( CNN ) -- The South Carolina Republican presidential primary is often a free-for-all , but this year 's contest probably sets a new standard for volatility . Not surprisingly , Palmetto State GOP insiders see a close finish in the primary Saturday between former Massachusetts Gov . Mitt Romney and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich , according to a CNN survey . Less than 48 hours before voters would go to the polls , they were buffeted by a sudden announcement from Texas Gov . Rick Perry that he was withdrawing from the Republican presidential race and endorsing rival Gingrich . And as Perry was dropping out , the political world was buzzing with reports that Gingrich 's second wife , Marianne , said that her then-husband proposed an `` open marriage '' before they divorced . Then , a fiery Gingrich struck back at the opening of the CNN debate in Charleston , attacking the `` liberal media '' for bringing up the story in the first place . `` It 's like a darned soap opera , '' said one South Carolina GOP insider . `` Never seen things this fluid , '' echoed another . A CNN survey of 42 South Carolina GOP insidersâ€ ” including Republican state legislators , state and local party officials , business and conservative interest group leaders , veterans of previous presidential primary campaigns , Palmetto State GOP political consultants , and other party activistsâ€ ” found a close race between the top two contenders . Three South Carolina GOP insiders thought the race would end in a dead heat between the two Republican contenders . The insiders were asked : Who do you think will win the South Carolina primary ? Mitt Romney -- 33 % . Newt Gingrich -- 31 % . Rick Santorum -- 19 % . Ron Paul -- 15 % . Rick Perry -- N/A . Other -- 2 % . Compared to a similar sounding of GOP insiders earlier in the week before Perry withdrew , it appeared that Gingrich had gained the most momentum in the closing days of the race . Before Perry dropped out : . Mitt Romney -- 32 % . Newt Gingrich -- 25 % . Rick Santorum -- 18 % . Ron Paul -- 15 % . Rick Perry -- 8 % . Other -- 2 % . While Romney still edged Gingrich slightly in the minds of these insiders , the narrow margin and the ever-changing story lines mean Gingrich could still pull an upset Saturday . `` Romney 's supporters seem to be firmly behind him at this point , while Gingrich could still gain or lose support depending on how things shake out over the ( final ) days , '' said one GOP insider . `` For this reason , I 'm still giving Romney the nod at this point . '' One major uncertainty hanging over the race is the impact of the controversial television interview that Gingrich 's second wife , Marianne , gave to ABC 's Nightline in which she said Gingrich had asked her to consider an arrangement that she described as an `` open marriage . '' In the CNN South Carolina debate on Thursday night , Gingrich denounced the media 's handling of the story and called the accusation `` false . '' `` Right now , I speculate that people voting for Newt may have accounted for his personal baggage in their decision making , without knowing the full extent of it , '' said one South Carolina GOP insider . `` However , requests for open marriage do n't play well with value-voters upstate , which seems to be the current heart of the Gingrich surge . I think this interview could diminish , or at least cap , his support with those voters . '' The CNN South Carolina GOP insiders were surveyed from the evening of Jan. 16 thru the morning of January 18 , and again between January 19 and the morning of January 20 . The survey was conducted over the internet ; some interviews were conducted by phone . The South Carolina insiders were given anonymity for their individual answers in order to encourage candid responses . And while some insiders were aligned with one or another of the presidential campaigns , two-thirds said they had neither endorsed nor were they working for any candidate in the race . Here are the names of the participants in the survey : Eric Bedingfield , Peter Brown , Kevin Bryant , Luke Byars , Drea Byars , Chris Carino , Phillip Cease , Alan Clemmons , Chad Connelley , Wesley Donehue , Shannon Erickson , Justin Evans , Scott Farmer , Chip Felkel , Becky Fleming , Douglas Ford , Greg Foster , Mark Harmon , Wes Hayes , Allen Klump , Scott Malyerck , Janice McCord , Joe McKeown , Drew McKissick , Ed McMullen , Matt Moore , Matthew Nichols , Mark Nix , Ralph Norman , Randy Page , Sunny Philips , Mike Pitts , Tommy Pope , Richard Quinn , Jay W. Ragley , George Ramsey , Scott Richardson , Oran P. Smith , Bob Taylor , Adam Temple , Taylor Tompkins , Trey Walker , Chad Walldorf , Ellen Weaver , Joe Wilson , Barry Wynn , Robert Yerger .
CNN asked 42 South Carolina GOP insiders about Saturday 's primary . Surveys taken both before and after Rick Perry 's withdrawal from race . Romney and Gingrich are in a close race , the group says , closer since Perry left .