Candidates Wait For South Carolina Results, Already Eying Florida
GREENVILLE, S.C. (CBSMiami) — With the South Carolina primary vote underway, surging Newt Gingrich told South Carolinians on Saturday that he was "the only practical conservative vote" who could stop Mitt Romney in the GOP presidential race. Romney said the primary, the first in the south, "could be real close" as he moved from expecting a quick win to preparing for an extended fight by consenting to debates in Florida, which holds it's primary in 10 days..
Romney's agreement to participate in debates Monday in Tampa and Thursday in Jacksonville was seen as an acknowledgement he does not have the nomination locked up, and must still do battle with Gingrich.
"This could be real close," said Romney as he chatted on the phone with a voter Saturday morning and urged the man to go vote.
The first contest without Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who dropped out this past week and endorsed Gingrich, was seen as Romney's to lose just days ago. Instead, the gap closed quickly between the Massachusetts governor who portrays himself as the Republicans best positioned to defeat President Barack Obama and Gingrich, the confrontational former House speaker from Georgia.
Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum braced for a setback and looked ahead to the Florida primary contest after getting the most votes in Iowa and besting Gingrich in New Hampshire.
Texas Rep. Ron Paul made plans to focus on states where his libertarian, Internet-driven message might find more of a reception with voters; that does not include Florida, where media buys are very expensive. His campaign said it had purchased a substantial ad buy in Nevada and Minnesota, which hold caucuses next month.
Romney still has significant advantages over his three remaining Republican rivals, including an enormous financial edge and a well-organized campaign.
He suffered a symbolic blow when the Iowa Republican Party, without explanation late Friday, declared Santorum as winner of the Jan. 3 caucus, About two weeks earlier, Romney was said to have won by eight votes.
Losing Saturday's vote in South Carolina would be a setback that could draw the primary contest out much longer. Just 10 days ago, Romney's campaign team was looking ahead to the general election as it anticipated a quick sweep in early primaries, with a win in Florida clinching the deal.
The stakes were high for Saturday's vote. The primary winner has gone on to win the Republican nomination in every election since 1980.
