South Carolina Political Poll
Results for 11/30/2013 – 12/2/2013 conducted automated telephone interviews on landline telephone numbers. Gravis contacted a random sample of prior republican primary voters in SC, 601 registered voters completed the poll, the margin of error was 4%
Executive Summary
Human Events and Gravis Marketing conducted a random survey of 601 registered South Carolina voters regarding current events, including potential presidential and senate candidates. The poll carries a margin of error of 4%. The results follow; crosstabs are available upon request.
Of the currently mentioned contenders for the Republican presidential nominee New Jersey Governor Chris Cristie is ahead with 17% of the vote. Overall, no clear front-runner has emerged.
Interestingly, on the U.S. Senate seat, respondents preferred Jim DeMint to Senator Lindsey Graham by a 47% to 36% advantage. When asked about having a Tea Party challenger in the Republican primary, respondents were evenly split, with 39% wanting a Tea Party challenger, while 37% do not.
While the June primary is still six months away, it is significant that an incumbent Republican senator in a solidly conservative state has four primary opponents. Senator Graham easily beats each of the candidates, yet there is a bloc of undecided voters representing more than 20 percent of the Republican voter. Graham, a congressman and then senator since 1995, needs to close the sale with these undecided, since he is a know quantity, or he may find himself a victim to one of his challengers picking up support from both the undecided and from other candidates, who fall out of contention.
Q1: Are you registered to vote? [All responses included are yes]
Q2: If the election for Republican presidential primary were held today, whom would you vote for: Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, Ted Cruz, Mike Huckabee, Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, Rick Santorum or Scott Walker?
Q3: If the Republican primary were held today for US Senate, whom would you vote for: Lindsey Graham or Jim DeMint?
Q4: If the Republican primary were held today for US Senate, whom would you vote for: Lindsey Graham, Lee Bright, Richard Cash, Nancy Mace or Bill Connor?
Q5: Would you support a “Tea Party” challenger to Senator Graham?
Q6: Do you support drug testing for welfare benefits, including food stamps?
Q7: Should Senator Graham vote to defund Obamacare?
Q8: Should Senator Graham vote to raise the federal debt limit?
Note: the polls were conducted using automated telephone. Gravis Marketing is a non-partisian firm located in Winter Springs, Florida. Previous poll results 2012 Ohio Poll