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Gingrich Wins South Carolina

PHOTO: Getty

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has swept to victory in the South Carolina primary and has upended the Republican presidential nominating process.

Early statewide results show Gingrich with a substantial lead over the former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the presumed front-runner. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and Texas Rep. Ron Paul are projected to be in third and fourth places, respectively. Gingrich has positioned himself to become the Republican alternative to Mitt Romney that Tea Party and social conservatives have sought for months.

This has been an epic week for the 2012 Republican presidential candidates. Late certification of results from the Iowa caucuses led to Romney's slight victory being given to Santorum. Texas Gov. Rick Perry dropped out of the race. And the second wife of the anti-gay thrice-married serial adulterer Gingrich revealed that her "family values" husband asked for an open marriage.

The Republican presidential campaign now moves to Florida which will host its primary on January 31.

Romney Wins Iowa by 8 Votes

PHOTO: Reuters

Mitt Romney edged out a miniscule 8-vote victory over a late surge for Rick Santorum in Iowa’s Republican presidential caucuses. The former Massachusetts governor's win capped a "tumultuous presidential caucus campaign" and was the narrowest in the history of the event, reports the Des Moines Register.

Romney won 30,015 votes, compared with 30,007 for Santorum, out of 122,255 cast. Each of the men won 25 percent of the vote and proclaimed victory. Ron Paul was third, followed by Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann and Jon Huntsman.

Romney’s campaign strategists had carefully staged expectations to persuade the public and media that the former Massachusetts governor could emerge strongly from Iowa with a close second- or third-place finish. He campaigned here about a fourth as much as during his first presidential bid four years ago, when he finished second in Iowa. But Romney managed to capture the top prize anyway.

Romney won about the same number of votes in Iowa last night as he did in 2007.

Romney reportedly spent about $4.6 million in Iowa or $156 per vote. The right-wing anti-gay former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum—who campaigned on invalidating same-sex marriages and seeking to reinstate "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"—spent about $617,000 or $21 per vote.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann placed a distant fifth and sixth, respectively. Both are reportedly "reassessing" their candidacies this morning.

The Republican presidential campaign now moves to New Hampshire, which will hold its first in the nation primary on January 10. Former House Speaker Gingrich, who finished a disappointing fourth, has vowed to take his campaign to the Granite State.

Perry "Praises" Efforts to Repeal Marriage Equality in New Hampshire

PHOTO: AP

Not that he has a chance of winning the state: Texas Gov. Rick Perry burnished his social conservative street cred and "praised" the recent legislative push to repeal marriage equality in New Hampshire, reports the Concord Monitor.

"As conservatives we believe in the sanctity of life. We believe in the sanctity of traditional marriage," Perry said. "And I applaud those legislators in New Hampshire who are working to defend marriage as an institution between one man and one woman, realizing that children need to be raised in a loving home by a mother and a father."

As he spoke at the annual banquet for Cornerstone Action, a conservative advocacy group, Perry sought to set himself apart from others in the field as a candidate with an unwavering pro-life background. "For some candidates . . . the issue of life is a slogan for the campaign. It's how to get some votes," he said. "To me it's about an enduring principal that innocent human life should be protected in all forms and at all stages of life."

The "pro-life" Perry who believes in the "sanctity of life" ... but has "overseen more executions than any governor" in modern history. Including juvenile and disabled offenders.

Perry's remarks come only days after the New Hampshire House Judiciary Committee voted 11-6 to advance marriage equality repeal. The House will debate the bill in 2012.

More than 60 percent of state residents oppose repeal, according to recent polling by the WMUR/UNH Survey Center.

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Racial Slur on Name at Rick Perry's Hunting Ranch

REPORT: Racial Slur on Name at Rick Perry's Hunting Ranch

Texas Gov. Rick Perry continues his free-fall skydiving contest from the Republican presidential primaries. The Washington Post reports on the racially-charged nickname of the Perry hunting ranch

In the early years of his political career, Rick Perry began hosting fellow lawmakers, friends and supporters at his family’s secluded West Texas hunting camp, a place known by the name painted in block letters across a large, flat rock standing upright at its gated entrance. "Niggerhead," it read. ...

[T]he name of this particular parcel did not change for years after it became associated with Rick Perry, first as a private citizen, then as a state official and finally as Texas governor. Some locals still call it that. As recently as this summer, the slablike rock — lying flat, the name still faintly visible beneath a coat of white paint — remained by the gated entrance to the camp.

When asked last week, Perry said the word on the rock is an "offensive name that has no place in the modern world." [...]

"My mother and father went to the lease and painted the rock in either 1983 or 1984," Perry wrote. "This occurred after I paid a visit to the property with a friend and saw the rock with the offensive word. After my visit I called my folks and mentioned it to them, and they painted it over during their next visit. Ever since, any time I ever saw the rock it was painted over."

Perry’s version of events differs in many respects from the recollections of seven people, interviewed by The Washington Post, who spoke in detail of their memories of seeing the rock with the name at various points during the years that Perry was associated with the property through his father, partners or his signature on a lease.

The Perry campaign denies the charge and claims the sign has been whitewashed—literally and figuratively.

Herman Cain became the first GOP presidential contender to respond, claiming the name was "vile" and "just plain insensitive to a lot of black people."

And if Herman Cain has to say that good ole' boy racism is "vile" and "insensitive" ...

VIDEO: Rick Perry Practices Firing Automatic Sniper Rifle on "Off Day"

Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry uploaded video from his "off day" to his YouTube channel on Wednesday: A "relaxing" round of shooting practice with an automatic sniper rifle.

"This is my golf," said the Texas governor.

Perhaps this is what the missus was referring to when she said Perry "would be better prepared" for the next Republican debate?

Watch Perry on the shooting range WHEN YOU JUMP ...

NJ Gov. Chris Christie Slams Obama, Avoids Answers About 2012 Run

New Jersey Republican Governor Chris Christie has slammed President Barack Obama as a "bystander in the Oval Office" but refuses to say whether he will run for that office, reports Politico.

He didn’t give a definitive yes or no to the people who came to hear a sold-out speech that could almost be used as the text for a presidential kick-off at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, instead executing a series of artful dodges. ... But he didn’t issue a new denial up on stage as he listened to the crowd’s pleas that he get into the race. "Your country needs you," one woman said. Another, "My Italian mother said you gotta run for president."

Christie’s been the subject of intense, renewed speculation about getting into the race as doubts circulate among big donors and the Republican establishment about Texas Gov. Rick Perry following his weak debate performance and Florida straw poll loss last week. Despite a year of repeating that he wouldn’t run, Christie yet again emerged this week as the choice for those still looking for a Mitt Romney alternative.

Some quick history: The incoming governor threatened to veto the New Jersey legislature's initial plans to vote on marriage equality during its lameduck session. Christie replaced the only Black justice on the state Supreme Court with a white Republican. Christie also "wasn't sure" if he should sign the Garden State's landmark anti-bullying legislation.

Sounds like the GOP has found their candidate.

VIDEO: DNC Releases Attack Ad on GOP Debate Audience

The Democratic National Committee has released a hard hitting attack ad that highlights the despicable audience reactions at the recent GOP presidential debates ... as well as the silence from the candidates.

Watch the spot WHEN YOU JUMP ...

Obama Criticizes GOP Candidates and Debate Booing of Gay Soldier

President Obama slammed his Republican opponents and the recent series of GOP debates at a fundraiser last night in San Jose, California, reports The Hill.

Obama said ... voters should back him if they believe in a "fact-based" America. "You've got audiences cheering at the prospect of somebody dying because they don't have healthcare. And booing a service member in Iraq because they're gay."

The remarks represent some of the most direct and combative for Obama so far as he has struck out on the campaign trail in earnest following the July debt-ceiling debate and the August break.

The President also slammed Texas Gov. Rick Perry, reports the Washington Post.

"Has anybody been watching the debates lately?" Obama asked a crowd of about 300 at the home of Symantec Chairman John Thompson and his wife, Sandi. "You’ve got a governor whose state is on fire denying climate change." The president was referring to Texas Gov. Rick Perry, whose state has been ravaged by wildfires that have been so bad that Obama called him a few weeks ago to offer federal assistance.

Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum claims he did not hear the jeers at Thursday night's debate following a question from a gay soldier serving in Iraq. Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson has suggested that Santorum is not being honest.

Rick Perry Supports Fed Marriage Amendment, Questions Evolution

PHOTO: AP

Rick Perry is shoring up his street cred among social conservatives. For the second time this weekend, the Texas governor and likely Republican presidential candidate affirmed his opposition to marriage equality. Perry also told the AP that he supports a federal marriage amendment.

"Yes, sir, I would. I am for the federal marriage amendment," said the governor. "And that's about as sharp a point as I could put on it."

Perry also believes in creationism:

"There are clear indications from our people who have amazing intellectual capability that this didn't happen by accident and a creator put this in place," Perry said.

"Now, what was his time frame and how did he create the earth that we know? I'm not going to tell you that I've got the answers to that," Perry said. "I believe that we were created by this all-powerful supreme being and how we got to today versus what we look like thousands of years ago, I think there's enough holes in the theory of evolution to, you know, say there are some holes in that theory."

Good to see that Perry's "rumored" sexuality aren't the only "false and misleading" topics that he will speak out against.

Rick Perry Presidential Bid?

PHOTO: AP

Texas Governor Rick Perry will seek the Republican presidential nomination with an announcement in August, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Our source also reports that Mr. Perry is aiming to compete in the Iowa Straw Poll, even though it occurs just a week later, on August 13. The thinking is that apparent front-runner Mitt Romney "does not reflect the Republican Party" and is therefore vulnerable to a credible challenge from the right, especially after Mr. Romney's recent squishy remarks on global warming.

Beyond simply the August 13 event in Ames, Iowa, a big question for Mr. Perry is whether a compressed schedule would allow him to attract enough money and primary voters to win the nomination.

Perry's staff disputes the report and insists "no decision has been made."

Also worth noting: Politico reported this week that "if" a presidential bid were announced, Perry was prepared to defend himself against persistent "false and misleading" rumors that he is gay.

Sounds like someone is running for president ...