Rain dampens S.C. primary - UPI.com GREENVILLE, S.C., Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Lines at South Carolina polling places were short Saturday with pelting rain possibly cutting turnout in the Republican primary, observers said. The four candidates seeking the GOP presidential nomination were still campaigning in the Palmetto State, The New York Times reported. Late polls showed that what had looked like an almost certain win for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney had turned into a contest with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. An expected showdown Saturday morning between the two at Timothy's Country Ham House in Greenville failed to materialize. The two had been scheduled to be there at the same time, but Romney was gone by the time Gingrich arrived. U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, who is known for his libertarian views, and former Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., are also in the race. Gingrich's strong performance in Thursday's debate, which included a strong defense against accusations by a former wife, helped boost his numbers. Stuart Stevens, a Romney strategist, sought to play down expectations for South Carolina, saying Romney could lose in the state.