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January 21, 2012

Scramble for Votes in S.C. as Gingrich Rises in Volatile Race

By KIM SEVERSON

GREENVILLE, S.C. What just days ago seemed a relatively straightforward race for Mitt Romney turned into a full-blown, unpredictable brawl as voters headed out in the rain here on Saturday to finally settle the South Carolina Republican presidential primary battle. Newt Gingrich, buoyed by a raucous debate performance on Thursday in which he defended himself against accusations by a former wife that he had asked for an open marriage, expressed new hope in a state where many were undecided until the last minute. He made an early stop at the Grapevine Restaurant in Boiling Springs, where some breakfast patrons already had their small I voted stickers. With your help, I think well get a tremendous, tremendous victory today, he said. And some voters were turning his way. I was flip-flopping until I walked into the booth, said Doug Heavner, 70, who cast his ballot at the Morningside Baptist Church here in the second-largest city in the state. In the end, he pulled the lever for Mr. Gingrich. Like other candidates, Mr. Gingrich spent much of the day working the more conservative northwest part of the state. He and Mr. Romney almost crossed paths at Tommys Country Ham House here, a well-traveled stop on this years campaign trail. Mr. Romney called on Mr. Gingrich to release documents relating to his work for Freddie Mac, the mortgage giant that paid him more than $1 million. Id like to see what he advised, Mr. Romney said. He said he was an historian and just provided historical information, then he said he told them what they were doing was somehow not going to work. Ron Paul held a rally in Greenville the night before, and Rick Santorum scheduled a stop at Morningside Baptist Church there later on Saturday. In appearances on Fox News, Mr. Santorum called Mr. Gingrich and Mr. Romney, who are battling each other atop the polls, unreliable conservatives.

The heavy attention to undecided voters here in the northwest part of the state spoke to the importance of this more conservative region, which is home to large manufacturers like BMW as well as evangelical institutions like Bob Jones University. A heavy rain and the draw of a leisurely Saturday morning kept lines at several polling places here relatively short. But Mr. Gingrichs last-minute surge in polls gave new gravitas to the race in a state where for 32 years the winner has gone on to secure the Republican nomination, some voters said. The swing in the polls from top to bottom and bottom to top should bring out the voter who might otherwise decide its a done deal, said Mike Cook, who has for 12 years managed a polling place for a precinct that includes about 2,000 voters. For many voters, calculating who might be in the best position to beat President Obama overshadowed personal affections for other candidates. Youve got to look ahead, said Terry Strickland, 48, who cast his vote for Mr. Romney at a fire station in Mauldin. His wife, Arlette Strickland, voted for Mr. Santorum, whose views on social issues more closely matched her own. Mr. Paul found support especially among younger voters here. Justin and Morgan Pidock, both 23, said their minds were made up weeks ago. For us, its just about budget cuts, Justin Pidock said. Mr. Gingrichs defense against claims by Marianne Gingrich, his former wife, that he had asked for an open marriage seemed to cut both ways, especially among women. Some, citing personal experience with their own marital woes, chose not to support him. Others saw leadership in his fiery rhetoric after Ms. Gingrich went public with her story last week. No matter how the race falls, voters who were bombarded by dozens of automated calls, e-mails and television ads over the last two days will be glad when the votes are counted. I think theyre just ready for this primary to be over and to move forward, said Mary Jane Jacques, 58, a retired nurse who was part of an enthusiastic crowd that gathered to support Mr. Romney on Saturday morning. In an appearance at the Citadel on Friday night, Mr. Santorum said that his instincts had told him the race was not going well for him, but that the feeling vanished as the week went on, particularly after Thursdays debate in Charleston. Just in the last 48 hours, Ive seen a palpable change out there, he said.

He planned to watch the returns on Saturday night at the Citadel. Mr. Romney, Mr. Gingrich and Mr. Paul planned to end the evening at campaign parties in Columbia.

Reporting was contributed by Trip Gabriel from Boiling Springs, S.C., Ashley Parker from Greenville, S.C., and Katharine Q. Seelye from Charleston, S.C.