Everybody has heard this by now all over the world. From BBC England.
Newt Gingrich has convincingly beaten Mitt Romney in South Newt Gingrich: Carolina's primary election, the latest leg in the battle to be the Republican candidate in November's US presidential poll.
With 70% of the vote counted, Mr Gingrich had 40% to Mr Romney's 28%. Mr Romney was widely seen as the frontrunner, but the latest outcome is set to turn the race into a long, hard-fought campaign, correspondents say.That makes the water a bit more muddy, doesn't it?
Here's the thing. Santorum appeals to the religious faction, but he comes across a bit aloof and sanctimonious. Ron Paul has good ideas, but is just not the person people see leading this country. Romney has the polished looks and speech, but he has no contagious energy.Gingrich has all of the political and personal warts possible, but he inflames the passions of those who listen to him. Many of those people are willing to ignore all of his numerous flaws because he says what those people have been waiting for a candidate to say... and says it eloquently and forcefully.
Romney is not finished, but he can no longer play "prevent defense" thinking he is ahead... if he is to stay in this game. This is politics; it's not negotiating business takeovers. Romney can't simply give people reasons to vote for him; he has to make people want to vote for him. That is something at which Gingrich is showing himself to be adept.
Obama did not win on reason; he won on oratory emotion... hope and change, remember? Obama's opponent will have to bring the force of reason and emotion to unseat him.