Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin told Sean Hannity on Fox News Tuesday night that, if she were voting in the South Carolina primary Saturday, she would vote for Newt Gingrich for president.
"If I had to vote in South Carolina, in order to keep this thing going, I would vote for Newt, and I would want it to continue. More debates, more vetting of candidates," Palin told Hannity.
Story continues below the video.
Palin also praised Gingrich's much-lauded debate performance Monday night:
"I do think that Newt is the one that won the debate if you will, because Newt came out like South Carolina's own Smokin' Joe Frazier," Palin said. "He came out there swinging, talking about work, talking about jobs and work ethic and how government needs to get out of the way in order for all Americans to have a sense of opportunity to work, and I think that's what a lot of voters have been craving to hear."
Palin's husband, Todd, already has endorsed Gingrich for president. She stressed that she is not fully endorsing Gingrich but believes the primary race should continue and dismissed the idea that Gov. Mitt Romney is the "inevitable" candidate.
"I can tell you what I would do if I were a South Carolinian . . . If I were a South Carolinian though, and each one of these primaries and caucuses are different, Sean, I want to see this thing continue because iron sharpens iron," Palin said at the beginning of the interview.
"Steel sharpens steel. These guys are getting better in their debates. They are getting more concise. They are getting more grounded in what their beliefs are and articulating what their ideas are for getting America back on the right track and getting Americans working again," Palin said.
© 2012 Newsmax. All rights reserved.