Gingrich Wins South Carolina

Each of the three non-Paul candidates has now won a state.  Gov. Romney has fallen from "prohibitive frontrunner" status to "probably still the favorite in Florida, we think" in less than a week.

Speculation: Gov. Romney's surge was not the GOP falling in line behind him as the establishment always foretold.  It was the GOP giving Gov. Romney a surge just like they've given every other candidate a surge.

Speculation II: In case this was in any doubt: in the 2012 GOP primary, absolutely anything can happen, with no warning at all.

Post-Script: Rep. Paul's defeat in S.C. was brutal.  He came in dead last among conservatives, evangelicals, the elderly, and Tea Partiers -- that is, for the first time, he lost the GOP base.