Multiple news organizations are projecting a victory for Newt Gingrich in South Carolina’s primary elections for the Republican party’s presidential nomination as a clear-cut front runner has failed to emerge in the nations’ first three state primaries.

Exit polls from CNN predict a Gingrich win with 38 percent of the vote, former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney with 29 percent, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum with 17 percent and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas with 15 percent.

Among the four candidates, Gingrich was the first to issue a Twitter message.

“Thank you South Carolina!” Gingrich wrote in a post to Twitter. “Help me deliver the knockout punch in Florida. Join our Moneybomb and donate now.”

In the Iowa primary, the first of the 2012 primary election season, Romney and Santorum were virtually tied for the win. Romney then won handily in New Hampshire.

The next primary is sent for Florida on January 31.