U.S. Rep. Tim Scott, a South Carolina Republican believes there is “no question” that former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will win the South Carolina Republican primary election Saturday.
However, Mr. Scott like fellow South Carolina Republican Senator Jim DeMint did not offer an endorsement of Mr. Gingrich in his interview with RealClearPolitics Friday. Both Republican senators are popular Tea Party Republicans, and an endorsement from either would certainly give any of the remaining candidates a significant boost one day ahead of the South Carolina primary election.
Mr. DeMint has offered his praise to Bain Capital co-founder Mitt Romney, but has not endorsed him. However he did defend Mr. Romney after a pro Newt Gingrich Super PAC released a video slamming his record of job creation at Bain Capital last week.
In a similar fashion Friday, Senator Scott predicted a victory for Mr. Gingrich but did not offer an endorsement. His comments follow an eventful day for the former House speaker, where he took on the media during Thursday night’s debate for raising question about an interview airing the same night featuring his second ex-wife.
Ironically, Mr. Scott participated in the Monday night debate where Mr. Gingrich took on Fox News host Juan Williams for repeated questions about whether Mr. Gingrich was trying to “belittle” African Americans with his calling President Barack Obama the “food stamp president.”
Both assaults on the media drew standing ovations from voters at the debates in South Carolina.
Mr. Scott is the latest popular Republican figure to offer support for Mr. Gingrich, following a week where former Alaska Republican Governor Sarah Palin said that if she were in South Carolina she would “vote for Newt.”
“There’s no question: Newt. I think Newt will probably finish first in South Carolina, as of the information I have now,” said Mr. Scott Friday.
A Public Polling Policy poll of likely South Carolina Republican primary voters released Thursday night shows Mr. Gingrich experiencing a recent surge in popularity in the Palmetto state, likely a result of his aggressive attacks on Mr. Romney, his regional popularity in the state and his performances in the two debates this week.
The poll shows Mr. Gingrich garnering the majority of support from voters who identify themselves as either Tea Party Republicans.
Although Mr. Gingrich enjoys Mr. Scott’s support, Mr. Romney enjoys the endorsement of another popular Tea Party figure in the state, South Carolina Republican Governor Nikki Haley. Although her approval rating in the Palmetto state is quite low, and has not proven to be a significant boost of support for the former Massachusetts governor.
Mr. Scott believes the Tea Party strength in the Republican party will be demonstrated better in November than it will in Saturday’s primary election though.
“I believe they don’t need to choose a candidate for the primary — one candidate. I believe they need to split their votes . . . in the camps where they want to be and get ready for the rumble in the jungle, starting in November 2012, when we elect a new president,” said Mr. Scott.
