Sarah Palin: If I were in South Carolina, I’d vote for Newt Gingrich

Sarah Palin came as close as she’s come to a full-out endorsement, saying Tuesday that she’d vote for Newt Gingrich in the South Carolina primary in order “to keep this thing going.” (see video below)

The former Alaska governor’s latest wink and nod at the former House speaker comes just weeks after her husband, former “First Dude” Todd Palin, gave his more explicit support.

Palin told Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity Tuesday that Gingrich won the Monday debate.

“Newt came out just like South Carolina’s own Smokin’ Joe Frazier. He came out there swinging’, talking about work, talking about jobs and work ethic, and how government needs to get out of the way in order for all Americans to have a sense of opportunity to work. And I think that’s what a lot of voters have been craving to hear,” she said.

Palin said she was happy to see the remaining GOP candidates continue to mix it up in the televised forums. “Because iron sharpens iron. Steel sharpens steel. These guys are getting better in their debates. They’re getting more concise. They’re getting more grounded in what their beliefs are and articulating what their ideas are to get the country back on the right track.”

She praised all of the candidates’ performances Monday save two -- Ron Paul and, notably, Mitt Romney.

When asked if she was ready to make a public endorsement, Palin said she would only say what she would do if she were a South Carolina voter.

“I’d vote for Newt and I would want this to continue. More debates. More vetting of candidates. Because we know the mistake made in our country four years ago was having a candidate that was not vetted to the degree that he should have been,” she said.

Palin, the GOP vice presidential nominee in 2008, was referring to President Obama, who took part in well over a dozen candidate debates, including a handful one-on-one against Hillary Clinton.

Whether Palin’s endorsement would make a difference in the GOP race is unclear. But she joins a cast of Republican leaders outside the party establishment who have seemed reluctant to embrace the current frontrunner, Romney.

The most recent polls in South Carolina, a potentially decisive contest should Romney win, all show him comfortably ahead as Gingrich, Rick Santorum and to a lesser extent Rick Perry divide up the support of more conservative voters.