Fox News, CNN, the AP, ABC News and CBS News all now predict that John McCain has won the South Carolina primary.

But Fred didn’t wait around for the final tally, before he conceded South Carolina and headed home for Virginia. Dropping out? No word yet, but there’s this:

While he remains in the race, two sources told CNN that “it was abundantly evident to all of us” that the bar was a win or a very competitive second place in South Carolina to continue to be viable in the GOP presidential race.

Thompson has no public schedule Sunday, and is planning to consult with campaign manager Bill Lacy and other top advisers about the next move.

“We are not blind to the obvious,” said one senior campaign adviser.

But, given the muddled course of the Republican race so far, both aides said Thompson and his advisers wanted to watch the results come in tonight before making a final decision.

More soon.

Update: I’m not so sure, but Michelle and Allah feel that Huckabee is done for. It’s entirely possible, but I don’t see him dropping out soon. There is one thing that’s a bit strange, however.

Huck tries to encourage his troops to feel “sheer joy.” Unconvincingly.

Maybe I heard it wrong, but I think he just referred to his campaign in the past tense: “What we had…”

I do, however, believe we’re looking at McCain as our nominee, as does Allah. Would it be so bad? I think McCain could bring more Republicans to the table than Huckabee, but I can still imagine a significant problem with anti-amnesty conservatives.

We still have a better chance running our candidate, whomever he may be, against Clinton than Obama. McCain is, I’m afraid, our best shot right now.
Jay:

Other good news is that I was pretty close in my prediction, though Fred’s third place wasn’t a strong third. He’s headed home now, and gave an early speech that leaves us all wondering if he will drop out or not. On the one hand, most of his supporters want him to hang in there so they can have their chance to vote for him. On the other hand, unless he has some magic he’s been holding out on, remaining in only takes votes away from the more conservative of the liberal candidates. Fred already has my absentee vote for Florida.

If Fred bows out, I think most of his supporters would go to the Romney camp. McCain is an old buddy of his, and might get Fred’s endorsement in the case he does drop out. That wouldn’t sway me however.

Yep. I see more of Fred’s supporters, should he drop out, going to Mitt than, say, McCain or Huck.