Gravis Marketing South Carolina Political Poll For US Senate And Republican Presidential Primary

Gravis Research By Gravis Research December 5, 2013

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?

Republican Presidential Primary, All VotersRepublican Presidential Primary, RepublicansQ3: If the Republican primary were held today for US Senate, whom would you vote for: Lindsey Graham or Jim DeMint?

Graham or DeMint, All Voters

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?

Republican Senate Primary, All Voters

Q5: Would you support a “Tea Party” challenger to Senator Graham?

Tea Party Challenger, All Voters

Q6: Do you support drug testing for welfare benefits, including food stamps?

Drug Testing for Welfare, All Voters

Q7: Should Senator Graham vote to defund Obamacare?

Should Senator Graham Vote to Defund Obamacare, All Voters

Q8: Should Senator Graham vote to raise the federal debt limit?

Senator Graham Debt Limit, All Voters

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