SOUTH CAROLINA STILL ANYBODY'S GAME FOR GOP

Polls show Republican presidential hopefuls are neck in neck in South Carolina, whose influential state primary will be held on January 19, a little more than a week after New Hampshire’s.

According to CNN.com, a new AP/PEW poll shows Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani tied at 19% of likely Republican voters, with Fred Thompson coming in at 18%. John McCain registered 13%, Mike Huckabee 10%, and Ron Paul chimed in with 6%. The poll went on to say that only 44% of voters strongly supported their candidate.

Actor/Senator/presidential hopeful Fred Thompson said, “It’s a very fluid situation. As far as I’m concerned, it’s up to the good Lord and the American people, and that’s just fine with me.” Katon Dawson, chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party said, “There are probably going to be two winners here, because I don’t see that big of a thread between any of the candidates.” Dawson went on to say, “It’s going to be a rough and tumble brawl. It’s going to be tough.”

South Carolina is not only an early and influential primary state; it also has the distinction of having picked every eventual Republican presidential candidate since 1980. Despite the fact that he hasn’t visited the state in recent weeks, Romney is the only candidate other than Thompson to push aggressive television ads in the state.

Who can blame South Carolina? With such a wonderful slate of GOP candidates to choose from, it’s easy to understand their indecision. For Republicans, the race to the nomination is a little like being a kind in candy store.