Everyone in the media has been trying to figure out why Newt won South Carolina. They've been grasping for something to explain the surge. For the most part, the main "reason" all the pundits have been fixating on is Newt's attack on "the media".
The John King and Juan Williams fireworks were showy, but I don't think that's what resonated. The media has been contorting themselves into knots trying to square the circle of the "Open Marriage" attack with what they stereotype South Carolina as: evangelical, redneck, parochial dummies.
The media, always so self-fixated, went with the "Newt attacks the media" line to explain the surge. That wasn't what won the primary. What won the primary was Newt's fierce defense and advocacy of the value of work. He very clearly drew the distinction between the Democrats as the party who will give you a hand-out, and the Republicans as the party that's going to find you a job and tell you to work for it.
It's the difference between the dignity of work, earning money from the sweat of your brow - and the person who is always acting as a victim, and looking for an easy path.
"I'm going to continue to find ways to help poor people learn how to get a job, learn how to get a better job, and learn someday to own the job."
That was what resonated. This is America. Most people want to work. Most people want to have the dignity that comes from standing on their own two feet and not take government charity, assistance, or whatever you want to call it. People want to be able to look back and say: I did that.
Newt articulated the argument and drew the distinction clearly, succinctly, and did so with fire. He's the only guy up there with any fire. That plays a role as well. People want their candidate to be fired up.
Also, don't underestimate the frustration that most conservatives have a being told their candidates are stupid, sound like hicks, can't be nuanced, are rednecks, and are just generally hicks. Newt is the guy that Republicans can vote for and be fairly confident that these attacks (attacks they have suffered through for at least 12 years) will not score against Newt. Say what you will about him, he's no dummy, and he doesn't sound like ol' Billy Bob the Cowboy when he speaks. That goes a long way.
We'll see how Florida goes. This thing is a long way from over.
