It’s starting to become a trend in the 2012 Republican primaries – the vote may be days away, but the outcome (seems) to have already been decided.  Much like SITD did for the Granite State,  let’s take a look at Saturday’s Coming Attractions for the Palmetto State.

• Romp-ney:  He won’t win by New Hampshire-styled margins, but Mitt Romney isn’t going to win by an Iowaesque 8 votes either.  The Real Clear Politics average shows Romney with a healthy 10% lead and the only candidate in the field trending up (Gingrich, Santorum & Paul have all flatlined in recent days).  Nor does there seem to be much of a battle for second place.  Gingrich has held steady around the low 20s and will more than likely hold off Paul who despite polling in the mid teens, admittedly has less organization in SC than in Iowa or New Hampshire.  Everyone appears to be waiting for a shoe to drop to change the dynamic of the campaign…and two events this week have perhaps the last best chance of doing it…
• He Turned Her Into a Newt!:  Sarah Palin’s quasi-endorsement of Gingrich’s SC upset bid was the best news the former Speaker has had in weeks.  But despite the South Carolina-qualified nature of her “endorsement”, Palin’s comments might have a better influence on Gingrich’s candidacy down the road as he attempts to coalesce conservatives and define himself as the race’s sole “anti-Romney.”  With Santorum’s numbers stalling in SC (and elsewhere), a reasonably close second place finish for Gingrich might not entirely clear the field but could likely change the narrative from conservatives needing to rally around Rick (even if we now know he actually finished ahead of Newt in NH).  Good thing for Gingrich that Santorum didn’t have his own major endorse…oh wait…
• Divine Intervention:  While Gingrich has been attempting to rally conservatives to his cause, Santorum was making headway in rallying social conservative support with the endorsement of 114 evangelical leaders in a lopsided vote.  Even better for Santorum, Focus on the Family leader James Dobson ignited controversy over Newt’s social values with his comment that Callista Gingrich had been Newt’s “mistress” for eight years.  Unfortunately, Rick may need an Act of God to finish higher than fourth in SC, have squandered his Iowa showing by trying to win, place or show in New Hampshire.  Like Gingrich, Santorum’s 11th hour endorsement might play better post SC, but unlike Gingrich, Santorum doesn’t look likely to have much momentum after Saturday.
• Little Mr. Sunshine State:  Will South Carolina’s outcome even matter if Romney wins as expected?  Romney leads in Florida, the next state in the primary calendar, by 26%.  That number isn’t likely to get worse in light of a South Carolina win, meaning Romney might enter Feb not only undefeated but by winning by margins that would make him the nominee if the system was designed by the BCS.
• Perry-kiri:  Ah, the obligatory Rick Perry comment.  Despite having performed political seppuku on his candidacy months ago (and confirmed by his 10%, $4 million Iowa showing), Perry has soldiered on.  There are three reasons for Perry’s decline: high expectations, poor debate/stump speech performance and….oh crap…uh….uh…the EPA?  Perry’s running third in Texas polling now, which should pretty much say everything that’s left to say about the one-time GOP front-runner.
• Raising Cain:  Well, he promised an endorsement by January 19th.  And he delivered…kinda.  Herman Cain is endorsing his own bid on the South Carolina ballot, aided by “comedian” Stephen Colbert’s Super PAC.  Cain will be on Colbert’s conservative-bash-a-thon TV show and Colbert will supposedly “rally” for Cain, trying to drive independents and Democrats to the polls.  Cain says critics of the move should “lighten up.”  Cain’s political influence certainly has.