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One day after a solid victory in New Hampshire, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney faces a critical test in South Carolina as he seeks to convince conservative voters that he is their best bet to defeat Democratic President Barack Obama. Romney took a crucial step toward the Republican nomination on Tuesday with his win in New Hampshire, the second contest in the state-by-state battle for the Republican nomination. He won 39 percent of the vote and was well ahead of his nearest rival. The former private equity executive also won the Iowa caucuses last week. He may now find it easier to convince skeptics within his own party that he is the strongest Republican to take on Obama in November's election, despite qualms about the moderate policies he pursued as Massachusetts governor. Victory in South Carolina's Jan 21 primary could derail rivals' hopes to consolidate a splintered conservative vote and set Romney on a steady march to nomination. With economic concerns topping the agenda, Romney hasargued that his experience as head of investment firm Bain Capital, where he made a personal fortune, would make him the best candidate to put the shaky US economy on a stronger footing. Romney gave perhaps the most dynamic speech of his campaign on Tuesday as he celebrated his victory in New Hampshire, outlining a stark contrast with Obama. Aides said it would set the tone for the rest of the campaign. | 
