Gingrich Triumphs: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Coronation of Mitt Romney

The bubble of inevitability has been burst. This will be a long and winding road to the Republican Presidential nomination

As events unfolded on Saturday evening, the magnitude of the Gingrich earthquake of a victory in the first Southern primary in the Nation became even more clear. He had shocked all the pundits. He had surprised all the prognosticators. In fact, he had blown this race wide open.In a very distant second was the establishment candidate Mitt Romney.

P>CHARLESTON, SC (Catholic Online) - As soon as the polls closed, Fox News called the election. A rare, early call, in the wake of the growing reticence of the media to make such calls these days. It signaled to all that this primary election was a blowout.

As the exciting events unfolded on Saturday evening, the magnitude of the Gingrich earthquake of a victory in the first Southern primary in the Nation became even more clear. He had shocked all the pundits. He had surprised all the prognosticators. In fact, he had blown this race wide open.

All of the endless chatter and the long train of self professed experts making their various predictions on every network, proved to be fatuous. Gingrich not only won the South Carolina primary, he won the primary among every category of voter. He confounded the chattering class.

Soon, the rest of the networks followed suit. By the time the night was over, with all of the votes counted, Newt Gingrich had won nearly 41% of the votes in the South Carolina primary.

In a very distant second was the establishment Republican candidate Mitt Romney. This was the candidate who was being called the "presumptive nominee" only days before.

Next was the grandson of the coalminer from Pennsylvania, the conservative populist Rick Santorum. Only days before Santorum had finally been given his due from the Iowa Caucus counters with a certified confirmation that he and not Mitt Romney had won the Iowa Caucus.

Finally, the libertarian crusader, Ron Paul, used the event of his fourth place finish to proclaim his predictable message. Only this time, his delivery was smoother and less quirky than in the past.

The speeches of the candidates who had not won this primary followed. First, the Republican establishment favorite, Mitt Romney, pledged to fight on. He lambasted those who he claimed "used the language of the left" to question his candidacy. The reference was obvious and signals where the Florida primary fight is headed between Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich.

The Romney speech was followed by the Blue Collar family values populist whom no-one gave any chance, Rick Santorum. Santorum's speech was eloquent, one of his best. After complimenting Newt Gingrich he summed up the state of this surprising Republican primary campaign, "Three states, three winners, what a great country".

Santorum inspired the crowd which was shouting "We Pick Rick" with this pledge, "We're going to Florida and then we're going to Arizona and Colorado." He then continued campaigning inviting the millions listening with these words, "It's a wide open race. Join the fight,"

The libertarian, Ron Paul, addressed his loyal followers with one of his clearest speeches of the campaign. 

Finally, the Victor, Newt Gingrich emerged. He gave a twenty minute presentation which was more of a conversation with his supporters than a victory speech. He basically challenged his supporters to get to work. He complimented all of his competitors and thanked "everyone in South Carolina who decided to be with us in changing Washington."

A genuinely reflective candidate said, "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"

"So many people who 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."

In a surprising display of self deprecation the winner continued, "It's not that I am a good debater, it's that I articulate the deepest values of the American people."

In South Carolina, Gingrich triumphs, Santorum shines and a funny thing happened on the way to the "Coronation" of Mitt Romney. The bubble of inevitability has been burst. This will be a long and winding road to the Republican Presidential nomination. 

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