South Carolina Primary: Who Stays and Who Goes?

Romney and Gingrich are in a tight race for first place.

Mitt Romney - Although Mitt Romney continues to lead most polls, winning South Carolina’s primary no longer seems so inevitable. The former governor didn’t help himself this week when he announced that he “probably” pays a 15 percent federal tax rate and it was revealed that he has offshore accounts in the Cayman Islands. In addition, he described the $375,000 he’s earned in speaking fees in the past year as “not that much” money, all of which makes him in the minds of his rivals and, inevitably, some voters seem like a man too far removed from the economic woes of ordinary Americans to fight for them as president.Romney has all along had a difficult time courting conservatives, supporter and GOP political consultant Ron Thomas concedes, but “when looking at who can best stand up in a general election, someone independents can support and conservatives who can rally behind and dea...

1 / 5

Mitt Romney - Although Mitt Romney continues to lead most polls, winning South Carolina’s primary no longer seems so inevitable. The former governor didn’t help himself this week when he announced that he “probably” pays a 15 percent federal tax rate and it was revealed that he has offshore accounts in the Cayman Islands. In addition, he described the $375,000 he’s earned in speaking fees in the past year as “not that much” money, all of which makes him in the minds of his rivals and, inevitably, some voters seem like a man too far removed from the economic woes of ordinary Americans to fight for them as president.Romney has all along had a difficult time courting conservatives, supporter and GOP political consultant Ron Thomas concedes, but “when looking at who can best stand up in a general election, someone independents can support and conservatives who can rally behind and dea...

Newt Gingrich - Newt Gingrich’s campaign is having a second wind. In the hours leading up to the final GOP presidential debate before Saturday’s crucial primary, the gap between Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney is shrinking. A Politico poll released Thursday morning found that 30 percent of likely Republican primary voters said they would vote for Gingrich, putting him in a statistical tie with Romney, whom 37 percent of votes said they were backing.The Republican National Committee’s South Carolina committeeman Glenn McCall predicts that the two may be neck and neck when the primary ballots are counted and voters will start taking a second look at the former House speaker if he does well. “I can see them going down to the wire,” McCall said gleefully. “It’s going to be interesting.”(Photo: Charlotte Observer/Jeff Siner/MCT/Landov)

2 / 5

Newt Gingrich - Newt Gingrich’s campaign is having a second wind. In the hours leading up to the final GOP presidential debate before Saturday’s crucial primary, the gap between Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney is shrinking. A Politico poll released Thursday morning found that 30 percent of likely Republican primary voters said they would vote for Gingrich, putting him in a statistical tie with Romney, whom 37 percent of votes said they were backing.The Republican National Committee’s South Carolina committeeman Glenn McCall predicts that the two may be neck and neck when the primary ballots are counted and voters will start taking a second look at the former House speaker if he does well. “I can see them going down to the wire,” McCall said gleefully. “It’s going to be interesting.”(Photo: Charlotte Observer/Jeff Siner/MCT/Landov)

Rick Perry - With just two days before the primary, Texas Gov. Rick Perry peered into his figurative teacup and the message he saw in the leaves was that it was time for a “strategic retreat.” Perry also endorsed Newt Gingrich, but the effect is still uncertain. Since Perry failed to get much traction in South Carolina, it could mean very little. But whatever voters think of the Texas lawmaker, he is considered to be a true conservative, which may encourage others of that ilk to support Gingrich, particularly if they’ve not yet cottoned to Mitt Romney, who for many is too moderate and, well, Mormon.(Photo: EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images)

3 / 5

Rick Perry - With just two days before the primary, Texas Gov. Rick Perry peered into his figurative teacup and the message he saw in the leaves was that it was time for a “strategic retreat.” Perry also endorsed Newt Gingrich, but the effect is still uncertain. Since Perry failed to get much traction in South Carolina, it could mean very little. But whatever voters think of the Texas lawmaker, he is considered to be a true conservative, which may encourage others of that ilk to support Gingrich, particularly if they’ve not yet cottoned to Mitt Romney, who for many is too moderate and, well, Mormon.(Photo: EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images)

Ron Paul - The conventional wisdom is that Texas Rep. Ron Paul, who is in third place in most polls, will never become his party’s nominee. But as McCall explains, he’s got enough supporters, followers and resources to stay in for the long haul if he chooses to do so. “For him the most important thing is getting out his message of freedom and liberty and his supporters are big contributors to that effort,” McCall adds.(Photo: David T. Foster III/Charlotte Observer/MCT/Landov)

4 / 5

Ron Paul - The conventional wisdom is that Texas Rep. Ron Paul, who is in third place in most polls, will never become his party’s nominee. But as McCall explains, he’s got enough supporters, followers and resources to stay in for the long haul if he chooses to do so. “For him the most important thing is getting out his message of freedom and liberty and his supporters are big contributors to that effort,” McCall adds.(Photo: David T. Foster III/Charlotte Observer/MCT/Landov)

Rick Santorum - Politico’s poll found that Rick Santorum has just 10 percent of support in South Carolina. “Rick Santorum is a good conservative, but [he's] competing against other folks who would fit in that category” for the same votes, Thomas says, but a strong second-place showing may provide an impetus for him to stay in the race. The news that he is the actual winner of the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses, if only by a few votes, may also boost his prospects.“He’s getting more exposure as the campaign starts going to larger states,” adds McCall, who predicts third place for the former Pennsylvania senator. “If Santorum can raise the money he’ll hang in there, but if he doesn’t do well in Florida, he may consider hanging it up.”(Photo: John W. Adkisson/Getty Images)

5 / 5

Rick Santorum - Politico’s poll found that Rick Santorum has just 10 percent of support in South Carolina. “Rick Santorum is a good conservative, but [he's] competing against other folks who would fit in that category” for the same votes, Thomas says, but a strong second-place showing may provide an impetus for him to stay in the race. The news that he is the actual winner of the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses, if only by a few votes, may also boost his prospects.“He’s getting more exposure as the campaign starts going to larger states,” adds McCall, who predicts third place for the former Pennsylvania senator. “If Santorum can raise the money he’ll hang in there, but if he doesn’t do well in Florida, he may consider hanging it up.”(Photo: John W. Adkisson/Getty Images)