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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 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. 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.
CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and NBC called the vote in the former House speaker's favour shortly after polls closed. Mr Romney told supporters the race was now "getting even more interesting".
Former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum and Texas representative Ron Paul trailed badly.
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.
Polling stations across South Carolina closed at 1900 local time on Saturday (00:00 GMT Sunday). Correspondents say the latest outcome is almost certain to turn the race for the presidential candidacy into a long, hard-fought contest.
It looks like a victory for Mr Gingrich, and a big one, the BBC North America editor Mark Mardell in South Carolina. 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%.
Some early exit polls gave Mr Gingrich a solid lead of up to 10% over Mr Romney, a former governor of Massachusetts. Other Republican hopefuls, former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum and Texas representative Ron Paul trailed badly.
If it is true, it is important, our correspondent says, because all along the story of this race has been the search by Conservatives for an alternative to Mitt Romney. 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.
Its just possible they have settled on Mr Gingrich. At the very least such a result would puncture the sense that eventually Mr Romney will triumph, our correspondent adds. 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.
Mr Romney, speaking after polls closed at 19:00 (00:00 GMT Sunday) said the race for the Republican presidential candidacy was "getting to be even more interesting". 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.
"This is a hard fight because there is so much worth fighting for," he said. 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".
The other two major candidates left in the race are former Senator Rick Santorum and Congressman Ron Paul. 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.
Mr Santorum is competing with Mr Gingrich for the conservative vote, while Mr Paul's libertarian message has won him a passionate support, especially among young voters.
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.