Rick Perry and Mitt Romney Battle to Control South Carolina

In recent years, when New Hampshire Republicans disagree with their Iowa counterparts on who the GOPs presidential nominee should be, South Carolinians settle the difference -- and a new poll released Tuesday shows the state is up for grabs.

The South Carolina primary, set up by legendary Republican political operative Lee Atwater, has proven crucial in recent years. While Bob Dole won Iowa in 1988, George H.W. Bush picked up New Hampshire and South Carolina. Dole won Iowa again in 1996 and carried South Carolina over Pat Buchanan, who had scored a major upset in triumphing in the New Hampshire primary. In 2000, George W. Bush carried Iowa and South Carolina over John McCain who had prevailed in New Hampshire. In 2008, McCain won New Hampshire again and this time carried South Carolina over Mike Huckabee who won Iowa.

According to the newpoll from Winthrop University of likely South Carolina Republican primary voters, Gov. Rick Perry of Texas is leading the pack in the Palmetto State with 30.5 percent. Former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts is in a close second with 27.3 percent.

The rest of the field trails in single digits. Businessman Herman Cain, who is based in the neighboring state of Georgia, took third in the poll with 7.7 percent followed by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who has left the door open to running, with 5.8 percent. Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich -- who is also from Georgia -- stood in fifth place with 5.3 percent. U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas garnered 4.2 percent followed by U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota who took 3.5 percent. Former Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah took 1.6 percent, followed by former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania with 1.5 percent.

The poll of 457 likely Republican primary voters was taken from Sept. 11-18 and had a margin of error of +/- 4.57 percent.