With Newt Gingrich creeping up in the polls and potentially on the cusp of a South Carolina victory, one of Mitt Romney’s senior advisers sought to change expectations ahead of Saturdays’ pivotal presidential primary.

Though his campaign has competed aggressively in the state and is hungry for a win here, Romney strategist Stuart Stevens said the idea of a loss to Gingrich on Saturday is not far-fetched.

“Do I think we could lose South Carolina? Sure. Of course,” Stevens told CNN after Thursday’s presidential debate in Charleston.

“The very idea that we are sitting where we are two days before South Carolina, having won New Hampshire, having done very well in Iowa, and the question is ‘Could Romney lose South Carolina,’ is such an absurd question.”

“The idea should be does he have a chance in South Carolina,” Stevens claimed.

When it was noted that Romney had a 10-point lead over Gingrich as recently as Tuesday, Stevens shook his head.

“These things were always going to be close,” he said. “I think it’s very competitive. I think it’s a four-way race. The whole race is very fluid.”

The late effort to adjust Romney’s prospects comes as public and private campaign polling shows a tightening race in South Carolina, following strong debate performances this week from Gingrich, several flubs by Romney on the campaign trail and Rick Perry’s decision to abandon his White House bid.

READ MORE: CNN