South Carolina Republican debate: Surging Newt Gingrich scores (+video)

(CNN) – The CNN Political Ticker is live blogging the CNN Southern Republican Debate in Charleston, South Carolina. Check here for live updates throughout the event and be sure to follow @PoliticalTicker, @CNNPolitics and use #CNNDebate.

By James Oliphant It took only a matter of minutes for the explosive allegations by Newt Gingrich's ex-wife that he once asked for an “open marriage” that would include his mistress to emerge front and center at Thursday evening's Republican debate in

On the heels of Texas Gov. Rick Perry abandoning his campaign for the White House, four candidates running for the Republican presidential nomination are participating in a debate in South Carolina on Thursday night.

20 (Bloomberg) — Mitt Romney saw his rationale as the Republican presidential front-runner undercut as Newt Gingrich's rise was threatened by allegations from an ex-wife and Rick Santorum fought them both in a debate that showcased tensions in the

At Thursday night's South Carolina Republican debate, Romney was put on the spot to release his tax returns before April, and when he balked, the crowd reacted disapprovingly. Moderator John King started out by noting that former Speaker Newt Gingrich