You're watching...
'Special Report' Host Bret Baier on how Jon Huntsman dropping out of the campaign will impact the elections.
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
Jon Huntsman announcing earlier this hour -- he has dropped out of the GOP presidential race.
And is backing Mitt Romney is ahead of tonight's Fox News debate and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
And that is where we -- -- there highest expense report on the Fox News Channel and moderator tonight Brett.
Good to talk to you I have the weather down there is a lot nicer than it is here.
But into.
It is you know the job yes -- do -- -- -- -- very well.
I won't go into details but I.
I'm not and my -- -- out doesn't have any impact whatsoever.
On the field and -- Mitt Romney in particular.
Well it does -- in a couple different ways they're gonna one is you have a major.
Antagonists someone who is going after Romney constantly.
On the campaign trail who no longer will be and who's now endorsed him.
Number one number two -- you're right in South Carolina it's not a huge.
Tidal wave shift.
He was polling -- was falling at 56%.
At best and some polls he was trailing comedian Stephen col -- But even that amount if you assume that those voters those Huntsman voters would support Romney.
You're still talking about adding to what appears to be a growing Romney lead in the South Carolina and there is this sense of confidence in the Romney campaign.
They don't talk a lot about it because obviously we're a long way to Saturday but.
Their feeling pretty good about their their state here.
In South Carolina.
What it's just something about the mood of the nation does it not -- bets that what's driving voters in this day.
Is the economy down there and -- and -- -- to a lesser extent social and religious issues where more than half of the voter GOP voters I would.
Social and religious conservatives.
Yeah that's -- great point it's not a factor really I mean it's on some ads here.
But really the social issues have not been a big factor in this race down here the economy's driving the day it's 10% unemployment almost here which is.
Essentially double what it is an Iowa New Hampshire so it's a different economic environment people are hurting down here and that's what they're talking about.
This whole back and forth about Bain Capital has done what is.
Many people didn't think could be done which is rally conservatives to Mitt Romney in a place like South Carolina and so far it has happened.
But what about the any damage that Newt Gingrich inflicted on the Romney campaign or is still -- Backers of Gingrich are still trying to inflict.
On Mitt Romney because we just got -- poll numbers out from Fox News and is pretty astonishing he's no longer the 25% man he's the 40% didn't.
Right yeah -- keeps on going up I think.
You know you're still going to see some tough attacks we don't know what to expect tonight.
You know we went into Sioux City that debate down there and thought that it was going to be complete fireworks from the start.
And it turned -- should not be.
Arguably that debate was substantive and a lot of detail we don't know what to expect here but there is one fewer one less podium.
And they've adjusted the lights.
And we'll have a different environment come 9 PM eastern time -- we're gonna ask governor Huntsman.
What was gonna mean your question you know news want to tell us we had so many.
So many doozies.
I think that may have been -- got out but that we just had so many depth question for governor Huntsman.
-- -- Friday.
That is the right -- it was great to talk to thank you so much for taking the time I know how busy today as well.
How busy every day is for you Bret -- moderating the Fox News debate tonight.
In South Carolina.
Is also with the Wall Street Journal 9 PM eastern time on Fox News of course -- board every night that's ahead.
