South Carolina GOP debate: Winners and Losers

With less than 48 hours to go before Republican voters in South Carolina decide who they want to nominate, the four remaining candidates hit the current president, the news media -- and each other.

WINNERS

Newt Gingrich

The debate sponsored by CNN in South Carolina started out with a bang--surging Newt Gingrich was asked about an explosive report from ABC News that he had asked for an open marriage with his second wife before later divorcing her. And Newt fired back like only he can.

He vehemently denied the charge that he has asked for an open marriage and called the story "as despicable as anything I can imagine." He called out CNN host John King by name, saying he was "appalled" King would begin the debate with the marriage question.

"Let me be quite clear. The story is false," Gingrich said. "Every personal friend I have who knew us in that period said the story was false. We offered several of them to ABC to prove it was false. They weren't interested because they would like to attack any Republican. They're attacking the governor. They're attacking me. I'm sure they'll presently get around to Senator Santorum and Congressman Paul. I am tired of the elite media protecting Barack Obama by attacking Republicans."

Bashing the media has served Gingrich well. He has now surged twice this campaign, and each time his rising poll numbers have followed strong debate performances, often when he has been sharply critical of the national media. 

Interestingly, following the debate Gingrich told CNN anchor Anderson Cooper that he "thought John did a great job."

Gingrich also skillfully changed the topic to taxes and released his own tax returns as the debate started showing he paid a 31 percent rate. That comes in contrast to Mitt Romney, who said earlier this week that he paid about a 15 percent rate and is under pressure to release his returns. Gingrich received a standing ovation for his attack.

Gingrich also got another boost before the debate started when Texas Gov. Rick Perry dropped out and endorsed the former speaker. Gingrich also surged in the polls after he had a sharp exchange with Juan Williams during the Fox GOP debate Monday, and he may surge again in the next two days as a result of his testy exchange with King. With voters heading to the polls Saturday, his timing couldn't be better.

Rick Santorum

Santorum had his best debate yet, with some sharp words in a head-to-head with Gingrich. Both Santorum and Gingrich are hoping to be the last conservative in the race as an alternative to Romney.

"Grandiosity has never been a problem with Newt Gingrich. He -- he handles it very, very well. I don't want a nominee that I have to worry about going out and looking at the paper the next day and figuring out what is he -- worrying about what he's going to say next," Santorum said.

"Newt's a friend. I love him," he continued. "But at times, you've just got, you know, sort of that, you know, worrisome moment that something's going to pop. And we can't afford that in a nominee. We need someone -- I'm not the most flamboyant, and I don't get the biggest applause lines here. But I'm steady. I'm solid. I'm not going to go out and do things that you're going to worry about. I'm going to be out there. I'm going to make Barack Obama the issue in this campaign. "

The former Pennsylvania senator also took the former House speaker to task for his leadership style. "It was an idea a minute, no discipline, no ability to be able to pull things together," Santorum said.

Gingrich had his comebacks. "I spent 16 years on a grandiose project called creating a Republican majority in the House....You're right, I think grandiose thoughts. This is a grandiose country of big people doing big things. And we need leadership prepared to take on big projects."

"I think, long before Rick came to Congress, I was busy being a rebel, creating the Conservative Opportunity Society, developing a plan to win a majority in the Congress," he added.

Santorum also hit Romney for the health care law he signed while he was the governor of Massachusetts, later used as a model for President Obama's signature legislative achievement of his presidency.

For the moment, Gingrich holds the superior position as the conservative alternative to Romney as the South Carolina primary vote nears .

Gingrich slams CNN for asking about ex-wife
Romney vows to release tax returns in April

LOSERS

Mitt Romney

Romney is usually silky smooth on the debate stage, but his performance Thursday night had some awkward moments, notably when he was asked about an ad his campaign had run against Gingrich, calling him an unreliable leader. After responding with boilerplate remarks about needing to send a business leader to Washington, Romney acknowledged he didn't answer the question and then went on to make more unrelated comments.

Romney was also forced to talk about his tax returns and say unequivocally that he would release his tax returns if he becomes the nominee. He has slowly come to that position, first saying he would not release them and then saying he might and then saying he probably would release last year's return. On Thursday night, he said he would release multiple years.

"You know, I don't know how many years I'll release. I'll take a look at what the -- what our documents are and I'll release multiple years. I don't know how many years, and -- but I'll be happy to do that," Romney said. Romney was booed for his answer.

The former Massachusetts governor is reportedly worth as much as $250 million and he is uncomfortable talking about his personal wealth. Romney did have a good line with Gingrich, noting that Gingrich was House speaker for 4 years while Romney was in business for more than two decades. "You are not going to get credit for my 25 years," Romney said.

But that was not enough to really block Gingrich's momentum going into South Carolina and the race now appears to be headed to a bruising fight.

Ron Paul

The Texas lawmaker was unable to break through the din once again. He was essentially a non-factor in the debate, despite his strong showing in a South Carolina poll released earlier in the day. Paul was so ignored by moderator John King that the audience shouted his name when they wanted him to be given a chance to answer a question about abortion. "They want you in on this issue. Would you like in on this issue?" King asked Paul. "John, once again, it's a medical subject and I'm a doctor." When he did get a chance to speak, he repeated his stock answer.

Rick Perry

When the sun came up in South Carolina Thursday, Rick Perry was scheduled to be on the debate stage that evening. But he dropped out before the debate even began because he said he did not see a path forward for him to win the nomination.

[truth007]

banana republic time .... Ron Paul won they probably fixed it again .....

[nomoretyranny]

Keep in mind that Mr. Santorium is neither a social conservative nor a conservative.

No matter, he was directly involved in that horror of the Jerry Sandusky pedophile ring, giving Sandusky an "Angel" award even after the first five reports of abuse were revealed. He has publically defended many of those implicated, including Paterno. Now, he says he doesn't know Sandusky personally, which is a lie. Check it out on the internet yourself. Enter Santorum; pedophilia; sandusky. An anti-family values candidate. Talks about abortion; wife had an abortion. Talks about family; extorted money from the State of Pennsylvannia for his kids; was forced to return it.

[RonTakeOne]

To find the real winners and losers, try the following Google searches. Note that they don't contain any candidate's name.
- sold out to special interests
- most corrupt US senator
- blueprint for obamacare
- America's last chance

[fredomonger]

Are you kidding me?!?! Ron Paul was a loser in the debate?? Hahaha! The real losers in this whole story are CNN, they made total fools of themselves! Then after the debate, they decided to further destroy their credibility by completely omitting Ron Paul from their post debate "coverage". Good work to CBS too, you guys are really doing yourselves in by publishing articles like this piece of rubbish.

[Libertas_Maximus]

Pitiful writing. Just pitiful.

You deserve the tyranny you get neocons, republicans, democrats, Corbett Daly, CNN, John King and all the other hacks! Ron Paul 2012! You've all been exposed.

Ron Paul has already won. You have been exposed by Ron Paul for the hacks you are. Long live Ron Paul and the awareness he has brought to millions.

[PSViking67]

It is VERY amazing the spin that the media plays on facts to pump up their "candidate-of-the-moment". What happened to this information that seems to be missed and or modified?

CNN's Post Debate coverage name drops:
Romney....87 times
Gingrich....82 times
Santorum..76 times
Ron Paul....1 time

CNN's Debate Winner Poll:
Paul........42%
Romney..29%
Gingrich..18%
Santorum12%

[kennonk]

"despite his strong showing in a South Carolina poll released earlier in the day. Paul was so ignored by moderator John King that the audience shouted his name when they wanted him to be given a chance to answer a question" No media bias eh?

[SamJ6]

Losers: CBS. Unbelievably biased "moderation" and unbelievably ignorant approach. Ron Paul comes out even stronger everytime you so blatantly ignore him. How stupid do you think we are? Dr. Paul has it right, and he has the decency to come through all the ignorance with his integrity and character intact.

[jdaryyl]

This article is brought to you by CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, CNN and most news organizations using Reuters and AP.

We Are The Media Elite And We Approve This Message.

Welcome to the "truth" framed by the media elite for you. No need to think... On with the tele... On with Rush Limbaugh! On with Rachel Maddow! Fox news! Media Matters! bla bla bla

Its about a message and some genuine consitency to back it up that I am excited about. Paul was the only one with a message of hope last night. He wins every time...

[maggyjiggs1]

The majority of conservatives obviously don't agree they have rejected him repeatedly in his attempts. We want security and Santorum is a true conservative with conservative values. If there are minimal laws and people are all allowed to do what they want you would have a country of chaos...rather than one where people are respected and valued because they live their lives in an honest productive way and are contributing members of society. All of the media put their own spin on everything that we read that is why the debates are what have influenced my decision and more and more Santorum is sending the right message...a country of hard working individuals willing to pull themselves up by their "boot straps" rather than looking for a handout.

[jdaryyl]

Maggiejiggs, please... Santorum is your false prophet.

Ron Paul
Most active duty military support.
Most support of Independents.
Most support of Democrats that "voted for change, but realized it was more of the same."
Most support of young voters.
Most support of true PALEO Constitutional Conservatives.
Most small donations from hard working individuals..
Least support from establishment hacks and Federal Reserve shills.
Least support from lapdog establishment media presstitutes.
Least support from bankers, lawyers, insurance, and other lobbyists.
Least support from military industrial complex lobby.
Least support from people who got us into this mess in the first place.
Least support from people that don't do their own research, and allow said "presstitutes" to do their thinking for them.
Least support from people that either hate, want to abolish, or don't understand the Constitution.
I'm voting for REAL change, not MORE of the same.

[tsigili]

Santorum is lagging behind in the polls, so he was in full attack mode, rather than in share his vision mode.

As far as I am concerned, the purpose of debates, is to share your own vision, not attack others, often without any real honesty.

Santorum lost.

[maggyjiggs1]

I disagree...Santorum pointed out the differences between the records of the candidates, you may not like the facts he presented but that is far from attack mode. Santorum has shred his vision and it is a good one where morals, conviction and hard work payoff. He is exactly what this country needs someone who understands the value of hard work not someone who has a silver spoon in their mouth. Hard work is what this country was made off...if you have ever been in a position where you are responsible for hiring and or supervising people you would recognize that the work ethic of today is so far below the work ethic of our grandparents...it is time that we get back to that sense of responsibility for ourselves and the more debates I watch the more I am convinced that Santorum is the one that can lead us in the right direction.

[jdaryyl]

Santorum wants to bomb countries and stay everywhere overseas. Also he said:
"They have this idea that people should be left alone, be able to do whatever they want to do, government should keep our taxes down and keep our regulations low, that we shouldn't get involved in the bedroom, we shouldn't get involved in cultural issues. That is not how traditional conservatives view the world. There is no such society that I'm aware of, where we've had radical individualism and that it succeeds as a culture."

- Rick Santorum

Bad Man. Bad for Freedom. Not truly conservative.