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FNC senior political analyst Brit Hume on the impact of the South Carolina Primary on the Republican Presidential field of candidates.
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The questions -- -- in tonight's Republican presidential debate the eighteenth of this election cycle three more scheduled through April.
For more now on the 2012 presidential race joining us now from Washington Fox News senior political analyst Brit Hume -- good to have you with us.
These numbers are stunning first of all in Florida and then secondarily nationwide I mean it's effectively -- -- And what what is going on here.
Well what you have Lou is that they have -- at least tides -- monetized start running this way the numbers change awfully fast.
There's a lot of differences -- between sentiment and a primary election season and sentiment and a general election.
Some of the primary season tends to be soft that's because -- candidates basically stand on bond boat on the same side of the fence.
And the differences on issues between them tend to be relatively slight.
General election of course differences are much greater and people settlements are pretty Furman and -- and and and then feelings don't fluctuated widely.
But we're seeing now is Gingrich is hot he's on a roll Romney faltered in South Carolina he's been slipping.
And you see that reflected in in in the -- -- polls as well as in the national poll it's it's striking but not really surprised.
Not surprising but still profound thirty point swing in that poll -- -- -- target 23 points ahead this looked down.
To nine now.
Is in itself to me at least monumental.
What does Romney have to do here I mean he's attacking Gingrich but tonight is we just reported.
Immediately Gingrich has comeback we're releasing his contract with Freddie Mac which have been the source of at least slow the attacks.
Well we'll see what -- remember he's been he was -- to release that Romney was about a week ago so it's not that immediate the second thing I'd say about it is.
We got about eight days to go here before they vote in Florida the settlement switch to and from New Hampshire have -- a week ago Lou today.
Before the debate at this time.
Seven days ago.
Romney was well ahead in South Carolina was coming off of a win in New Hampshire which -- swamp all comers basically nearly 40% of the vote.
Newt Gingrich had finished fifth.
And we were -- men ever I think merely all of us might have imagined that he was left for dead he was left for dead once before.
He has a way of coming back that happens in primary seasons and it could happen again and remember this too in Iowa.
Over a period of time when Romney -- after game which hard with the same kind of advertising really basically that we're seeing now it not Gingrich down and and -- massively.
In addition to that.
You know he stopped that.
After New Hampshire I think when Romney camp that Gingrich was a -- They didn't started -- came hard on the air into little -- the weakened by that time Gingrich had already hit his Grand Slam home run in the first debate was.
On his way to get in another one.
And he came roaring back in the ads came too late so let's wait and see here.
Whether in fact what Romney's really a sunken candidate in Gingrich is really ten feet tall I have my -- -- -- check and with those doubts of that well placed.
Skepticism.
What do you think about tonight's debate is this is it possible.
Up for governor Mitt Romney to have a Gingrich like moment in a debate.
Well I'm not sure we'll have a Gingrich like moment because it to a very different -- Gingrich speaks with a certain.
Kind of angry fire that I don't think it's part of Mitt Romney's personality and is very much for a Newt Gingrich -- personality.
But let's not forget.
That in a number of the debates in the earlier part of this cycle and have been so many it's hard to keep track of them all.
Romney has done very well indeed and he's in fluid in knowledgeable on the issues and so long.
And we can -- well remember he was way better than Rick Perry -- me out shown in disposed of very quickly and so want.
So let's not rule out the distinct possibility Mitt Romney -- -- very good night Gingrich could have a very good night as well on the other hand knowing Gingrich as I do.
You know he's so his performance is different so widely sometimes from this previous performances -- don't know what's gonna happen he could have another great night or you could stumble.
We'll just have to see I must say that I think the toughest job tonight.
Is being moderator.
That's who want to throw another who wants to throw another I think you -- fastball and Gingrich and have emitted into the next county.
If not I I haven't heard that the CNN moderator John King has volunteered to take that he wants place that map.
-- thanks so much for -- with a throughput you bet Lou.
