Santorum Closing on Mitt in SC

Newt Gingrich falls to third with 18%
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 6, 2012 12:44 PM CST
South Carolina Poll Has Mitt Romney Ahead of Rick Santorum by Three Points
Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney are seen in this combo image.   (left) and Charlie Riedel/FILE)

Just a month ago, Newt Gingrich had a huge lead in South Carolina, and two months ago Rick Santorum was languishing at 1%. Times, they have a'changed. Santorum has vaulted into second with 24% of the vote in the latest Rasmussen poll, just behind Mitt Romney's 27%. Gingrich has fallen to third with 18%, followed by Ron Paul with 11%. Rick Perry and Jon Huntsman are in the single digits with 5% and 2% respectively.

Though just 11% say they're undecided, Rasmussen warns that there's still room for things to change—only 41% say they're certain how they'll vote. Paul's voters are predictably the most committed, with 62% firmly in his camp, while Gingrich's support is the softest, with only 36% of his backers fully committed. But regardless of how they're personally voting, the overwhelming majority—66%—believe that Romney will be the nominee, with only 11% believing Santorum will pull off the upset. (More poll numbers stories.)

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