Kyle Peterson tracks the names and campaigns that voters will see on next year's ballot. Check back for coverage of presidential candidates' South Carolina stops, local election news and hot links to analysis from both sides of the aisle. | Newt Gingrich remains the favorite among likely South Carolina Republican primary voters, according to a new poll that shows the former U.S. House speaker with a 16-point lead over his nearest rival.
The poll, conducted by Winthrop University, gives Gingrich 38 percent support to Mitt Romney’s 22 percent. Rick Perry trails at 9 percent, and the other candidates register in the middle or low single digits.
Gingrich rolled out his first TV ad this week, too, which will begin airing across Iowa, the first state in the GOP nominating process, according to The Washington Post.
Meanwhile, political junkies continue to speculate about where former Herman Cain supporters will land. Cain suspended his campaign this weekend after being accused of sexual harassment and unfaithfulness to his wife.
Rumors on Monday suggested the former Godfather’s Pizza CEO would endorse Gingrich. But Cain tamped down on that report, telling staff he probably will endorse, “but not in the immediate timeframe,” according to NBC.