Gingrich Blasts Through SC Primary Like 'Tsunami'
Triumphant candidate greets rabid crowd in Columbia, and now sets his sights on Florida.
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This story has been updated.
As the wine flowed and the music blared Saturday night, a triumphant Newt Gingrich and several hundred rabid supporters celebrated a resounding victory over the rest of the Republican field and vowed to take the fight on to Florida.
Introducing Gingrich to a capacity crowd at the Hilton Hotel ballroom in Columbia, Billy Wilkins, a former Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, said: "Make no mistake about it. This was a landslide victory."
"This was the political version of a tsunami," he said to rousing applause.
Onstage, Gingrich told the crowd: "With your help, we are now moving on to Florida -- and beyond."
The victory Saturday was Gingrich's first after dismal showings in Iowa and New Hampshire, and it was stunning in its scope. Trailing in polls just a few days ago, Gingrich garnered a whopping 41 percent of the vote, to 27 percent for Mitt Romney, 17 percent for Rick Santorum, and 13 percent for Ron Paul. Gingrich won all but three counties.
With the outcome settled nearly as soon as the polls closed, the crowd in Columbia had plenty of time to whip themselves in a hot and sweaty frenzy as they waited for Gingrich and his entourage of family, friends and advisors.
"I predicted double digits this week," said Richard Brothers of Tilton, N.H., who had to shout over the music and crowd noise to be heard.
"I've been working up in Spartanburg and Greenville, and I'd say at least 48 out of 50 people I talked to this week said they were voting for Newt. … This is fantastic."
With the win, said Raymond Moore of Lexington, it doesn't guarantee the GOP nomination, but it definitely sends a message to the rest of the nation, including Florida, which holds the next primary.
"Every place he goes, he's going to be able to show people, 'I can go the distance; I'm a heavy hitter, and I'm not going to take any nonsense,'" said Moore.
"I'm very, very excited. This is America in action right here. Newt's a heavy hitter, and we're going to need a heavy hitter. We need somebody who can go up against a billion dollars. That's what they say, Obama's going to raise a billion dollars."
After a hard and often nasty South Carolina race, Gingrich mostly found good things to say about his opponents. Santorum, he said, "showed tremendous courage," championing socially conservative values and taking a tough stand against Iran. Gingrich lauded Paul's economic policies, which focused on strict fiscal conservatism and abolition of the Federal Reserve.
Gingrich said he had talked earlier with Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who dropped out of the race this week and threw his support to Gingrich. The candidate said he appreciated Perry's "passion for the 10th Amendment," and added: "I look forward working with him to return power to the states."
As for Romney, Gingrich's chief competitor, said: "He's a good example for America. He's hard-working, and he's been very successful."
Speaking like the presumptive nominee, Gingrich kept his powder dry in order to go after President Obama and the media elite whom, he said, "do not represent" Americans, with their "leftist, radical view of America."
"I articualte the deepest felt values of the American people," Gingrich said.
Running in South Carolina, he said, had been "very humbling, very sobering" as he reached out and was rewarded by people "who so deeply want to get their country back on the right track."
"In America, you have the chance to make your case, no matter what the elites say," Gingrich said. "We don't want to run a Republican campaign, We want to run an American campaign. Because we are optimists about the future, znd Americans have always been optimistic about the future.
"This is the most important election of our lifetime," he added. "I believe that if we just unleash the American people, we can rebuild America."
If nominated, Gingrich said, "I plan to take it straight to the president and straight to the elite media."
Said supporter Tina Blackmon of Graniteville: "Gingrich has got all the things we need in America. Obamacare has got to go. I think he's going to bring back Reaganomics, put people back to work, and fix the tax code. He stands for everything we need."
Blackmon believes Saturday's win was huge for Gingrich.
"He won here, he's going to take the White House," she said with certainty.
Nikki Trawick of Columbia, chairwoman of the Northeast Republican Women in Richland County, was practically giddy with the Gingrich win.
"I think it's a great day for South Carolina. It's a great day for our country," she said. "And I think Speaker Gingrich being the winner, what an amazing thing. Very cool. I know right now that he's not the frontrunner in Florida, but that can change. I think the momentum that's here tonight, we're going to propel him into Florida. He's got solutions -- and we need solutions."
Reported earlier: Close to 500 supporters are gathered in the ballroom at the Columbia Hilton.
The overflow crowd is excited and amped as they wait for former Speaker Newt Gingrich to speak.
"The next stop is the White House," said an excited Tina Blackmon, a supporter of the campaign.
There is a festive mood in the ballroom as the alcohol is flowing and music is playing, creating a nightclub effect for attendees.
Former Judge Billy Wilkins, another Gingrich supporter, said: "Make no mistake this was a landslide victory, the political version of a tsunami."
Dino Bravo
11:16 pm on Saturday, January 21, 2012
Too bad. Newt can't win in the general election against Obama. Is it because Romney's a Mormon?
stanley seigler
2:28 am on Sunday, January 22, 2012
@Dino Bravo: "Newt can't win in the general election against Obama. Is it because Romney's a Mormon?
probably not...but who knows...just on the face of it...seems SC Christians prefer open marriage to polygamy
FYI
The Swinging Days of Newt... Newt's 2nd wife says he wanted an open marriage. This 1984 Mother Jones' profile was the first to rip the lid off the then-Speaker's wilder, and darker, side.
[goto link]
http://motherjones.com/politics/1984/11/newt-gingrich-shining-knight-post-reagan-right?page=2
newt can win in the general election...he has the "swinger" vote and bet there are multitudes of evangelicals who secretly prefer open marriage...and the wilder, darker side.
GO Go go newt...
Dr. John
8:24 am on Sunday, January 22, 2012
At least Newt had the courage to marry the mistress. Poor old Lewinsky. What about the known affair of Bill Clinton that was purposely ignored by the media
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2426484/posts
Or what about the National Enquirer having to drag the New York Times, Washington Post and all of the major networks kicking and screaming to the John Edwards strory? At least Newt has admitted his infidelity, asked for forgiveness and has moved in a more moral direction than Bill Clinton ever did. What about the Chris Dodd and Ted Kennedy waitress sandwich episode, anybody in the media ever seriously tried to get the real truth on that tragic story? Not to get involved in word- smithing here, but what Newt was asking for was permission to have a mistress, not an open marriage.
J Steen
8:46 am on Monday, January 23, 2012
First off, Mr. Seigler - Newter was Speaker of the House from 1995-99.
In 1984, he was merely a representative from MuleShoe, Georgia - still perfecting his RepubliKlan code-words and with only two marriages to his credit.
Newter would go on to become an even bigger racist - and who knows how many marriages he still has in him ?!
Dr. John
7:54 pm on Monday, January 23, 2012
Nice J Steen,
Why substantiate your own ideas or logically discuss flaws in other peoples ideas when you can just assume that labeling someone a racist will distract from the arguement of ideas. Again, it is the seriousness of the charge distraction from not being able to defend your own ideas.
Tonto
12:04 am on Sunday, January 22, 2012
Anybody but Oblamer. Is it because he is Muslim ?
Joe
8:11 am on Sunday, January 22, 2012
was there, great event go NEWT! DUMP OBAMA!
Joe
8:52 am on Sunday, January 22, 2012
very well written Dr John!
Ken Gagne
9:33 am on Sunday, January 22, 2012
where are all the black people --i dont see them ----republican party is very racist ----
Dr. John
10:15 am on Sunday, January 22, 2012
You never see the dead people who vote for democrats at their events either......Ken, do you find it odd that over 90% of Blacks are democrats? I contend that you will find most of the people who view things through the prism of race in the democrat party.
Joe
10:33 am on Sunday, January 22, 2012
I saw a few last night in fact 2 young men drove down from NC to see Newt's victory the rest were waiting for the food stamp President....
Tonto
11:32 am on Sunday, January 22, 2012
Last I heard the blacks were all leaving the democratic plantation and liberals are scrambling to fill the void with Mexicans :)
Ken Gagne
10:22 am on Sunday, January 22, 2012
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BET 10 THOUSAND DOLLORS ON YOUR LAST REMARK ---LOL------------GET IT --WINK --DUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
stanley seigler
10:25 am on Sunday, January 22, 2012
@Dr. John: "Newt was asking for was permission to have a mistress, not an open marriage...
the difference being?...diff in an open (swinging) marriage and asking permission to have a mistress is???
there is no difference in DEM/GOP immoral acts...the difference is the GOPs preach family values then support a person who has demonstrated the least respect for these values as their standard bearer...
the difference is hypocrisy of the Righteous Right (RR)...they certainly didn't vote for any of immoral DEM politicians...they did vote for the GOP candidate with the least respect for those value...ie;
the BO hater mind set said to hell with family values: anyone but BO...BTW:
anyone want to compare BO and newt's family values...and;
anyone want to compare values of what newt and clinton have done since leaving office...
the spin of SC's RR voting for newt, the family man, is going to be very entraining.
Ken Gagne
10:33 am on Sunday, January 22, 2012
ALL POLOTICIANS ----SHOULD BE ATHEIST --
Dr. John
10:47 am on Sunday, January 22, 2012
OK, I got it now. If you think it is OK to be immoral then it is OK to vote democrat because if you never claim to be a moral person or have family values then you never have to answer for or appologize for your behavior because you never claimed to have family values. And yes, let's compare newt and clinton as people, not just since leaving office. Most people will be surprised to know that Clinton is really the biggest dirt bag of the two, yet seems to be in the Democrat Super-hero Hall of Fame.
stanley seigler
12:19 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
@Ken Gagne: "ALL POLOTICIANS ----SHOULD BE ATHEIST...
think it called separation of church and state...at the very least they shouldn't be hypocrites...BTW as mentioned and read on PATCH: most of the founding fathers were not christians. they were diests (all but one maybe)...
@Dr. John: "OK, I got it now...etc"
not sure you got it...you put your words in my mouth that i never said or intented, then present facetious arguments against yourself...one has to be careful when using facetious sarcasm...i dont practice what i preach...anyway:
i did NOT say nor imply it is OK to be immoral...did not say/imply then its OK to vote DEM...did not say/imply one never has to answer or apologize...
all i said was/is: "there is no difference in DEM/GOP immoral acts" and "the difference is hypocrisy of the Righteous Right (RR)"
also said, "the BO hater mind set said to hell with family values: anyone but BO"
sorry if missed dr. john's comments/opine re what i said vice what he implied...
stanley seigler
9:46 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
@Dr. John: "And yes, let's compare newt and clinton as people, not just since leaving office. Most people will be surprised to know that Clinton is really the biggest dirt bag of the two, yet seems to be in the Democrat Super-hero Hall of Fame.
COMMENT
in would indeed be a surprise...pls provide your comparison as people...but after office it come to mind:
"The Clinton Global Initiative is a project of the Clinton Foundation that brings together a community of global leaders, university students, and private citizens to identify and implement innovative solutions to the world's most pressing challenges, including poverty alleviation, climate change, global health, and education." http://www.clintonfoundation.org/what-we-do/
and what has newt done beside become a lobbyist? pls provide.
Dr. John
11:01 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
First, I do not believe that Clinton has any other intent with his fund than sheltering his money like other smart democrats. Look at how Clinton helped the Haitians
http://www.thenation.com/article/161908/shelters-clinton-built?page=0,1.
Or try this
http://www.taxrates.cc/html/06g-us-tax-shelters-clinton.html
I do think Clinton is better in the fact that he slept with more women outside his marriage and got in less trouble than Newt.
stanley seigler
12:47 am on Monday, January 23, 2012
@Dr. John: "First, I do not believe that Clinton has any other intent with his fund than sheltering his money like other smart democrats. Look at how Clinton helped the Haitians.
COMMENT
dr john is entitled to his opine...but his cherry picked incident does not portray the overall good the clinton foundation does...eg;
The Clinton Global Initiative is a project of the Clinton Foundation that brings together a community of global leaders, university students, and private citizens to identify and implement innovative solutions to the world's most pressing challenges, including poverty alleviation, etc...http://www.clintonfoundation.org/what-we-do/
re: "I [dr j] do think Clinton is better in the fact that he slept with more women outside his marriage and got in less trouble than Newt."
dr john has no idea (if he does provide refs) how many women outside of marriage either newt or willie slept with...but there is a witness newt had sex in the car's front seat while his daughters were in the back seat...great example of family values...eg;
"One former aide describes approaching a car with Gingrich's daughters in hand, only to find the candidate with a woman, her head buried in his lap. The aide quickly turned and led the girls away."
http://motherjones.com/politics/1984/11/newt-gingrich-shining-knight-post-reagan-right?page=1
seems the SC GOPs believe newt's family values are OK.
BTW what have any past GOP presidents done for the common good.
Ken Gagne
11:57 am on Sunday, January 22, 2012
omg ---lets bet --10 thousand dollors ---lol
Ken Gagne
11:57 am on Sunday, January 22, 2012
oppps forgot -----union stooges
Joe
12:05 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
here's the bet, Newt picks Rubio, carries Florida and the Hispanic vote and blows Obama away. Obama lose Florida he loses the election
Austin Hoffman
1:15 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
heck ya!! GO NEWT!!! ....i just realized how big of a BOSS Newt is.... and i quote:
"Andrew Jackson had a pretty clear cut idea about America's enemies...KILL THEM"
LOL...come on, he sounds like the ex--cali governator/terminator .. I LOVE IT!
video:
http://www.peeje.com/newt-gingrich-americans-want-paychecks-212/
Tonto
2:48 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
I think democrats are afraid of Newt. Their beloved whore Clinton has been the idol. Maybe Newt will attract democrats with the messing around thing? They look somewhat alike too :) Swing votes?
Richard Hayes
2:58 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
Trust me, Dems are hoping that Newt gets the nomination over Romney!
Joe
3:14 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
trust me you're clueless
Richard Hayes
3:19 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
Joe - ignorant comments like that show your hand.
Kermit Gagne
3:22 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
democrats do like newt
Tonto
3:36 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
Anybody but Oblamer :)
Kermit Gagne
3:42 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
newt--and --donald trump-------wanna bet ?
stanley seigler
4:58 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
@Kermit Gagne: "democrats do like newt...newt--and --donald trump----wanna bet ?
bet colbert, stewart, and maher would make substantial contributions to the GOP for a newt/trump ticket...their writers couldnd ever come up with the material this ticket would generate...
indeed DEMs like/love newt...go newt...
FYI stuff
[CLIP fr 1984 article]
"Listen, for instance, to Lee Howell, who is still friendly with Gingrich: "Newt Gingrich has a tendency to chew people up and spit them out. He uses you for all it's worth, and when he doesn't need you anymore he throws you away. Very candidly, I don't think that Newt Gingrich has many principles, except for what's best for him, guiding him." [end clip]
what's a fellow to believe re newt, eg, newt claims he created jobs under reagan...factcheck:
"The economy did add 16 million jobs during Reagan's 1981-1989 presidency. Gingrich's assertion that "we created" them may have left the impression that he was a key figure in that growth. Although Gingrich was first elected to the House in 1978, his first Republican leadership position, as minority whip, began when Reagan left office, in 1989."
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/articles/2012/01/19/fact_check_history_flubs_in_republican_debate/?page=2
Kermit Gagne
6:16 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
newt got a new suit --lol
Kermit Gagne
6:17 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
newt and trump---thats the ticket ----bet you 10--thousand dollors
Tonto
6:24 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
The reason dems like Newt is he slightly resembles their icon whore Clinton :)
Kermit Gagne
6:30 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
i admit clinton was bad ----watch out for hillary ---she is no fool ---im a democrat ----
stanley seigler
9:59 pm on Sunday, January 22, 2012
@KG
not sure yo point...but an opine...BO for sure in 2012; hilliary in 2016/20 and elizebeth warren in 2024.