From Foxnews.com - Newt Takes SC

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/01/21/polls-close-in-south-carolina-primary/

The Candidates "Make their Case" - Who is "The One?"

Paul alludes to defending liberty and private property

Newt says Obama "most dangerous President of our lifetime." Says there must be deep change in Washington. Calls Obama incompetent. Couldn't agree more. Crowd goes wild.

Romney gives boiler plate answer. Sticks to safe talking points.

Santorum speaks to standing up on big issues. Says only person in the race who has won swing state. Trying to connect with Reagan democrats. Says we must draw "clear contrast." Says not to vote for a moderate.

This was Santorum's night.

Abortion

Newt tells King to bite his nut sack.  Rightly attacks Romney as being soft on abortion.

Romney defending record by blaming everyone else. Says no "litmus" test on abortion. Says he's pro-life. Doesn't sound like it.

Santorum is the strongest on right to life. Attacks Romney. Says he will defend life and not be silent. Very, very good answer. Attacks Gingrich as keeping social issues off the books in the past.

Romney says he vetoed left-wing social bills in state. Says he will be a pro-life President.

Gingrich touts his 98% pro-life approval rating.

PaulBots boo when RP is passed on the issue. Claims law cannot correct morality.

Santorum mentions Paul's poor record on right to life issues.

Paul is getting snippy. Trying to pass abortion off to states like every soft abortion pol does.

King says closing arguments up next.

Immigration

Newt explains five point plan.  Starts off strong but goes back to his 25 year red card idea. This is hurting him.

Romney says he will enforce existing laws. I don't trust he will. Calls Newt's program "preferential treatment."

Santorum says Gingrich and Romney's plans are same as Obama. Santorum calls for respect of laws. Attacks Newt's 25 year plan. Very good answer. Santorum sounding strong. This sounds better than his SOPA answer.

Paul says he's not soft on immigration than proceeds to sound soft on immigration. Says he would not prosecute those who break the law.  Ahhh. Here he goes with the war crap again.

Newt says he will drop federal lawsuits the moment he's in office. Good recovery

What would you do different?

Gingrich says he would focus more on Internet campaigning. Weird. Didn't work so well for John Edwards.

Romney jokes he would have worked to win 25 more votes in Iowa. Says he would have attacked Obama more.

Santorum says he wouldn't change a thing. He deserves this moment. He has worked for it. Good for you Rick

Paul says he would have worked on being a better speaker. I think he should speak less.

Santorum slips on SOPA

SOPA is on the block.

Santorum waffling on Right To Work.

Gingrich attacking Hollywood to pleasure of the audience. Says there should be no censorship of the Internet. King bood by Audience. Romney calls SOPA "threatening." Paul say no to SOPA.

Paul claims he can "bring people together"...maybe for a book burning.

Santorum should have said NO to this question. Big mistake to sound soft on SOPA.

King sounds like he's going to end the debae with lame questions like "what would you do different."

Newt under Fire

Santorum attacking Newt's "grandiosity." Romney following his lead. I don't think Newt was expecting this. He's not as snappy as we're used to. Looks like Santorum and Newt aren't bff's anymore.

Romney should have released his taxes before the debate. The conservative press have been insisting that he would be vulnerable if he didn't do this tonight. First boos of the evening.

Newt has released tax returns. Smart move.

Audience Time!!

Romney says he will sign executive order to repeal Obamacare. Says he will replace it with a quasi Paul Ryan-style approach. Romney continues to hammer away at Obama.

Gingrich flops with a Washington joke. Says he will repeal all of Obamacare. Attacks Obama's job record. Crowd loves it.

Santorum attacks Romneycare as "the basis of Obamacare." Well done. Guns are getting turned on Romney. Goes after Newt for individual mandates. Very strong. Says Romney and Newt were playing "footsies."

Romney defending his health care plan but can't dodge Santorum's accusations. Santorum is hitting hard and Romney if feeling the heat.

Gingrich smacking Santorum. Santorum striking back on Newt's lack of substance. Newt still hitting hard but Santorum is not letting up

Ron Paul whining about how he doesn't get enough time again. Why does Paul cackle every time he speaks? Here we go again with his global wars and "police of the world" nonsense.

Economy

Newt addresses local issues. His knowledge of state infrastructure is one of his strengths. King has started with the Bain stuff. I think Newt needs to back off this issue.

Romney takes on Obama. Smart. Also brings up Keystone. He is the first to make this debate about beating President Obama

King brings it back to Bain. Romney is sticking to the Bain talking points. This issue is getting old, but I don't think it's going away tonight. Romney seems to be doing well with the crowd. He is sounding strong

Santorum gives a weak "me too" answer. He's starting off shaky. Talks about renewing the manufacturing base. Getting a tepid response, even when playing to the crowd.

Paul doesn't take King's bait on federal answer to economy. Paul addresses military health care. Handles it well.

Santorum attacks Obama on jobs and military spending. Sounding much better.

Romney giving boilerplate answer.

On Fire

Newt is on fire. King was smacked down. Santorum does not back Newt up. Romney tells King to get on to the real issues. Paul just sounds weak.

Newt slaps down King

Newt slaps down King's question and the crowd goes nuts. Calls King despicable and he's right.

Token "conservative" David Frum

I see they dusted off everyone's favorite turncoat David Frum as tonight's token conservative. I can't stand this guy. He's the poster boy for RINO'S.

Showdown In South Carolina

Tonight John King and his very important hair will be moderating the debate amongst the last of the four remaining candidates.  New polls show Romney in a dead heat with Gingrich, and Santorum not far behind.

Romney should be ready for an all front attack on Bain, as CNN has been acting as a de facto Superpac, hammering away, often without facts, or reason at Romney's corporate past.

ABC pulled off a sleazy interview with Gingrich's jilted ex-wife, but the moderators should beware. Newt has dominated every debate and has no problems blasting off on the media. They will bring this up at their own peril. Be sure that Newt will ready with a zinger for this.

Perry bowed out today, endorsing Newt on the way out  as a giant middle finger to Romney who he hates more than Boca burgers.

Santorum has been finding his voice lately, and seems to have broken his non-aggression treaty with Newt. Santorum needs to do well tonight, but may pay dearly for his snubbing of his old mentor. Gingrich lobbed a few good ones at Santorum in Myrtle beach. Expect more of the same.

Expect endless harping on social issues, and I'm sure King is ready to make some bizarre attacks against Newt because of his comments claiming Sarah Palin would play a major role in his administration.

Ron Paul will crazy as a moon bat, and will answer every question by rambling on about "illegal wars of aggression" and "the military industrial complex."

This is CNN, the liberal hotbed. Get ready.

Cordially

Joe