be on south carolina. >> reporter: that's right, wolf. what a defensive a month makes, forever i was standing here the first week of december, we would have been talking how great newt gingrich was doing, what a commanding lead he had in the republican pack at that time. it shows you how quickly things are changing after iowa and soon after new hampshire. mitt romney now at the top, doing well among conservatives here. this is a huge conservative test for the entire field. mitt romney with these poll results showing he's appealing to conservatives as well as to born again christians, to evangelicals, almost across the board. i spent a lot of time the last couple of days, talking to evangelical voters and telling me they were looking at the field and seeing all the candidates are saying all the things they want to hear when it comes to their positions on gay marriage and abortion but they're also looking for someone who has electability.