When I lived in NC, "the mind of the South." we always referred to SC as the "mouth of the South." Now, we might amend that to the "mouth of the Red Meat Nation."
Early on, (see early diary posted before Iowa primary) I predicted Newt Gingrich would be the R nominee for Pres. I had some good reasons. But, like Rick Perry, I forgot one. Really, I just didn't emphasize it enough or state it clearly enough, and it may be the most important. Newt is the best "hater" of the bunch. He drips vitriol and powerful disdain on anyone or anything that doesn't please him. Seriously, watching this guy at work is something like watching someone milk a rattlesnake. Poison just drips from their teeth the same way it drips from Das Newt's rants. Accuse him of something -- He'll do his best to kick your ass up between your shoulders.
Who hates Obama? Republicans, that's who. Among the Red candidates, who hates Obama the most, and with the most pseudo-intellectual venom? Take a guess. We thought the politics of hate ended with Wallace, Jesse Helms, etc. Newt, a historian after all, is the candidate who realized that this is the perfect time to re-waken that sleeping dragon.
Let's all raise a glass to the hope that the dragon's fire will consume him when he faces something other than the practiced haters who prowl R primaries.