Gingrich wins South Carolina
- 12 years ago
Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich fought his way to victory in South Carolina Saturday as voters in the conservative state rejected frontrunner Mitt Romney's pitch that he is the best bet to fix a broken economy and defeat Democratic President Barack Obama.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) NEWT GINGRICH, SAYING:
"Let me first of all say, thank you to everyone in South Carolina who decided to be with us in changing Washington."
South Carolina voters gave Gingrich a come-from-behind win, upending a Republican nominating race that until this week appeared to be a coronation for Romney, the former Massachusetts governor and private-equity firm chief.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) NEWT GINGRICH, SAYING:
"This is the most important election of our lifetime. If Barack Obama can get re-elected after this disaster, just think how radical he would be in a second term. So, I have a proposal, with your help, we are now moving on to Florida and beyond."
The thrice-married Gingrich fended off publicity about his turbulent marital history and attacked Romney's business record.
Romney, who led South Carolina polls by 10 percentage points just a week ago finished second. But he is not giving up the fight.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) MITT ROMNEY, SAYING:
"If republican leaders want to join this president in demonizing success and disparaging conservative values, then they are not going to be fit to be our nominee. Now, our campaign has fight very hard here in South Carolina. And in the coming weeks and months, I will keep fighting forever single vote. I will compete in every single state."
The winner of South Carolina's Republican presidential primary has gone on to win the party's nomination in every presidential election since 1980.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters
(SOUNDBITE) (English) NEWT GINGRICH, SAYING:
"Let me first of all say, thank you to everyone in South Carolina who decided to be with us in changing Washington."
South Carolina voters gave Gingrich a come-from-behind win, upending a Republican nominating race that until this week appeared to be a coronation for Romney, the former Massachusetts governor and private-equity firm chief.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) NEWT GINGRICH, SAYING:
"This is the most important election of our lifetime. If Barack Obama can get re-elected after this disaster, just think how radical he would be in a second term. So, I have a proposal, with your help, we are now moving on to Florida and beyond."
The thrice-married Gingrich fended off publicity about his turbulent marital history and attacked Romney's business record.
Romney, who led South Carolina polls by 10 percentage points just a week ago finished second. But he is not giving up the fight.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) MITT ROMNEY, SAYING:
"If republican leaders want to join this president in demonizing success and disparaging conservative values, then they are not going to be fit to be our nominee. Now, our campaign has fight very hard here in South Carolina. And in the coming weeks and months, I will keep fighting forever single vote. I will compete in every single state."
The winner of South Carolina's Republican presidential primary has gone on to win the party's nomination in every presidential election since 1980.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters