he will probably lose in the general election.