There is a metric ton of data today, with six polls examining the pending GOP primary in South Carolina alone. But with the spectacle of the Perry withdrawal, the Marianne Gingrich interview, amid the backdrop of the continued bad news week for Mitt Romney, the volatility of public opinion in this topsy-turvy election cycle has to be at an all-time high.
In other words, here are the numbers, but don't expect them to mean a whole hell of a lot by ... y'know ... tomorrow.
Let's start with the GOP primary data, which, as I noted before, is centered on the Palmetto State and the clusterfu... primary contest coming up on Saturday.
NATIONAL (Clarus Research): Romney 30, Gingrich 19, Santorum 15, Paul 12, Perry 6NATIONAL (Gallup): Romney 33, Gingrich 17, Paul 13, Santorum 13, Perry 8
SOUTH CAROLINA (American Research Group): Gingrich 33, Romney 32, Paul 19, Santorum 9, Perry 4
SOUTH CAROLINA (Insider Advantage): Gingrich 32, Romney 29, Paul 15, Santorum 11, Perry 3
SOUTH CAROLINA (NBC News/Marist): Romney 34, Gingrich 24, Paul 16, Santorum 14, Perry 4
SOUTH CAROLINA (Politico/Tarrance): Romney 37, Gingrich 30, Paul 11, Santorum 10, Perry 4
SOUTH CAROLINA (PPP Tracking): Gingrich 34, Romney 28, Paul 15, Santorum 14, Perry 5, Roemer 3
SOUTH CAROLINA (Rasmussen): Gingrich 33, Romney 31, Paul 15, Santorum 11, Perry 2
We also get a little bit of general election polling, the critical mass of which comes from a "swing states" survey done by a GOP pollster. For any conservative readers out there, I'll make you a little wager. I'll bet a $100 contribution (to the charity of the victor's choice), using these polls as the point spread. In other words, even if Mitt Romney somehow wins Nevada (where I make him no better than a 50/50 shot), you have to spot me the rather absurd 11 percent margin that this pollster gives Romney as an edge over Obama.
Any takers?
NATIONAL (Rasmussen): Obama d. Santorum (48-38)FLORIDA (GS Strategy--R): Romney d. Obama (47-42)
FLORIDA (Tarrance Group--R): Obama d. Romney (46-45)
NEVADA (GS Strategy--R): Romney d. Obama (49-38)
NEW MEXICO (GS Strategy--R): Obama tied with Romney (45-45)
OHIO (GS Strategy--R): Romney d. Obama (47-40)
TEXAS (PPP): Romney d. Obama (49-42); Santorum d. Obama (49-42); Paul d. Obama (46-40); Perry d. Obama (48-47); Obama d. Gingrich (47-45)
TEXAS 3-WAY TRIAL HEAT (PPP): Romney d. Obama and Ron Paul (40-38-17)
VIRGINIA (GS Strategy--R): Romney d. Obama (47-44)
WISCONSIN (GS Strategy--R): Romney d. Obama (44-43)