(Image source: The New York Times)

BY BLAKE HANSON

They were just out of the starting blocks for Thursday night’s GOP debate in South Carolina -- when analysts speculated Newt Gingrich had already clinched a win.

The first question? About a recent ABC News interview with his ex-wife Marianne -- who claimed Gingrich asked her for an “open marriage.” The answer was fiery.

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

Both the Gingrich and Santorum campaigns got boosts earlier in the day. With Rick Perry dropping out and endorsing Gingrich -- and news that Rick Santorum had actually won the Iowa Caucuses in the most recent count. The LA Times reports it had the two candidates scrambling to become the alternative to Mitt Romney.

“Rick Perry’s exit from the GOP race allowed for some consolidation of the anti-Mitt Romney vote. But clearly not enough, as evidenced by a debate exchange between Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich.”

MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow offers a unique take on the bizarre day for Gingrich...

“It was probably Newt Gingrich’s best day on the campaign trail, at least his best day in a very very long time. But because the gods of politics have evil sense of humor, even into Mr. Gingrich’s very sunny day today, a little rain had to fall. So even though as today was Newt Gingrich’s best day yet on the campaign trail, it was also his worst possible day.”

During the live broadcast, Newt Gingrich released his 2010 tax returns showing he paid a 31% tax rate. When moderator John King asked if he’d follow in his father’s footsteps and release 12 years worth of tax returns -- Romney said “maybe.” He got boos from the crowd for that, and Politico’s Maggie Haberman offers this analysis...

“...it was the second time he has struggled with the tax question in a debate in the past week.
Earlier he said he didn’t want to release his taxes ‘drip by drip’ because it would give the Democrats something to attack on, and he would do the last year's in April ‘and probably for other years as well.’”

NBC’s Chuck Todd tweeted early in the day saying if the 2012 campaign has a book -- this Thursday will have its own chapter. Writers for the Miami-Herald offered a similar sentiment wrapping up the day.

“To call Thursday the most turbulent day of an already volatile presidential primary would be an understatement. South Carolina suddenly is a neck-and-neck race between [Romney and Gingrich]. And, as a result, Florida’s Jan. 31 primary looks like less of a cakewalk for Romney.”

The candidates must now prepare for Saturday’s South Carolina Primary. Voters head to the polls Saturday.