(Image Source: The New York Times)

BY AUSTIN ALONZO

ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN

Mitt Romney was the big winner in New Hampshire on Tuesday night, winning 39 percent of the vote and seven delegates, but runner-up Ron Paul is attracting attention with another strong showing.

Paul’s Tuesday night speech seemed more like a celebration than a concession.

From: The Washington Post: “I called Gov. Romney a short while ago, before he gave his talk and congratulated him because he certainly had a clear cut victory, but we’re nibbling at his heels. ... We are dangerous to the status quo of this country!"

Paul finished with around 23 percent of the vote in New Hampshire, three times more than he received four years ago. Despite little media coverage as a serious contender, the candidate is gaining momentum. But can he repeat his performance in South Carolina and beyond?

The latest CNN / TIME / ORC poll in South Carolina reports Mitt Romney is pulling away.

“37% of likely GOP primary voters in South Carolina say they are currently backing Romney ... Romney has nearly doubled his support from CNN's last survey in the Palmetto State, which was conducted early last month. … Ron Paul of Texas, who is making his third run for the White House, has doubled his support, from 6% to 12%.”

Nationally, Paul isn’t faring much better, he won only 11 percent of the vote in a national poll by Rasmussen Reports released January 6th. But Bloomberg Businessweek reports Paul will focus on caucus states where his highly organized base can win him key delegates and maybe a prime time speaking spot at August’s Republican Party Convention.

“Paul may become the latest presidential runner-up who parlayed his showing in the caucuses and primaries into flexing some muscle at the national convention. In 1976, California Governor Jerry Brown did well enough against Jimmy Carter in the Democratic primaries to secure a prime-time speaking spot at the national convention.”

But will Paul be satisfied with just a speech at the convention? Pundits speculate a third party run is possible if he doesn’t get the GOP nod, but the Washington Post’s Chris Cilliza says that would be disastrous for the Republican Party.

Citing an ABC/Washington Post poll he notes:

“President Obama and Romney are tied at 47 percent in a traditional two-way race. Add Paul in as a third party candidate and Obama takes 42 percent, Romney 32 percent and Paul 21 percent. That’s a pretty stark difference in potential outcomes.”

Paul’s campaign manager says his candidate is focused only on South Carolina for now. The Palmetto state votes on January 21st.