ABJ Jan 23 - It appears the momentum gained by former Speaker Newt Gingrich at the most recent GOP debate carried through to the polling stations. When the final vote was tallied in this past weekend's South Carolina primary, Gingrich walked away with more than 40 per cent of the vote in the Palmetto State.

In South Carolina, former Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney finished second to Gingrich with 27.8 per cent (a 167,279 popular vote to Gingrich's 243,153), while former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum placed third with 17 per cent (102,055 popular vote). Texas Congressman Ron Paul finished fourth in South Carolina, at 13 per cent (77,993 popular vote).

No candidate has yet to win more than one state, with Santorum winning Iowa following a recount, Romney winning New Hampshire, and now Gingrich taking South Carolina. Collectively, Romney holds a slight lead in the popular vote, with 30.11 per cent to Gingrich's 28.89 per cent. Delegate totals vary by report.

"It is very humbling and very sobering to have so many people who so deeply want their country to get back on the right track," Gingrich said in his victory speech. "So many people are so concerned about jobs, about medical costs, about the everyday parts of life, and who feel that the elites in Washington and New York have no understanding, no care, no concern, no reliability, and in fact do not represent them at all."

The primary race now shifts to Florida with the next vote to be held January 31.

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