Republican presidential candidate Gingrich speaks as Romney and Paul look on during the Republican presidential candidates debate
Republican presidential candidate Gingrich speaks as Romney and Paul look on during the Republican presidential candidates debate REUTERS

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Rep. Ron Paul, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich were the only GOP candidates left standing in South Carolina on the night of this week's second 2012 primary debate.

Since 1980, the Republican candidate who has won South Carolina has gone on to win the GOP nomination, and the pressure on the candidates has been intense. The day before the first debate, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman dropped out of the presidential race, and Thursday, just before the second debate, Texas Gov. Rick Perry bowed out as well.

The South Carolina primary is Saturday, and all four candidates are gunning for every vote they can get from the Southern state.

Paul described South Carolina as a state known for its respect for liberty. Santorum argued that he had fought the battles on social issues like abortion. Romney accused President Barack Obama of attacking people who have been successful. And Gingrich argued that he had led the charge on many of the most significant acts passed by Congress in the 1990s, and that he could rely on knowledge, not advisers or a teleprompter, to thrive in the White House.

But who actually won the second South Carolina GOP Debate? Which candidate had the best answers, the firmest convictions, and the most persuasive vision?

Below, take a moment to scroll down and answer our two polls on who you think won the Republican debate tonight and who you support for the 2012 GOP nomination.