 As of 2012, the primary has cemented its place as the "First in the South" primary for both parties.Newt Gingrich was declared the winner of the race as soon as polls closed, however, Mitt Romney went on to win the nomination.The 2012 South Carolina Republican primary was tentatively scheduled to occur on February 28, 2012, much later than the date in 2008, which almost immediately followed the beginning of the year in January 2008.