Sarah Palin Partially Endorses Newt Gingrich

Sarah Palin has chosen whom to endorse for the South Carolina primary. Politico reports the former governor of Alaska said she would vote for Newt Gingrich if she lived in South Carolina. The former Speaker of the House said he was "thrilled" by Palin's remarks she made on Fox News.

Yet Palin didn't glowingly endorse Gingrich because of his background. Here's what Palin has had to say about the GOP field so far.

Rick Santorum

The Washington Post reported in early December that Palin liked Rick Santorum in Iowa. She claimed the former Senator from Pennsylvania was the most "consistent" candidate for conservative values in taxation, abortion and his tough stance with Iran.

Santorum finished in a virtual tie with Mitt Romney in the 2012 Iowa caucus. Palin's words came just as Herman Cain was dropped from the race. Palin said in the same interview she wouldn't endorse a candidate before the Iowa caucus.

Rep. Ron Paul

Less than a week after praising Santorum, Mediaite reported that Palin felt like Rep. Ron Paul of Texas was a prudent choice when delving into matters of domestic spending. Palin said she would be most interested in who Paul would endorse once the GOP nominating race eliminated him.

She did bring down a caveat with her words. Palin said in case Paul doesn't get the nomination, who he endorses will give voters a "clear path" as to who has it right regarding domestic spending.

Newt Gingrich

Palin said her only reason to vote for Gingrich in Sou! th Carol ina was that she wanted to see the GOP nominating contest extend even further into the future. The Wall Street Journal said she claimed Republican voters needed time to get as much information as possible on each candidate.

Todd Palin, Sarah's husband, fully endorsed Gingrich on Jan. 9, according to ABC News . He stated that his wife hasn't fully decided who can beat President Barack Obama in the general election.

Pattern So Far

Palin may get her wish in South Carolina. Any registered voter may participate in the presidential preference primary. South Carolina does not differentiate between Democrats and Republicans when voters register. If Gingrich were to win the South Carolina primary, the GOP field moves on to Florida for its presidential preference primary on Jan. 31.

If the current pattern holds up, at least one of the five mainstream GOP candidates will drop out of the nomination process after the South Carolina primary.