New polls out today show Newt Gingrich leading Romney 34 percent to 28 percent in South Carolina and, while Mitt's shady financial record has probably eroded his support, it's possible the majority of the credit for this latest surge is owed to the southern strategy.
During the previous GOP debate, Fox News contributor Juan Williams confronted Gingrich over this comments on food stamps which Williams described as offensive to black people. Gingrich dismissed Williams' concerns and reiterated his position that black people need to learn how to work and demand paychecks instead of food stamps.
The following day a Gingrich supporter thanked Newt for putting Juan Williams "in his place," which you can see here.
Woman: I would like to thank you for putting mister Juan Williams in his place the other night. His supposed question was totally ludicrous, and we support you.
Gingrich: Thank you very much.
As Chris Matthews said, we're just a hair away from "uppity."
Considering the reaction in the debate audience at the time of Juan Williams' question, and the general reaction throughout the entire debate concerning foreigners and minorities, there isn't much doubt in my mind that Newt's newly found success is a direct result of his racist dog-whistling.