Gingrich steals Romney's cloak of electability as president (Reuters)

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (Reuters) – Newt Gingrich didn't just beat Mitt Romney in Saturday's South Carolina primary, the former House speaker kicked away one of the main pillars of his rival's election campaign.

Exit polling data shows Gingrich convinced voters he would be the toughest Republican opponent against President Barack Obama in the November general election.

Electability - Republican campaign-speak for a candidate's ability to beat Obama - had been one of Romney's top selling points until Saturday.

Conventional wisdom was that the former Massachusetts governor's emphasis on jobs and the economy and his perceived appeal to independents would help him against Gingrich, who is often seen as erratic and divisive.

But Gingrich's combative style in debates resonated with voters keen for a heavyweight debater to take on Obama, who is grudgingly respected by Republicans as a formidable campaigner.

This may also be helping Gingrich's message on the economy gain traction, exit polling data showed.

South Carolina's Republicans rated the ability to beat Obama as a candidate's most important quality, an exit poll on CNN showed.

Forty-five percent of voters said that was the main attribute they sought in a nominee. Of that group, 51 percent voted for Gingrich compared to 37 percent for Romney.

Twenty-one percent of South Carolina voters said the quality that mattered most to them in their candidate was that he had the right experience.

"It is electability, and that is measured in your ability to effectively debate and prosecute your case against Obama," said Republican strategist Matt Mackowiak.

Exit polls also showed that for 63 percent of South Carolina voters the most important issue was the economy. Gingrich won this group by a margin of eight percentage points over Romney.

The attraction of Gingrich as an anti-Obama candidate may be the factor that increased his ratings on other issues like the economy, Mackowiak said.

Attacks on Obama in recent weeks, including dubbing him "a foodstamp president," endeared Gingrich to voters in a state with unemployment of almost 10 percent.

OLD TIMER WITH EXPERIENCE

"He is an old timer with a lot of political experience. He's the only one who can beat Obama," said Jim Walters, a retired marine owner in the town of Aiken.

Gingrich slammed Obama as "truly a danger to the country" in his South Carolina victory speech and promised to bring down Obama in a series of long debates.

A master of the sharp turn of phrase who talks in big broad sweeps, the former House speaker was the clear star of the more than 20 Republican debates in recent months.

He left Romney floundering, particularly during two televised contests in South Carolina this week where the millionaire former executive stumbled over questions about his personal finances.

Republican voters in South Carolina, a conservative state with a taste for rough and tumble politics, lapped it up.

"I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that people really want to see Newt debate Obama," Mackowiak said.

"It reminds me of gladiators. You see an amazing gladiator have a string of victories in the middle of the Coliseum so you really want to see him go up against the biggest, baddest gladiator there is."

In a sign that Gingrich's well-documented marital infidelities might have created a problem with female voters, exit polls showed Gingrich held an advantage over Romney of 16 points among men but only 9 points among women.

(Editing by David Storey)

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The GOP Debate Surprise: Michele Bachmann Steals the Show (Time.com)

Rep. Michele Bachmann used Monday night's CNN/WMUR's debate between GOP presidential hopefuls as an unconventional venue to make it official: She's running for President.

"I just want to make an announcement here for you, John, on CNN tonight," Bachmann told the debate's moderator, John King. "I filed today my paperwork to seek the office of the presidency of the United States today, and I'll very soon be making my formal announcement. So I wanted you to be the first to know."

Her statement was followed, minutes later, by an e-mailed press release, making it official that Bachmann will not seek reelection to Congress and instead aspires to the highest office in the land. "Our country needs a leader who understands the hardships that people across America have been facing over the past few years, and who will do what it takes to renew the American dream. We must become a strong and proud America again, and I see clearly a better path to a brighter future," she said in the statement. "For these reasons, earlier this evening I instructed my team to file the necessary paperwork to allow me to seek the office of President of the United States."

(What you missed if you did not watch the debate)

Bachmann had pledged to make her decision in Iowa - and her formal announcement will likely still be there - but in doing it at the debate, Bachmann captured headlines and buzz. In many ways, the Minnesota congresswoman stole the show. As the only woman on the same New Hampshire stage where in 2008 then Senator Barack Obama quipped condescendingly to Hillary Clinton, "you're likeable enough," Bachmann out-charmed her male rivals. She slapped Newt Gingrich on the wrist playfully when he said he preferred American Idol over Dancing with the Stars (a subtle dig at Sarah Palin?) with a cackling laugh that sounded eerily like Clinton's. She gushed when asked to choose between Elvis and Johnny Cash, and finally said "both." And she underlined her biography, mentioning her 30+ year marriage, five biological children and 23 foster kids three times.

She smartly threw Obama's words back at him on the debt ceiling, saying someone "far more eloquent than I" had once made the case to vote against it. Obama voted against raising the debt ceiling as a senator in 2006 - a vote he says he now regrets. She spoke convincingly of her impassioned pleas to the House GOP conference and then-Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson to block TARP in 2008. She spoke forcefully of her pro-life bonafides. And she showed surprising foreign policy chops as the newest member of the House Intelligence Committee in articulating her opposition to U.S. action in Libya. "That sound you hear is millions of jaws hitting the ground by Bachmann's stellar answer on Libya," tweeted RedState.Com's Erick Erickson. "She just did very well with that." Less than an hour into the debate, "Bachman" (sic) was trending on twitter.

(More on TIME.com: In GOP New Hampshire Debate, Bachmann Provides Fireworks as Romney Escapes Unscathed)

Bachmann benefitted from low expectations. "She was as good in this debate as she was awful in her alternative response to the State of the Union address," said Larry Sabato, a presidential scholar at the University of Virginia. I can see why she might do better than expected in Iowa and beyond." And she showed that she is, actually, quite media savvy. She didn't make the announcement in her opening remarks, as that was precious time she could use on her biography, instead waiting for her first question on proposed repeal of financialregulation to do it. She was poised and relaxed. She even impressed Democrats. "[Former Massachusetts Governor and the presumed front runner Mitt] Romney's polish was perhaps to be expected," tweeted Washington Post liberal blogger Ezra Klein. "But Bachmann is much newer to politics than much of the field. Her ease is impressive."

Bachmann used the debate often to speak directly to the audience at home. She was one of the few candidates who looked at the camera, often addressing it rather than audience in front of her. And her first headline announcement wasn't her only proclamation of the night. "I want to make a promise to everyone watching tonight," she said, underlining that she was the first member to introduce a bill to repeal Obamacare. "As President of the United States, I will not rest until I repeal "Obamacare." It's a promise. Take it to the bank; cash the check. I'll make sure that that happens."

(Why Pawlenty's poor showing is a serious liability)

And on answering a question about the Tea Party, she added a direct plea to all Republicans: "We need every one of us in the three-legged stool. We need the peace through strength Republicans; we need the fiscal conservatives; we need the social conservatives. We need everybody to come together, because we're going to win. Just make no mistake about it. I want to announce tonight, President Obama is a one-term president!" she yelled over cheers and applause. "We'll win!"

A strong Bachmann candidacy could spell trouble for former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, who is betting on Iowa. Bachmann, with her 23 foster kids, has a natural appeal to the Hawkeye State's powerful home schooler and evangelical voting blocs. Her ascendancy also spell trouble for Sarah Palin, if the former Alaska governor and vice presidential nominee is indeed thinking of running. The two women would compete to appeal to similar voters and donors.

The firebrand Bachmann - who once labeled Americorps a dangerous example of big government expansion rather than a volunteer program, accused Obama of spending $200 million on his trip to India by bringing 2,000 staff and 34 warships with him - a charge the Pentagon labeled "comical," and accused the U.S. Census Bureau of spying on Americans by asking for too much information - was toned down tonight. The only hint at her Tea Party roots came when she called for the abolition of the Environmental Protection Agency, which she said should be renamed "the job-killing organization of America."

Of course, Bachmann remains relatively untested. "Media is going to hunt down and check out all 23 foster kids if she wins Iowa," tweeted GOP strategist Mike Murphy. She is just entering her third term and with only five years in Congress, she can't employ the familiar GOP criticism of President Obama that he is too green and unqualified for the job.

(See the top 10 debate flubs of all time)

There is also some question about her staying power. Though she started off the strongest, she faltered towards the end. "As a second tier candidate, she punched through and surprised everyone with a good first performance," says GOP strategist Ron Bonjean. "However, she gave a confusing answer over the role of the federal government and the rights of the states over gay marriage." Bachmann said she supports both the right of states to make up their own mind on gay marriage and that marriage should be defined as only between a man and a woman federally - contradictory positions. She also fumbled a question about whether or not Don't Ask Don't Tell should be reinstated, saying it should be up to the "commanders in chief."

But Monday night was still a net positive for the Minnesota congresswoman, a well-used opportunity to raise her profile and make the big announcement.

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