If Newt wins big, it will be very interesting to see if the exit polls show that a significant number of S.C. voters were less pro-Newt than in favor of simply keeping the game going. Some thoughts that might be going through some South Carolina voters’ minds: “Do we really want to be the ones to decide this?” “Maybe Romney can get better?” “Do we need time for someone else to get in?” “Let the damn Floridians own this mess!”

It sounds like Newt won it on the merits, but South Carolina is breaking from its historic role of confirming the front runner. It’s particularly worth finding out why.