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South Carolina poll: Gingrich triumphs over Romney South Carolina poll: Gingrich triumphs over Romney
(40 minutes later)
Partial results suggest Newt Gingrich has convincingly beaten Mitt Romney in South Carolina's primary, the latest leg of the battle for the Republican candidacy in the US presidential poll. Newt Gingrich has convincingly beaten Mitt Romney in South Carolina's primary election, the latest leg in the battle to be the Republican candidate in November's US presidential poll.
With 70% of the vote counted, Mr Gingrich had 40% to Mr Romney's 26%. With 70% of the vote counted, Mr Gingrich had 40% to Mr Romney's 28%.
Mr Romney was widely seen as the frontrunner, but the latest outcome is set to turn the race into a long, hard-fought campaign, correspondents say.Mr Romney was widely seen as the frontrunner, but the latest outcome is set to turn the race into a long, hard-fought campaign, correspondents say.
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.
Other Republican hopefuls, former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum and Texas representative Ron Paul are trailing badly, with 18% and 13% respectively.Other Republican hopefuls, former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum and Texas representative Ron Paul are trailing badly, with 18% and 13% respectively.
Knockout punch pleaKnockout punch plea
US networks called the vote in the former House speaker's favour shortly after polls closed at 19:00 local time on Saturday (00:00 GMT Sunday), as exit polls predicted a wide margin of victory for Mr Gingrich.US networks called the vote in the former House speaker's favour shortly after polls closed at 19:00 local time on Saturday (00:00 GMT Sunday), as exit polls predicted a wide margin of victory for Mr Gingrich.
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. BBC North America editor Mark Mardell, in South Carolina, says 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 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.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, 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.Shortly after the vote, 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.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.
Several hours later, Mr Gingrich appeared at his campaign headquarters in the state capital Columbia - to wild cheers from his supporters.Several hours later, Mr Gingrich appeared at his campaign headquarters in the state capital Columbia - to wild cheers from his supporters.
"We don't have the kind of money that at least one of the candidates has, but we do have ideas and we do have people and we have proved here in South Carolina that people power with the right ideas beats big money and with your help we are going to prove it again in Florida," he said."We don't have the kind of money that at least one of the candidates has, but we do have ideas and we do have people and we have proved here in South Carolina that people power with the right ideas beats big money and with your help we are going to prove it again in Florida," he said.
Earlier, Mr Romney told his supporters they were "three contests into a long primary season" and vowed to fight for every vote in every state.Earlier, Mr Romney told his supporters they were "three contests into a long primary season" and vowed to fight for every vote in every state.
It looks like victory for Newt, and a big one. It is also an important one.It looks like victory for Newt, and a big one. It is also an important one.
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 will puncture the sense that eventually Romney will triumph. It slows his momentum.At the very least such a result will 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.
Meanwhile, Mr Santorum pledged to fight on, saying: "It's a wide open race".Meanwhile, Mr Santorum pledged to fight on, saying: "It's a wide open race".
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.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.
All contenders agree that this will now be an endurance race, rather than the quick sprint which Team Romney had hoped for, the BBC's Steve Kingstone says.All contenders agree that this will now be an endurance race, rather than the quick sprint which Team Romney had hoped for, the BBC's Steve Kingstone says.
Mr Romney must now adapt his strategy, and come up with a more decisive riposte to those who criticise his personal wealth and career record as a venture capitalist, our correspondent says.Mr Romney must now adapt his strategy, and come up with a more decisive riposte to those who criticise his personal wealth and career record as a venture capitalist, our correspondent says.
Expect a brutal media war in Florida, he adds.Expect a brutal media war in Florida, he adds.
Mr Romney set the tone in his post-defeat address, accusing Newt Gingrich of aligning himself with President Obama in a "frontal assault on free enterprise". For his part, Gingrich will counter that the "Massachusetts moderate" is the real Obama clone.Mr Romney set the tone in his post-defeat address, accusing Newt Gingrich of aligning himself with President Obama in a "frontal assault on free enterprise". For his part, Gingrich will counter that the "Massachusetts moderate" is the real Obama clone.
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.