Image source: Wikimedia Commons

BY ZACH TOOMBS

Just how bad was Mitt Romney’s week? In the span of three days, the candidate not only lost a blowout to Newt Gingrich in South Carolina -- he lost a caucus he had initially won in Iowa, meaning his record in nominating contests suddenly jumped from 2-for-2 to 1-for-3.

In his concession speech Saturday, Romney admitted defeat and delivered what could be a preview of his campaign strategy leading up to the Florida primary: going hard after Gingrich.

“Let me be clear: If Republican leaders want to join this president in demonizing success and disparaging conservative values then they’re not going to be fit to be our nominee.”

Sunday morning, Romney made a rare move, appearing on FOX News Sunday. The interview marked only the second time Romney had appeared on a Sunday show since March 2010. He announced plans to put to rest an issue that has dogged him in recent days.

“I’m going to make it very clear to you right now, Chris. I will release my tax returns for 2010, which is the last returns that were completed. I’ll do that on Tuesday of this week.”

Many analysts blame Romney’s blowout defeat on a fundamental misunderstanding of both primary voters and Gingrich’s legitimacy. The Washington Examiner’s Byron York had this to say:

“Mitt Romney's team of seasoned campaign professionals may not think Newt Gingrich has any business playing a deciding role in the race.  But they better believe it, and they better take seriously what the Gingrich challenge represents -- before it's too late.”

Exit polling data from South Carolina also showed the re-emergence of an old thorn in Romney’s side -- evidence the candidate’s Mormon faith turned off many evangelical voters. CNN takes a look.

“If the candidates’ religious beliefs mattered a great deal to you when you voted... Only 9 percent voted for Mitt Romney.”

“Religious beliefs don’t matter at all? Gov. Romney wins among this subset of the electorate 42 percent to 29 percent.”

Looking to Florida, many pundits, including POLITICO’s Jonathan Martin, agreed conservative coalescing around Gingrich while Romney falters makes the Sunshine State’s January 31st primary unpredictable.

“With three separate candidates taking the first three states, none of the contenders has a convincing hold ... A contest that appeared increasingly clear following New Hampshire is now scrambled to the point that a protracted delegate battle is a real possibility.”

Still, Romney has a strong presence in Florida. Although Gingrich led Romney in many polls there throughout December, the latest data has the former Massachusetts governor out ahead by 18 points.