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South Carolina primary: Exit polls suggest Gingrich win | South Carolina primary: Exit polls suggest Gingrich win |
(40 minutes later) | |
Exit polls predict a big win for Newt Gingrich over Mitt Romney in South Carolina's primary, the latest leg of the battle for the Republican candidacy in the US presidential election. | |
Mr Romney told supporters the race was now "getting even more interesting". | |
The South Carolina victor has won the nomination in each election since 1980. | The South Carolina victor has won the nomination in each election since 1980. |
Correspondents say the latest outcome is almost certain to turn the race for the presidential candidacy into a long, hard-fought contest. | |
US networks called the vote in the former House speaker's favour shortly after polls closed, as exit polls predicted a margin of victory for Mr Gingrich of around 10%. | |
Other Republican hopefuls, former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum and Texas representative Ron Paul trailed badly. | |
BBC North America editor Mark Mardell, in South Carolina, says that if confirmed, a Gingrich win is important, because all along the story of this race has been the search by Conservatives for an alternative to Mitt Romney. | |
It looks like victory for Newt, and a big one. If it is true, it is important. | It looks like victory for Newt, and a big one. If it is true, it is important. |
All along the story of this race has been the search by Conservatives for an alternative to Mitt Romney. | All along the story of this race has been the search by Conservatives for an alternative to Mitt Romney. |
It's just possible they have settled on Gingrich. | It's just possible they have settled on Gingrich. |
At the very least such a result would puncture the sense that eventually Romney will triumph. It slows his momentum. | At the very least such a result would puncture the sense that eventually Romney will triumph. It slows his momentum. |
And I suspect that it will mean the race will get very nasty indeed. | And I suspect that it will mean the race will get very nasty indeed. |
One thing I wouldn't take too seriously. | One thing I wouldn't take too seriously. |
Ever since 1980, the Republican winner of the South Carolina race has gone on to win the party's nomination. | Ever since 1980, the Republican winner of the South Carolina race has gone on to win the party's nomination. |
It is an interesting historical fact but it is certainly not an iron law. | It is an interesting historical fact but it is certainly not an iron law. |
It is just possible they have settled on Mr Gingrich, and at the very least such a result will puncture the sense that eventually Mr Romney will triumph, our correspondent adds. | |
Shortly after the vote, href="http://twitter.com/#!/newtgingrich" >Mr Gingrich wrote on Twitter: "Thank you South Carolina! Help me deliver the knockout punch in Florida," referring to the next nominating contest on 31 January. | |
The contest for that state is now seen as crucial, being a major battleground state in the US general election, with a diverse electorate and where a lot of money will be spent campaigning. | |
Mr Romney told his supporters they were "three contests into a long primary season" and vowed to fight for every vote in every state. | |
Polling stations across South Carolina closed at 1900 local time on Saturday (00:00 GMT Sunday) and official results are expected within hours. | |
Mr Gingrich has captured the headlines in recent days, batting off a potentially damaging interview from an ex-wife, in which she said he had wanted an "open marriage". | Mr Gingrich has captured the headlines in recent days, batting off a potentially damaging interview from an ex-wife, in which she said he had wanted an "open marriage". |
Assuming Mr Gingrich's victory is confirmed, it means that three different candidates have won the first three nominating state-by-state contests: Mr Santorum narrowly beat Mr Romney in the Iowa caucus, while Mr Romney claimed the New Hampshire primary. | |
Primaries and caucuses will be held in every US state over the next few months to pick a Republican nominee before the eventual winner is anointed at the party convention in August to take on Democratic President Barack Obama in November. | Primaries and caucuses will be held in every US state over the next few months to pick a Republican nominee before the eventual winner is anointed at the party convention in August to take on Democratic President Barack Obama in November. |