The revolving carousel of Republican presidential leaders in South Carolina has taken another turn; this time, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich is leading in the Palmetto State.
According to an Insider Advantage poll of 519 registered voters, Gingrich, in fact, has a commanding lead – 38 percent to only 15 percent for onetime S.C. leader, Mitt Romney, and 13 percent for another onetime S.C. leader, Herman Cain.
A Polling Co. survey earlier in November also found Gingrich in the lead but by a narrower 31-17 percent margin over Cain, with Romney at 16 percent.
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Gingrich’s lead in the Palmetto State comes as the Georgia Republican is making a three-day swing through the state, which holds its GOP primary on Jan. 21.
It also comes as the candidacy of Cain, the former pizza chain chief executive, appears to be on the verge of collapse. Cain told aides Tuesday he is assessing whether the latest allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior against him “create too much of a cloud” for his candidacy to go forward.
Cain’s departure from the presidential race could set the stage for the GOP contest, at one time featuring nine candidates, to refocus into a two-way contest between Romney, long considered the front-runner and favorite, and a single not-Romney candidate, Gingrich.
It also marks a remarkable rebound for Gingrich who led in the state last May, according to one poll, but then slumped into the single digits as first Romney, then Texas Gov. Rick Perry, then Cain, then Romney again took the S.C. lead.
However, Gingrich – who has faced criticism for his messy personal life, positions on illegal immigration, climate change and health care reform – yet could implode.
Campaigning Tuesday in Beaufort County, he sought to confront criticism that he was paid handsomely – more than $1.6 million – by Freddie Mac, the federally backed mortgage lender that was roundly criticized by Republicans before its collapse.
Meeting with S.C. voters at a shopping center Tuesday, Gingrich confronted a suggestion that he sought to turn his tenure as the House’s top Republican into a role of for-hire powerbroker.
Gingrich said he didn’t need to be a lobbyist after his congressional career because he was paid so handsomely merely to give speeches. “I did no lobbying of any kind – period,” Gingrich said. “I’m going to be really direct, OK? I was charging $60,000 a speech.”
Gingrich himself criticized Barack Obama in 2008 for accepting contributions from executives of Freddie Mac and its larger sister institution, Fannie Mae, and said the Democrat should give the money back.
Pressed on the matter in Iowa earlier this month, Gingrich said he provided Freddie Mac with “strategic advice for a long period of time.”
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