Winners and Losers Jan. 5: Romney On the Ground in S.C.

With Iowa's Caucus diners closed to campaigning, it's time for the kitchen to open in New Hampshire. But South Carolina saw at least one candidate stop by for a little sweet tea.

Winner: Giving the impression that he's sitting comfortably in the lead in New Hampshire, since Iowa.

Romney is also ready to hit the airwaves with .

He also came to South Carolina to . National news likely also raised Romney's spirits, with a new Rasmussan poll showing him at 29 percent, possibly suggesting he has finally broken the ceiling on his poll numbers.

Loser: Supporters hoped we wouldn't see a fall in the prospects for former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. But the familiar tune this campaign year has been peak-to-peril in only a handful of news cycles. For all the talk of Perry's slim prospects after a fifth place finish in Iowa, Gingrich didn't do much better at fourth.

Gingrich's new strategy in New Hampshire is to aggressively attack Romney. It has been summed up as a kamikaze mission. Gingrich may have to decide what he wants more, a bruised but victorious Romney in New Hampshire or a Gingrich win in South Carolina.

And, while Romney saw a bump in the national Rasmussan poll, Gingrich has moved back to a distant third and he's tied for third in the latest poll out of New Hampshire.