S.C. poll: U.S. on wrong path

A majority of South Carolinians believe the United States is heading in the wrong direction, according to a new poll conducted by Winthrop University.

In the survey of 878 adults, 59 percent said they think the nation is headed in the wrong direction. Just 32 percent said it was going in the right direction.

Looking closer to home, 46 percent think South Carolina is also on the wrong path.

The Winthrop Poll is a long-term survey initiative by the Rock Hill university to keep public policy makers in touch with the attitudes and opinions of people in South Carolina and the South. This poll was taken between Jan. 29 and Feb. 6.

Among the findings:

--When asked the most important problem facing the country and South Carolina, respondents primarily zeroed in on the economy, jobs and the budget, but politicians/government was named frequently enough to come in fourth -- by 8.7 percent citing national problems, and 6.8 percent citing statewide problems.

--An identical number of all respondents (45.8 percent) felt that economic conditions in the country as a whole are getting better or getting worse.

--Of those polled, 83.3 percent said they have Internet access in their homes.

--47.1 percent felt either very strongly, or somewhat strongly, that stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs.

--Gov. Nikki Haley was the most frequently named as the most nationally famous living South Carolinian, with 11.8 percent mentioning her. She was followed by U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint with 5.8 percent and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham with 5.4 percent. Former Gov. Mark Sanford edged out U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, and comedian/actor Stephen Colbert (4.6 and 4.1 percent, respectively). 42.8 percent couldn't think of anyone.

--Of those familiar with Colbert, 23.5 percent felt very, or somewhat, favorably disposed toward him.

--21.3 percent worried often or sometimes in the past 12 months that they would not be able to afford to buy food when it ran out.

--58 percent said they had spent more than two nights away from home on vacation in 2011, and 64.7 percent said they had taken their main vacation outside of South Carolina.

--66.4 percent say they had not experienced stress during much of the day before they were polled, and 73.7 percent say that during that same period, they hadn't been worrying a lot.

--In a state plagued by obesity and high rates of diabetes, 68.5 percent say they had engaged in somewhat strenuous physical activity during the past month.

--29.3 percent could not accurately identify who the current vice president is (Joe Biden), and 23 percent couldn't remember who the vice president is; 3.3 percent supplied the incorrect name; and 3 percent named Dick Cheney.