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South Carolina and the evangelical vote

Russ Jones and Becky Yeh - OneNewsNow - 1/20/2012 4:35:00 AM

Polls are indicating it could be a horse race with a photo finish between Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney in South Carolina, helped along evidently with Thursday's decision by Rick Perry to get out of that race.

The gap between two of the GOP presidential hopefuls -- Gingrich and Romney -- has narrowed in both national and South Carolina polls. But Gingrich and Rick Santorum seem to be splitting the support of Christian leaders across the nation.
While Santorum received the endorsement of a few select evangelicals in Texas this past weekend -- as well as that of Dr. James Dobson and Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council yesterday -- former House Speaker Newt Gingrich also is seeing a rise in support among influential evangelical leaders. The personal endorsements of individuals like George Barna, Don Wildmon, and pastors Jim Garlow and Michael Youssef have allowed him to move within striking distance of frontrunner Mitt Romney, who pundits just a week or so ago contended had the nomination sewed up.

Rod Martin, president of the National Federation of Republican Assemblies, a group that endorsed Santorum last November, tells OneNewsNow the organization has since thrown its support to Gingrich.

"He has articulated a strong message that in many ways is the most evangelical I've ever heard in my lifetime," says Martin. "His position on using the 14th Amendment to protect the right to life; his position on stopping anti-Christian bigotry in the marriage debate; and [his position on] so many other areas is just so strong, and it's so refreshing -- and it's much more innovative than any of the other candidates."

Republicans in the South Carolina will make their preferences known Saturday as they vote in the state's primary. Martin contends Gingrich has the momentum, and furthermore has more than twice as many evangelical supporters as Santorum.

"The Lord knows we're all just sinners saved by grace," Martin offers, "but [Gingrich has] been a consistent friend on policy to evangelicals throughout his career, and much more so the past several years. And he really does deserve a chance."

Get the facts
A Christian leader in California is calling voters to awaken to the facts of how the Republican presidential candidates stand on family values.

Leading up to the South Carolina primary on Saturday, Newt Gingrich asked his opponents Rick Santorum and Rick Perry to drop out of the race, arguing that he is the only conservative who can beat Mitt Romney. On Thursday morning, Perry did just that, throwing his support behind the former House speaker.

Randy Thomasson of SaveAmerica.com believes Gingrich is spot on. "He's correct that if there is a leading moderate in a campaign in a largely conservative state and three conservatives are splitting the conservative voters apart, the moderate could win," he says, referring to Mitt Romney as "the moderate."

Citing the history of the past three decades, Thomasson notes that the Republican candidate who wins the South Carolina primary has ended up being the Republican nominee for president -- so he is urging voters to know how the candidates stand on moral issues.

"Of the ... Republicans still in the race, Romney is far and above the most against the ten family values and moral standards in the report card on the natural family," says the family advocate. "He's supportive of homosexuals adopting children, open homosexuality in the Boy Scouts and in the U.S. military, and ... continues to support pro-LGBT education."

Thomasson asserts that Republican hopeful Ron Paul is a "mixed bag" of family values, who does not oppose homosexual relationships and wants to eliminate official marriage licenses. Gingrich and Santorum are relatively equal on family values, Thomasson says, and are strong supporters of the natural family.

The pro-family leader asserts the facts were against Governor Rick Perry. "[He] would have been right up there with Gingrich and Santorum if he had not signed a homosexual, bisexual, transsexual 'hate crimes' law in 2001; and ... had pledged to enforce federal laws against obscenity like the other two had."

Source: Evangelicals continue to split (OneNewsNow.com)

Gingrich steals SC debate

Russ Jones - OneNewsNow - 1/20/2012 7:10:00 AM


The four remaining GOP candidates faced off in South Carolina on a day of twists and turns on the campaign trail. The morning began with Texas Governor Rick Perry dropping out of the race, and then it was announced that an interview with Newt Gingrich's second ex-wife, Marianne Gingrich, would be featured on ABC, alleging he wanted an "open marriage." CNN moderator John King began the debate by asking Gingrich if he wanted to respond to the claims.

"I think the destructive, vicious, negative nature of much of the news media makes it harder to govern this country, harder to attract decent people to run for public office, and I am appalled that you would begin a presidential debate on a topic like that," he replied.

By refuting the allegations, many commentators believe the feisty former House speaker stole the debate within the opening moments, as he received a standing ovation for his response to the moderator's inquiry. Political analyst Larry Sabato at the University of Virginia's Center for Politics says it is clear who won Thursday's debate.

"Newt Gingrich won yet another debate, and he won it in the first five minutes, and he won it because of the question he was asked by the moderator -- not one of the other candidates," Sabato says.

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney was challenged as to why he has not released his tax returns -- something Gingrich had done earlier in the day. Romney has admitted to paying 15 percent of his income in taxes for 2010, which is less than half the 31 percent Gingrich paid.

"I obviously pay all full taxes," Romney assured. "I'm honest in my dealings with people -- people understand that. My taxes are carefully managed, and I pay a lot of taxes. I've been very successful, and when I have our taxes ready for this year, I'll release them."

Source: Gingrich steals SC debate (OneNewsNow.com)