(Image Source: New York Times)

BY ALLIE SPILLYARDS

Til now -- all signs have pointed to Mitt Romney as the GOP front runner. But a new poll released Thursday suggests-- it ain’t over till it’s over. Here’s CNN.

“Ahead of Saturday’s primary, Newt Gingrich is gaining momentum. American Research Group, they have a new poll out and it’s showing a dead heat. 33 percent of likely Republican voters are backing Newt Gingrich. 32 percent say they back Mitt Romney.”

According to a panel on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Gingrich has recent debate performances to thank for his surge...

“Gingrich was the momentum candidate before the debate. I think he only accelerated that. And Romney really exacerbated some of the problems that he has.”

Missed the moment the media’s calling a win for Newt? See it for yourself -- when host John King asked about allegations brought by his ex-wife.

JOHN KING: “She says you asked her, sir, to enter into an open marriage. Would you like to take some time to respond to that?”
NEWT: “No. But I will.” (FLASH) “I am appalled that you would begin a presidential debate on a topic like that.”

Politico’s Jonathon Martin and Alexander Burns agree the debate was a winning moment for Newt.

“By twice castigating one of the right’s perennial boogeymen — the press — Gingrich made a gut-level connection with conservatives who think they get a raw deal from the news media... Gingrich is finding his voice by appealing to the mad-as-hell wing of the GOP that has been searching for a candidate to match and articulate its anger.”

But an opinion writer for New York Daily News suggests-- Gingrich’s apparent debate win was tarnished in short order. According to S.E. Cupp-- ABC’s interview with Gingrich’s former wife dampened his post-debate glow.

“The interview was not an ideal way to punctuate what was a pretty good day for a guy whose campaign has been resuscitated more times than a CPR dummy. Because it was the last thing we saw, and it managed to eat up some of Gingrich's airtime today, it knocks a point off his score.”

So what’s the big deal if Newt does win? NBC’s political team writes...

“Forty-eight hours ago, we all believed that Romney was about to make history, going 3-for-3 in the first three contests. But come Saturday, there’s the potential for another kind of history -- having three different Republican winners in the first three contests. That has never happened before.”

South Carolina’s primary will be Saturday, January 21st. Next up-- Republican candidates will move to the sunshine state for Florida’s January 31st primary.