180 degrees

For those readers who enjoy blood sports, Newt Gingrich’s emphatic victory in the South Carolina Republican Primary should be welcomed.

Gingrich not only won the support of Republicans in South Carolina, he won with over 40 per cent of the vote. Huge. Mitt Romney, the supposed sure thing, limped across the line humiliated in collecting only 27 per cent of the vote.

This shows South Carolina’s Republicans don’t care for several things. They don’t care about Gingrich’s infidelities, they don’t care about ethics violations that saw him flung from the Senate, they don’t care about his connections to lobby groups and profiteering from companies that played a role in the economic collapse.

They also don’t care much about Romney.

News last week that Rick Santorum had actually won Iowa – and not Romney – was also a major blow to Romney’s ambition. The supposed favourite is now not universally liked – even by Republicans.

The race is now genuinely wide open and will provoke brutal blood letting before the party decides which candidate it considers – in its wisdom – the best to beat President Obama.

Remember him?

So what are the candidates to do? Certainly not discuss their plans for a potential Presidency or flag solutions to fix the economy. Beside general rhetoric about small government, low taxes, and moral values, the candidates have taken a similar path – beat the other guys over the head. Viciously and angrily.

Here’s Mitt Romney’s latest attack ad on Newt Gingrich. Theme: “After being sanctioned for ethics violations and resigning in disgrace, Newt Gingrich cashed in as a D.C. insider.”

Here’s an attack on Newt Gingrich from Ron Paul supporters. Theme: Gingrich is dangerous and must not win Florida.

Here’s Newt Gingrich attacking Romney for apparently being pro-abortion. Theme: Romney can’t be trusted.

Romney gets it from Rick Santorum too. Theme: If you vote for Mitt, you’re a sheep endorsing what the “establishment” wants. Oh, and by the way, did you know Romney’s for abortion (he’s not)?

Here’s another ad attacking Newt Gingrich funded by Mitt Romney supporters, a so-called “Political Action Group” called Restore Our Future.

It’s important to note that these guys are all supposed to be on the same team. The battle against President Obama has yet to begin. If any candidate is still alive by then.