Flickr user Gage Skidmore
Update, January 19, 2012: With the Saturday primary upon us, CNN, Time, and ORC International have conducted another poll.
In the January 13-17 poll, 33% of "likely South Carolina Republican primary voters" said they would back Romney, and 23% said they would support Gingrich.
Former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania is at 16%, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas is at 13%, and Texas Gov. Rick Perry stands at 6%.
That's pretty close to what we saw in the previous poll.
Now the question is, how much sway can the candidates squeeze out of tonight's debate down in Charleston?
Update, January 18, 2012: Things are getting better for Mitt Romney, but Newt Gingrich is remaining a strong second.
Romney has moved up from 29% last week to 35% support from likely S.C. voters. Meanwhile, Gingrich slid from 24% to 21% in a poll by Rasmussen Reports.
Rick Santorum and Ron Paul are tied at 16% and Rick Perry is pulling 5%.
However, the polling was done on January 16, 2012, ahead of the night's debate in Myrtle Beach where Gingrich received much applause.
So, Romney hasn't won it yet, but things are looking ever better for the would-be GOP nominee — that's assuming that the new Herman Cain (aka the political candidate formerly know as Stephen Colbert) doesn't come surging. We're kidding, we hope.
First report: Ahead of Saturday's GOP primary, Mitt Romney is polling strong.
On a poll done by Public Policy Polling from January 11 to 13, they found that, "Mitt Romney continues to hold a modest lead in South Carolina's Republican primary for President. He's at 29% to 24% for Newt Gingrich, 15% for Ron Paul, 14% for Rick Santorum, 6% for Rick Perry, 5% for Jon Huntsman, and 1% for Buddy Roemer."
Romney has remained on top, however Santorum has slid to fourth while Paul moved into third.
Meanwhile Huntsman is expected to call it quits today and back Romney.
Also churning in the South Carolina political waters is TV news comedian, and pundit Stephen Colbert. He is increasing his showing in South Carolina — Public Policy Polling found that if he had been listed on the ballot, 5% said they would have voted for him — and Colbert's former PAC has released a humorous TV ad attacking Romney as a serial killer of businesses.
Also, if you haven't yet registered to vote for the primary, it's too late to do so now — but if you only need to know where to vote on the 21st, head here.
