Romney Rebounds in SC, Up by 21 Points

Romney retakes big lead, says latest Reuters/Ipsos poll
By Mark Russell,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 15, 2012 6:03 AM CST
Romney Rebounds in SC, Up by 21 Points
Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, holds up seven-month-old Ellen Whitaker as he campaigns at American Legion Post 15 in Sumter, SC, yesterday.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Three days ago, it looked like Mitt Romney's lead had collapsed in South Carolina, with Newt Gingrich just 2% behind. Now, not so much: A Reuters/Ipsos poll shows Romney back on top with 37%, a 21-point lead over nearest rivals Ron Paul and Rick Santorum. Gingrich trails in fourth with just 12%. Romney does well on the electability question, too, beating President Obama 46% to 40% among both Republicans and Democrats. "In primary races things can change quickly, but it does look like Romney is in position to win South Carolina," says an Ipsos poller.

Gingrich's harsh attacks on Romney's time at Bain Capital may have backfired, say some analysts, and the former House speaker was booed last night at a forum hosted by Mike Huckabee when he brought up Bain, reports ABC News. "I think those attacks are misguided. The process of any economy has long been one of creative destruction," said one Romney supporter. (More Mitt Romney stories.)

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