NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – The race for the Republican presidential nomination is veering toward South Carolina surreal.
Mitt Romney was stripped of his Iowa caucus victory Thursday, then was stung by Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s withdrawal and endorsement of Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker who was stunningly accused in turn by an ex-wife of seeking an open marriage so he could keep his mistress.
“Newt’s not perfect, but who among us is,” said Perry, abruptly quitting the race shortly before an evening debate and less than 48 hours before the polls open in Saturday’s first-in-the-South primary.
His decision to end a once-promising candidacy left Romney, Gingrich, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and Texas Rep. Ron Paul the remaining contenders in the race to pick a Republican to challenge Democratic President Barack Obama this fall.
Recent polls, coupled with Perry’s endorsement, suggested Gingrich was the candidate with the momentum and Romney the one struggling to validate his standing as front-runner. Whatever else the impact, the day’s events reduced the number of conservatives vying to emerge as Romney’s principal alternative.
The former Massachusetts governor had other challenges in a state where unemployment approaches 10 percent. He adamantly refused to explain why some of his millions were
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