When asked about those allegations during Thursday night’s debate, Gingrich turned the tables on moderator John King of CNN.
Exit polls suggest the jujitsu was successful. Gingrich fared well among both evangelical voters and women — two groups whose support might have been shaken by his ex-wife’s interview.
Meanwhile, Romney stumbled in the debates, particularly in his convoluted explanations of why he has not yet released his tax returns, which served as a reminder of his wealth.
Overall, the debates proved to be a decisive factor in South Carolina.
In preliminary exit polls, more than half of voters say they decided in the closing days of the campaign, and Gingrich held a roughly 20-point lead in this group. Romney matched Gingrich among those who decided earlier.
Gingrich’s strongest support came from those who said the debates had been the “most important factor” in making their choice.
“It’s not that I am a great debater, it is that I articulate the deepest-felt values of the American people,” Gingrich said in his victory speech.
Two more debates are scheduled for this week in Florida, one Monday and another Thursday.
Though Romney’s participation in those debates had been in question, his campaign confirmed Saturday that he will appear at both — which was welcome news to Gingrich’s team.
Another factor contributing to Gingrich’s success was the outside spending by a “super PAC” supporting his candidacy. Shortly before the South Carolina contest, it received a $5 million contribution from Las Vegas casino magnate Sheldon Adelson.
Going into Florida, “we will raise a boatload of money, and then we will do what we did in South Carolina,” said Rick Tyler, a former Gingrich aide who runs the Winning Our Future super PAC.
Polling director Jon Cohen contributed to this report.
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