Is SC A Must-Win for Gingrich?

A vote has yet to be cast in the race for the GOP nomination.

But recent events have led some to suggest that South Carolina may be a must-win for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

The past week has seen Gingrich, sporting a double-digit lead in South Carolina, attacked from all sides.

Former Massachusetts governor and perceived centrist Mitt Romney , despite her support by the more-conservative tea party voters.

While to the right of Gingrich, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann went on the offensive in the latest debate against the former speaker's past relationship with Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. Her SC supporters .

With Gingrich falling to third place in Iowa, and Romney expected to fare well in New Hampshire, the Gingrich campaign may already be looking ahead to the Palmetto State.

Adam Waldeck, the director of Gingrich's South Carolina campaign confirmed to Patch that Gingrich would be taking time away from Iowa on Friday to hold a town hall style campaign stop at the Blue Marlin restaurant in Columbia at 12:30 p.m.

On Monday, Gingrich's daughter, Jackie Gingrich Cushman, a conservative columnist, took to the Upstate to campaign for her father and provide insight into Gingrich "not just as a candidate, but as a father and grandfather," according to a release from the campaign. 

Starting Monday morning in Anderson at the Main Street Deli, she worked her way through Laurens and Greenwood before having cocktails at Soby's in downtown Greenville. The last item on her agenda was the Christmas party for the Spartanburg GOP at 7 p.m.  

Cushman, a Presbyterian College grad with ties to the state, said in her Greenville comments that Gingrich made South Carolina a priority from the outset of his campaign. 

"South Carolina is very important. It's the first in the South, and he's been here quite a lot. We actually put in place biggest staff in South Carolina before we had the other states filled out," Cushman said. 

"South Carolina has always been important," she added later. "But I think what you've seen in Iowa is the reflection of over $9 million in negative advertising against him." 

Laura Olson, political science professor at Clemson University, echoes sentiments that the Gingrich campaign has no choice but to make South Carolina a top priority. 

"I think South Carolina does mean more than ever to Newt, both considering the new polling data that we're seeing this morning and the endorsements Romney has been collecting," said Olson, who said the Des Moines Register endorsement of Romney is also significant.

Danielle Vinson, who chairs Furman University's political science department, said that while South Carolina is indeed a critical state for most Republican presidential campaigns, it very well could be a must-win for Gingrich. 

"South Carolina is important to everyone. If you don't make it in Iowa, there may still be hope for you, unless you're running for the religious conservative vote. If you don't make it in New Hampshire, there may still be hope, unless you're running for the moderate vote and you're from that part of the country," Vinson said.

"If you don't make it in South Carolina, your chances of continuing dwindle, especially if you lose to someone who won either of the earlier states. South Carolina is a good barometer, especially of the other Southern states. Gingrich has to win southern states."

Still, Olson believes the fact that Gingrich may end up putting all of his eggs into South Carolina's basket might be indicative of yet another shift at the top of the GOP field — a shift fueled by GOP power players counting on electability, not just sheer message. 

"Republican elites seem to be realizing that if they have any chance ofdefeating President Obama in the fall, Romney is their best bet," Olson said. "Whether that realization will have a significant impact on voters remains to be seen. If Romney wins Iowa and New Hampshire, Newt absolutely must win South Carolina or he will be done, pure and simple."

From a standpoint of campaign strategy, Waldeck doesn't run away from the vasty importance South Carolina holds for his candidate. 

"South Carolina is critical," Waldeck said. "And we're treating it as such."