New poll finds S.C. voters split on Haley
Gov. Nikki Haley retains strong support among state Republicans, but registered voters as a whole are split regarding her.
About the poll
The Winthrop Poll sampled 929 state residents between Nov. 25 and Dec. 2, and it has a margin of error of 3.5 percent. The results reprinted here refer to those polled who were registered voters.
A Winthrop poll released Wednesday found that Haley did not have quite as high a job approval rating here as President Barack Obama, but both fared better than the S.C. Legislature and Congress.
Who’s most popular in S.C.?
Do you approve of President Barack Obama’s job performance?
Approve 43 percent
Disapprove 49 percent
Not sure 6 percent
Refused to say 2 percent
Do you approve of Gov. Nikki Haley’s job performance?
Approve 40 percent
Disapprove 42 percent
Not sure 16 percent
Refused to say 2 percent
Tea Party losing strength
Would you consider yourself a member of the tea party movement?
No91 percent
Yes 6 percent
Not sure 3 percent
Biggest issues
What’s the most important issue facing South Carolina?
22 percent
Jobs/unemployment
17 percent
Economy/financial crisis
16 percent
Education
7 percent
Politicians/government
Not exactly doom and gloom
Do you think your financial situation is getting better or worse?
Better53 percent
Worse 31 percent
Not sure 14 percent
Refused to say 2 percent
Is South Carolina on the right track?
Yes40 percent
No 42 percent
Don’t know/didn’t say 18 percent
A little support for gay divorce
Should South Carolina allow gay couples who were married in other states to get a divorce here under this state’s laws?
Very strongly should 21 percent
Somewhat strongly should 17 percent
Somewhat strongly should not 12 percent
Very strongly should not 38 percent
Not sure 10 percent
No buyer’s remorse
S.C. voters, even Republicans, don’t think Newt Gingrich would have done better against Obama last month.
Would S.C. GOP primary winner Newt Gingrich have been more successful against Barack Obama than Mitt Romney was?
More successful 16 percent
Less successful 41 percent
About the same 36 percent
Don’t know/refused 7 percent
Approval ratings
Do you approve of the S.C. Legislature’s job performance?
Approve 38 percent
Disapprove 33 percent
Not sure 28 percent
Refused to say 1 percent
Do you approve of Congress’ job performance?
Approve 14 percent
Disapprove 78 percent
Not sure 7 percent
Refused to say 1 percent
Poll Director Scott Huffmon said Haley is faring well in light of controversy over her support of Savannah port dredging, ethical accusations that later were dismissed and a hacker’s recent tapping into a state database with more than 1 million names and other personal information.
“If I were her strategist, I wouldn’t be concerned,” he said. “She’s definitely holding her own, despite grenades from both Democrats and those in her own party.”
Huffmon said he was interested to see South Carolina voters more optimistic about the state’s economy than the nation’s, likely a result of debate over the nation’s fiscal cliff.
Also, only 6 percent of voters identified themselves as members of the tea party movement, down sharply from previous polls.
“That does not mean the tea party’s principles and beliefs are dissipating,” Huffmon said. “It just means people are shying away from the label.”
Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771.
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