CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — For months, the big question in the GOP
presidential race has been whether Mitt Romney would falter if one rival
could consolidate the anti-Romney feelings of many hard-core
conservatives.
The answer seemed a step closer Thursday in South
Carolina, when Texas Gov. Rick Perry quit the race and endorsed Newt
Gingrich, who already was thought to be rising. Also helping Gingrich
are Rick Santorum's apparent struggles here, partly fueled by harsh TV
attack ads aired by yet another candidate, Ron Paul.
But the political fates were equally cruel and kind Thursday, leaving Saturday's primary in as much doubt as ever.
Just when Gingrich, the former House speaker, was
accepting Perry's nod, ABC News aired portions of an interview with his
second wife, Marianne. She said Gingrich had asked for "an open
marriage" so he could continue his affair with a House staffer, now his
third wife, Callista.
Gingrich angrily denounced CNN reporter John King for
opening Thursday night's debate with a question about the allegations.
He said they were untrue, and Gingrich blasted what he called the
"destructive, vicious, negative nature of much of the news media. | 
