Palin calls South Carolina primary winner Gingrich new GOP 'front runner'

Washington, Jan 22 (ANI): Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has dubbed former House Speaker Newt Gingrich the new Republican "front-runner" after his victory in the South Carolina primary.

Palin also said that Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney "took one for the team" when he dropped out and endorsed Gingrich.

"I think what Rick Perry having dropped out and that patriot having done well for the front-runner, whom I will call Newt Gingrich now, being the front-runner, having endorsed him, was a good smart move," Palin said on Fox News.

"He kind of took one for the team there, the conservative team, when he dropped out," she added.

Palin said that she would vote for Gingrich if she were a South Carolina voter. And, she said, it was no surprise to her that Gingrich emerged victorious in the Palmetto State.

"I don't know, do political pundits back there in the Beltway feign surprise, or are you really surprised that Newt Gingrich did as well as he did?" Politico quoted Palin, as saying.

According to the report, Palin also said that any development that prolongs the race was a positive one for the Republican Party.

"The more vetting, the more ideas vigorously debated, the better it is for the electorate," the paper quoted her, as saying.

"So we need this to continue, and I'm glad to see the result that was tonight knowing that it will continue and we can start talking about more of the solutions that this country needs to get back on the right track," she added. (ANI)