Newt Gingrich won Saturday's South Carolina GOP presidential primary, marking a stunning turnaround for a candidate who finished fourth in Iowa and New Hampshire and whose campaign had been left for dead -- again -- by observers just weeks ago. With about 95% of polling places reporting, Gingrich had 40% of the vote, with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney getting 27% and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum getting 17%. U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas had 13%. Based on early returns and exit polls, CNN projected Gingrich the winner. In his victory speech to supporters, Gingrich thanked "everyone in South Carolina who decided to be with us in changing Washington."
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"I articulate the deepest-held values of the American people," Newt Gingrich says
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Newt Gingrich wins South Carolina primary in stunning turnaround
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Gingrich surged in polls in week leading up to primary
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Mitt Romney comes off a tough week with Rick Santorum's official Iowa win
Then what had been declared an eight-vote @placeholder victory in Iowa's January 3 caucuses was reversed into a 34-vote win for Santorum when the state party certified its results on Thursday.