Polls are closed in South Carolina, and we're liveblogging the results of the Republican presidential primary.
Results: AP (statewide) | AP (by county) | CNN | Google | Politico
4:59 PM PT:
We're going to be seeing a drawn out GOP nomination battle. The easy call, as always, is that Romney has the money and organization to see this through the long haul. Gingrich has neither. However, the wild card is that Republicans freakin' hate Romney.
In 2008, it wasn't just that we liked both Hillary and Barack, it was also that they were both good. Either would've won that election. Republicans can't say the same right now. Gingrich would be an electoral cataclysm for them.
5:00 PM PT: Romney: "Florida has suffered terribly under the presidency of Obama." Perhaps it has something to do with its Republican governors?
5:02 PM PT: Does anyone really want Florida Gov. Rick Scott's endorsement?
Florida Gov. Rick Scott said Saturday that he is considering an endorsement of a Republican presidential candidate in advance of the state’s Jan. 31 primary.
“If I’m going to endorse, clearly I’d do it in the next week or so,” Mr. Scott said in an interview on the sidelines of the Florida GOP’s annual conference near Orlando.
Mr. Scott is one of the least popular governors in the country. He has a 38% approval rating among Florida voters, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released this week.
5:02 PM PT: Romney says Obama has no experience, because he hasn't run a business or a state. Last I checked, America is bigger than any business or state.
5:03 PM PT: Romney is still running against Obama, not realizing he has to win the primary first.
5:06 PM PT:
5:08 PM PT (David Nir): New batch of exit polls has it at Newt 40, Mitt 27.5, Santorum 18, Paul 13.5
5:08 PM PT: Olbermann: "Romney's speech was almost worthy of sympathy."
5:12 PM PT (Kaili Joy Gray): The liveblogging continues in the next thread.