Newt Gingrich says it's over if he does not win South Carolina

Republican presidential candidate, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich

/ Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich reversed himself again, saying Tuesday that the Republican presidential primary would be over if he did not win in South Carolina, where voters head to the polls Saturday.

"If I don't win the primary Saturday, we will probably nominate a moderate," Gingrich said Tuesday, referring to front-runner Mitt Romney, according to the Huffington Post, "And the odds are fairly high he will lose to (President) Obama."

Gingrich at first blush appeared to be backtracking from comments made hours earlier on the CBS This Morning television program. Gingrich told CBS that there would be a serious race if Romney received just a third of the vote.

"If he's down at 29 or 30 [percent], then I think we're still in a serious race. If he gets up to 40 or 45, then, you know, you have to be realistic about it. I don't see any evidence yet of him doing that well," Gingrich said, raising expectations for Romney.

The former Massachusetts governor is leading in the polls in South Carolina but is not expected to come close to the 45 percent Gingrich mentioned.

Gingrich had earlier in January told CBS' Scott Pelley that he needs to win South Carolina to stay in the race.

But Gingrich's latest comment appears to be aimed at former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and Texas Gov. Rick Perry. The three are fighting for votes from the conservative wing of the party that is skeptical of Romney. As longs as that bloc is splintered, Romney benefits.

So Gingrich is pressuring Santorum and Perry to drop out after South Carolina because Gingrich sees himself as the only one who can consolidate their support and continue in the race.

South Carolina is already seen as Perry's last chance to revive his struggling campaign. But Santorum may not give up so easily. He has pledged to stay in the race and an announcement Friday from the Iowa Republican party could give him a boost.

Romney won the Iowa caucuses January 3 by eight votes, but those tallies were based on phone calls. State party officials have been counting the written votes for weeks to certify the caucuses and they are expected to provide a final vote count Friday, when Santorum could easily be declared the official winner of the non-binding process.

It remains an open question what impact, if any, a revised outcome would have on the former Pennsylvania senator's campaign. Santorum got a huge boost in fundraising immediately after his strong finish in Iowa.

[credibility2]

We need to have a single general primary election to avoid the early eliminations of candidates. By the time later voting states get around to casting their ballots, many of their preferred candidates are no longer in the race, although their names remain on the ballots.

[mick7744]

WHEN...not if...

Neut loses in South Carolina, you can rest assured that he will NOT drop out of the primary race.

What possible explanation he might give for reneging on yet another promise I do not care to imagine...but his real reason will be the one that has carried him through politics for lo, these many years...

HE'S ONLY IN IT FOR THE MONEY...AND THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF PAC CASH LAYING AROUND!

The GOP can trust and rely on a candidate like that...it's those people cursed with "ideals" and "principles" that you can never be sure about.

Any ideals or principles Neut may have once posessed have long since been strangled in their infancy...any scruples under strict control...

[mick7744]

Sorry about the repeats...computer issues,

CBSs...not mine

[tsigili]

Go Newt!

Don't let the party hand it to Romney on a silver platter.

[mick7744]

WHEN (not if)...

Neut loses in South Carolina, you can be sure that he will produce some lame rationalization for deciding to stay in the race after all...

I hesitste to even guess what his stated reason for reneging on his promise to quit will be...but the REAL reason will be to scoop up any remaining PAC money still laying around.

If nothing else...Neut HAS remained consistant on at least one issue...

HE'S ALWAYS BEEN IN IT FOR THE MONEY!

The GOP can trust a man like that...it's these people inflicted with "ideals" and "principles" that you can never be sure about.

Neut has never been plagued by any ideals or principles...and any scruples he may still posess are surely under strict control

[sharkboy234]

suspend your campaign now and go home for good!

[mick7744]

WHEN (not if)...

Neut loses in South Carolina, you can be sure that he will produce some lame rationalization for deciding to stay in the race after all...

I hesitste to even guess what his stated reason for reneging on his promise to quit will be...but the REAL reason will be to scoop up any remaining PAC money still laying around.

If nothing else...Neut HAS remained consistant on at least one issue...

HE'S ALWAYS BEEN IN IT FOR THE MONEY!

The GOP can trust a man like that...it's these people inflicted with "ideals" and "principles" that you can never be sure about.

Neut has never been plagued by any ideals or principles...and any scruples he may still posess are surely under strict control

[nygal28]

Adios Newt, please don't ever come back.