On an appearance on "Hannity," on FOX News, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said that if she were a South Carolinian, in order to keep the process going, she would vote for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in Saturday's first-in-the-South primary in South Carolina.
"If I had to vote in South Carolina, in order to keep this thing going, I'd vote for Newt," Palin said.
Palin said she thought Gingrich won Monday's debate and noted Gingrich "came out swinging like South Carolina's Joe Frazier" in fiercely talking about work, jobs, and work ethic at the debate. Gingrich's exchange with Juan Williams, in which Gingrich resoundingly rejected the idea that his comments about how he would run a campaign that supported paychecks over food stamps was insensitive to the poor and racial minorities, was a highlight many said was the strongest debate moment of this election cycle.
At the debate, Gingrich said he wanted to empower every American to work and eventually own a business.
“I will continue to find ways to help poor people find a job, get a job, and learn someday to own the job," Gingrich said on Monday to a raucous standing ovation.
Palin, whose husband, Todd, endorsed Gingrich, has a similar punchiness to her. Gingrich and Palin have also fiercely defended American exceptionalism while being unwavering in their criticism of Obama.
Palin said that there were still questions about the business dealings and records of the GOP candidates and the more the candidates are vetted, the better it is for Republicans.
"I want to see this continue because iron sharpens iron, steel sharpens steel," Palin said, in reference to how a drawn out primary makes the eventual nominee a stronger contender against Obama.
