Palin: I’d vote for Newt
Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin speaks during a Tea Party Express rally on Sept. 5, 2011, in Manchester, New Hampshire.
WASHINGTON — Sarah Palin, the former Republican vice presidential nominee, said Wednesday on Fox News that if she were in South Carolina, she would vote for Newt Gingrich, “just to keep this thing going,” the Los Angeles Times reported.
Palin, who is a political commentator on Fox News, contemplated a presidential run last year. Until now Palin has refrained from endorsing a candidate, though some viewed her husband’s endorsement of Newt Gingrich on January 9 as an indication of her preference.
More from GlobalPost: Todd Palin endorses Newt Gingrich for president.
When asked about Palin's comments Newt Gingrich told Politico, “It’s a signal to every conservative that the one conservative vote that’s effective is to Newt Gingrich and that’s very helpful.”
More from GlobalPost: Sarah Palin: Not running for president.
Mitt Romney is currently projected to take 32 percent of the vote in South Carolina’s Saturday primary according to the RealClearPolitics poll of polls , and is expected to perform even better in Florida, the following contest.
In the Sunshine State, where Romney is expected to take over 40 percent of the vote, delegates are awarded in a winner-take-all system. A win there would be a major boost to the front-runner's bid for the GOP nomination.