It was a gracious speech, and one where an actual Christian moment occurred – not Christianist, Christian:
With a loving wife, a loving family and a loving God who is in my life, things are going to be good whatever we do.
There were some off moments: probably not the best idea, given his debate performances to say:
As a former Air Force pilot, I don't often get confused.
Then the substance. First: he defines Gingrich as the conservative candidate, as opposed to Romney, who implicitly isn't. And he links Gingrich, in language identical to the Gingrich campaign that portrays Newt as a long toiler in the fields of the conservative movement, from the 1970s on:
The mission is greater than the man. Newt is a conservative visionary who can transform this country.
And then, in direct response to Marianne Gingrich's possible stab in the front tonight, Perry reaches out to evangelicals, to persuade them that Gingrich has been converted:
There is forgiveness who seek God and I believe in the power of redemption.
That, I think is how Gingrich and Perry and Palin will tackle the ex-wife bombshell. They will say he has changed since then and not to forgive is to violate Christianity itself. They will also go on the warpath against ABC News, and try to turn this into a media elites vs real Americans.
I'll be candid. I find myself rooting for Gingrich in South Carolina. Yes, because for a blogger, it's total crack. But also, because in terms of delegates, this race has barely begun. To close it down now would be a disservice to all of them. Romney is a terribly weak candidate who has had a terrible week. And we still have no idea what the evangelicals in, er, "quiet rooms", actually think about voting for a Mormon.
(Photo: Texas Governor Rick Perry speaks to the media at Hyatt Place January 19, 2012 in North Charleston, South Carolina. Perry, who placed fifth in Iowa and New Hampshire, announced his withdrawal from the presidential race and endorsed former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. By Allison Joyce/Getty Images)
The Dish 