Politics & Government
5 Things to Know About Neighbor Newt Gingrich's Win in South Carolina Primary
Romney finishes a distant second.
McLean neighbor and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich won a decisive victory in the Republican presidential primary in South Carolina Saturday night.
Gingrich, who has lived in McLean since 2000, won with nearly 41 percent of the vote. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney came in a distant second with 27 percent of the the vote, according to The New York Times.
Great Falls neighbor Rick Santorum finished third.
Find out what's happening in McLeanwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Here are 5 things to know about Gingrich's win:
1. The primaries are really about winning delegates. "The New York Times delegate counter currently has Mitt Romney and Mr. Gingrich tied at 19 delegates each. Most likely, after tonight, Mr. Gingrich will be leading the delegate race to the Republican nomination. Of course, a candidate needs 1,144 delegates to secure the nomination, so that race has just begun," the Times reported.
Find out what's happening in McLeanwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
2. Best headline: MITT NEWT-ERED. The Huffington Post.*
3. Since 1980, when Ronald Reagan won the the first party primary contest held in the Palmetto State, the winner of the South Carolina Republican primary has won the party's nomination for president, according to the Huffington Post.
4. Since we probably won't be running into our neighbor in the Giant on Sunday evening or at breakfast at McLean Family Restuarant, you can watch him today on "Meet the Press" and "Face the Nation."
5. The Los Angeles Times reported, "South Carolina, a state notorious for its unruly politics, lived up to its reputation, hosting one of the most raucous weeks of the tumultuous presidential campaign. Romney arrived in a seemingly commanding position; Gingrich limped in, once again left for dead after his poor showings in Iowa and New Hampshire."
Next stop the Florida primary: Jan 31.
ORIGINAL STORY 7:08 PM: NBC and CNN both declared McLean neighbor Newt Gingrich as the winner of tonight's South Carolina Republican Presidential primary moments after the polls closed at 7 p.m.
Gingrich had been surging all week against front-runner Mitt Romney, according to news reports.
Gingrich and his wife Calista live just off of Lewinsville Road in a home that purchased in 2000 for $995,0000.
News reports said Great Falls resident and former Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum was fighting for a third place finished against Texas Cong. Ron Paul.
Gingrich is a former congressman from Georgia.
Four years ago in the 2008 South Carolina Republican primary, McLean resident Fred Thompson came in third behind winner John McCain and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
*Both Patch and the Huffington Post are owned by AOL.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.