Willard Mitt Romney is able to run the table in January because he has invested heavily in advertising and organizational work in the early primary states - sort of a "domino theory." Helping him out is that Republican primaries - unlike Democratic primaries - are held on a "winner take all" basis in allocating delegates. Top vote getter gets all the delegates available through the primary - doesn't matter the margin of victory, doesn't matter whether majority or plurality (more likely in a multi-candidate field).
Each state also has a number of "Super Delegates" assigned based on the number of their Congressional representatives. South Carolina has 8 such delegates going to the Republican National Convention. (Democrats would also have 8 for their convention). 6 US Representatives and 2 US Senators. Super Delegates may vote as they choose and are not obliged to follow primary returns.
South Carolina, moreso than any other early primary/caucus state, will test the viability of Romney's Mormon faith as an issue. Voting analyses in characteristically Religious Right areas - and especially the votes of the autonomous Super Delegates - are worth a close look.
