Latest Fox News Opinion Poll for S.C
IT’s A TIE!!!
One in five voters are undecided….McCain leads handily with military households. Huckabee leads narrowly with evangelicals who party officials say will be 6 in 10 of the half million votes expected to be cast.
With caution … McCain up by 7 pts., but that is within the margin of error … AND 19% are undecided.
27% McCain
20% Huckabee
15%Romney
11% Thompson
While Republican John McCain remains the front-runner in the South Carolina presidential primary, the outcome is up in the air as many voters are still considering their options, according to a FOX News poll released Friday.
Nearly one out of five likely Republican primary voters in South Carolina says they are unsure which candidate they will support on Saturday. Mitt Romney won the Michigan primary earlier in the week, while McCain won the New Hampshire primary and Mike Huckabee won in Iowa, leaving the Republican Party without a clear favorite.
The new FOX News poll shows McCain holds onto his lead in South Carolina by capturing the support of 27 percent followed by Huckabee at 20 percent and Romney in third with 15 percent. Fred Thompson, who was hoping to perform well in a state neighboring his home state of Tennessee, receives 11 percent, up just two points from earlier in the month.
“In most situations, a candidate would be thrilled with a 7-point lead a day or so out from an election. But, given the volatility of the Republican race, the margins of error involved, and the high level of undecided voters, you’d have to characterize the South Carolina race as up for grabs,” says Ernest Paicopolos, principal of Opinion Dynamics Corporation.
Huckabee has improved his standing by 2 percentage points, while Romney has dropped 2 points from the previous poll (an overnight poll on January 9).
The telephone poll of 500 likely South Carolina Republican primary voters was conducted by Opinion Dynamics Corporation for FOX News from January 16 to January 17 (after the Michigan primary). There is a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points for results based on the entire sample.
In a state with several military bases and more Vietnam veterans than any state in the country, McCain’s background as a Navy officer and a Vietnam veteran is a plus. Among those living in a military household, McCain has a double-digit advantage: 33 percent to Huckabee’s 18 percent and Romney’s 17 percent. Over half of likely Republican primary voters in the state live in a military household (52 percent).
Evangelical Christians were a key part of Huckabee’s win in Iowa and almost two-thirds of likely voters in the South Carolina Republican primary describe themselves as evangelical Christians (64 percent); among this group the former Baptist minister has a slim 4-point edge: 27 percent Huckabee and 23 percent McCain. In Iowa, Huckabee won among evangelicals by nearly 30 points.
Among independents voting in the Republican primary on Saturday, McCain bests Huckabee by a wide 20 point margin (34 percent to 14 percent). Independents helped McCain achieve his victory in New Hampshire, and this swing voting group can also vote in either primary in South Carolina.
McCain also has a narrow 4-point advantage over Huckabee among self-identified Republicans.
In addition to the high number of voters saying they are undecided, there is even some wiggle room among those supporting a candidate.
To be sure, majorities of those backing Romney (80 percent), McCain (73 percent), Thompson (73 percent) and Huckabee (68 percent) say they are certain to vote for their candidate. Yet that leaves a significant minority of each candidate’s supporters — from 20 percent to 32 percent — in the “moveable” column.
Although Thompson is trailing the front-runners in the overall vote, his supporters (78 percent) are the most likely to think he can beat the Democratic candidate in November. This is more than Romney supporters (66 percent), McCain supporters (57 percent) and Huckabee supporters (56 percent).
The poll finds that voters in this race are looking for a candidate who “stands up for what he believes.” Half (50 percent) say this is the most important candidate attribute, while the remaining split between saying it is important for their candidate to be a “true conservative” (19 percent) and to have the “right experience” (19 percent).
Huckabee (26 percent) and McCain (25 percent) are seen by more voters as the most honest and trustworthy of the Republican contenders, followed by Romney (14 percent) and Thompson (12 percent).
On being a strong leader, McCain (36 percent) has the clear advantage – outdistancing Romney (20 percent), Huckabee (12 percent) and Giuliani (11 percent).
When asked to identify the “true conservative,” more voters pick Thompson (28 percent), followed by Huckabee (21 percent), McCain (12 percent) and Romney (12 percent). Thompson jumped 12 points on this characteristic from the early January poll, when both Huckabee and Romney bested him.
And just as the FOX News exit poll in Michigan showed earlier this week, the economy is the most important issue to voters in South Carolina. More than one in four says the economy (27 percent) is the top issue in deciding their vote, with immigration at 18 percent, homeland security is most important to 15 percent and 11 percent say the Iraq war.
Economy voters are more likely to back McCain (30 percent) over Huckabee (16 percent) and Romney (16 percent). Among voters saying immigration is the top issue, Romney (23 percent) captures the highest amount of support, followed by Huckabee (16 percent), Thompson (16 percent), with McCain coming in a close fourth among this group (15 percent).
Tags: Fox News Opinion Dynamics Poll
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Your posts are always great. Do you read the comments at all?
OUR ECONOMY NEEDS ROMNEY!!
John Mccain has voted Against Every Tax cut in the Senate, Now suddenly he is for a tax cut, Yeah Right, His entire Record Proves he votes againts Tax cuts for the Middle class and business, And his records Proves he votes Against Soldiers & Veterans, but Now that he’s campaigning for President, every word out of his mouth is different from his Political Proven Record. http://www.congress.org shows his sorry record. He runs on his War & Military record, yet has always continued to Vote Agaisnt all Military/ veterans needs. His Lies on this campaign is the Reason this Soldier will Never Believe him ever again, Nor Vote for him
http://www.numbersusa.com.: Boy though give him a bill that Benefits Illegals and He is right up there to Vote For That.
Mccain has Really gone to the Dogs, We can’t vote for some one we found we can no longer Respect, or is Able to be Truthful
Why all the hype over SC when Nev has more delgates at stake. Also no mention of the fact that Mitt leads NV by 15 points in the polls. NV is a more accurate cross section of americas and with a large Latino poulation shows Mitt is gaining support with all leelments of the party. This election is not just about the Evangelicals in SC. Fox more fiar and balanced coverage please, shame on your for not giving NV the same attention as SC it is equally or more important.
In fact Nevada voters have correctly picked the president every year since 1912 with the exception of 1076 when they got it wrong by not picking Jimmy Carter (in hindsight maybee the rest of the nation got it wrong). SC can’t claim this they have failed to pick the correct president 10 out of the 24 elections since 1912 (including two times since 1980). So why does the media put so much credence in their votes? If Mitt Romeny wins Nevada this should be a headline on Fox news and other main stream media outlets…we will see.
I find it interesting that so much is being discussed about SC and VERY LITTLE (NONE) is being discussed about the SATURDAY REPUBLICAN CAUCUS IN NEVADA!. NEWS FLASH!!! (January 19) MASON-DIXON POLL PUTS ROMNEY AHEAD OF McCAIN, 34% to 19%.
Where is NEVADA….. Come on Cameron aren’t you from the station who states “WE REPORT YOU DECIDE” Looks like you have already decided. Are you afraid that Mitt could actually win and turn this country around.
Where is any comment on Ron Paul?
He has beaten Thompson and Ruddy several times and you do not even mention him at all?
I bet you didn’t like Reagan ether!
John McCain was on with Bill ORiley last week, Bill wants to go after binladen in Waziristan John then disagreed chastized Bill for not knowing about Waziristan said it was a bad idea now John McCain sez he would follow binladen to the “gates of hell”to get him i think thats a flipflop isnt it. berkut
John McCain Flip Flops
transcript from fox news sunday nov11 07, bill richardson “we should say to musharraf clearly we gave you 10 billion since 9/11 unless you go after alqeda in a determined and effective way your conditional assistance may be terminated”
JOHN MCCAIN “i know Musharraf, Ive been to Waziristan” “i would be doing intensive behind the scene negotiations, to issue ultimatums and threats right now may result in damage to United States national security i think is inappropriate”
THIS IS A LONG WAY, A FLIP FLOP, FROM JOHN MCCAIN SAYING NOW HE WOULD “GO TO THE GATES OF HELL TO GET binladen” isnt it, your transcript not mine . berkut
Nevada is in reality a straw poll and is not binding on delegates. In other words Nevada is a beauty contest. However Governor Romney will claim it as a “Gold” much like Wyoming which less than half the counties even held a caucus
I have to keep shaking my head at SC. McCain will keep billions and billions flowing into Iraq with no end in site. He has little or no knowledge or expertise on any issue other than war. Where was he when illlegals were crossing our borders by the millions. Hasn’t he been laying around Washington for over twenty years? Where are his Bills (over the past 20 yrs or so) sponsoring something to stop illegals from crossing our borders? Making McCain president will be like a huge sign saying “AMERICANS ARE TRULY STUPID”. The man is over 70 years old and has no expertise on anything but war and how to keep it going. He is a butt kisser and will kiss up to whatever group he happens to be addressing. He has done nothing for veterans for the last twenty years and suddenly he is going to see that vets are treated fair…give me a break! A lot of the Iraq and Afghanistan vets are so disabled they can’t function. Guess McCain was at Walter Reed making sure the vets were being treated well…this a#@ didn’t even know Walter Reed facilities had been condemned by “Groups For Veterans” and begging for help. Bet the only time he has been at Walter Reed was when he had a full camera crew going through the front door, guess he didn’t need a good camera shot when he left three minutes later. Folks, a change in Washington doesn’t mean putting the same old money spending free loaders back in office. I’ll give Romney a chance, at least he knows how to handle money. If this is between Obama and McCain…guess I won’t bother voting. The Huckster wouldn’t get my vote either. Between McCain and Clinton..Clinton will get my vote. The only two Republicans I just cannot vote for are McCain and Huckabee. Other than them, I would vote for any of the other Republican candidates. I just hope none of the above is listed on my ballot or Ron Paul will run as an Independent.
I can just see it now, if Obama manages to get himself elected: No one will be allowed (think it’s political incorrect for anyone to voice anything negative about blacks) to question Obama because he is black or the Rev Sharpton or Jessie J. will lead a team of their people on Washington DC complaining the president is being mistreated because he is black. Yawn!
I agree, I’ve honestly been baffled by the lack of attention to Nevada on the Republican side. You have to read pretty closely to even know it exists!
Is it because Mitt Romney is expected to win there? I’m not sure, but it does seem like it. If one of the other candidates were winning there, I have a feeling it would be getting more attention.
Thompson seems to be the right choice at the right time… Personally, I love the fact that he waited, and that he hasn’t spent umpteen millions in ads… Our Presidential race should not be about how much money we spend to get there… I am really praying for a strong showing for him in South Carolina…
Romney seems too slick
McCain, while yes he was a POW, doesn’t stand where I do on too many issues
Huckabee, although I like him, and enjoy his speaking, the truth is his record in Arkansas is disturbing
At a time when this is of utmost importance, and everyone wants to pour money into the economy, and everyone wants to make all of these promises to all people.. There is no way all of the promises can happen… I’d rather see all of this money going to families where children are hungry, where people need shelter and warmth… School supplies for children… clothes for them to wear to school.. a home they can come home to and be warm and dry and safe from harm…
You take a man, or woman, that would do something like this, and quietly… get into the race a little later on, and conduct a campaign that is civil… and yep… they have my vote… Thompson is the clear choice… all the way around… Washington does need something to happen… I belive it is called Faith in our Father above… At a time when we need God the most, some are hell bent on tearing away anything and everything we believe in… Honesty… what a refreshing approach… Go Fred..!!
i find it interesting that in a state like south carolina, with the evangelical vote so large that some of the electhion laws in that state are so losely defined.my poleling place is at a raither large southern baptist church. with i raither large membership. out in front of the erea were the voteing takes place at the interance to the parking lot, on both sides of that parking lot interance, are a certain candedates signs.makeing it raither clear who that church saports.after calling both the local and state election boards. i was told this was legal. now its my understanding that the law reads that there can be no campaigning with in 200 feet of the interance of a poling place.both boards told me that the state of south carolina considers the doors of that poling place are the interance or doors themselves.but i believe that the interance is and or should be the interance of the parking lot of that poleing place. not the actual doors of said place.with all the undecided voters in this state. i believe that by doing this. placeing signs in such a way of showing saport of a cetain candedate in this manner underminds the very perpose of that law.
McCain is part of the problem in Washington not the solution. Go Mitt!!!!
SC is being hyped up only because Romney is not a front runner. Betcha when Romney wins NV, very little coverage will be done.
The media wants either Huckboy or McCain to win because they will be easily beat by the Dems.
McCain can’t win the general election, he is the problem in Washingtonn not the solution. Go Mitt!!!
Just stop with this push for McCain and Huckabee. Your trying to skew the vote. You fail to report that Rommney has also won two primaries and about to win three with Nevada. Yet you insist South Carolina is key because the candidates have all won one so a win would give McCain a clear frontrunner status. Report the truth about McCain and Huckabee and Senator Graham and the results might be different. Your hiding the facts.
ROMNEY is our best hope for a strong economy. Romney has turned failing businesses into productive , profitable ones. Romney knows how to create and hold jobs. He has a history of asking the right questions, intelligent listening, careful analysis and evaluation, and dynamic leadership. Without a strong economy, nothing else works. WE NEED Romney’s business expertise and new vision to create a leaner more efficient government. Romney is a man of integrity and high moral standards. The closer you examine his life and his family, the more you will like him. Vote wisely, vote for Romney!
ROMNEY’S Win in Nevada, which has more delegates than South Carolina, puts Romney clearly in the Lead! Romney is our BEST Choice both for the economy and for the Republican nomination!
Shame on fox for trying to shape the election, instead of reporting on all of the canidates. You seem to have forgotten Rudy , and Fred Thompson. THESE ARE THE ONLY TWO THAT STAND A CHANCE AGAINST OBAMA & HILLARY. Shame on you Fox News. I have always counted on Fox to be fair, I AM HAVING HAVING HUGH SECOND THOUGHTS. Come on, give us a break.
Do not count Mitt Romney out by no stretch of you imagination. He has the money and organization and his blow away win in Nevada shows his true national strength. He is the one who can tackle our nations tough problems. Mitt has been solving tough problems his whole career both private and public. Go Mitt!
***NEWS ALERT***
ROMNEY ENDORSES MIKE HUKABEE
**NEWS ALERT***
Mitt Romney recently endorsed Mike Huckabee without realizing it!
In a recent debate he said “Governor, while you were in office taxes went up $500 million NET” How can you defend that?
Apparently no one had a calculator!
500 million divided by 10.5 is less than $50 million per year. $50 million divided by 2.8 million is @ $18 per year, $1.5 per month or
A NICKLE A DAY!
Huckabee says that the schools went from 49 to top 10 while Governor Roads were best Improved according to Truckers Magazine went from $200 million deficit to $800 million surplus cut taxes 94 times.
Thank you Governor Romney for so clearly endorsing Mike Huckabee as THE TRUE FISCAL CONSERVATIVE!
Martin
You are 100% correct on John McCains record IMO. His bill on illegal immigration was a disgrace for all U.S citizens. What part of ILLEGAL does he not understand. He needs to spend more time in Arizona and visiting VA hospitals than he has in the past. No Vote from us!!!
I am an evangelical and I ENDORSE MIKE HUCKABEE.
VOTE MIKE HUCKABEE !!!
VOTE MIKE HUCKABEE !!!
Thompson might as well go home and whine to his mother.
He has been nothing but a grumpy old man and has done nothing but criticize others,
and behaved like a school yard snitch, that did not even know what he was snitching about.
I guess there’s a reason that nobody’s mentioned Nevada or Wyoming for that matter….its because nobody went there to campagn except for Captin Pander….He abandoned the Christian people of South Carolina,in favor of the state that holds one of the sin cities of the country….go figure
If you want to see something intelligent come out of Washington, consider Ron Paul. If you believe in liberty, consider Ron Paul. If you think it’s time to put our country back in the hands of the people, consider Ron Paul.
Ron Paul is a true agent of change.
The man loves this country and the constitution. I trust him.
My name is Grover and I approve this message.
McCain is getting way too much positive airtime, a free ride you might say (as is Obama.) No one is really questioning his voting record on issues relevant to the Republican Party and if Romney or other candidates bring up his true stand on the issues, everyone cries “dirty politics.”
I am disappointed with the FOX coverage of the Republican race, I am sick of the McCain hype.
No one I know in Florida would vote for McCain. He gets all the interviews, he gets the benefit of the doubt, and in the end he just cannot win the Election over Hillary or Obama. What a waste. Many Republicans would just as soon not vote on Election Day if McCain is the nominee as we know that a Hilary-Obama ticket would easily sweep McCain out the door.
Romney and Guiliani are obviously the only two capable of winning or changing Washington…(note that they are both Washington outsiders) and please give Thompson some credit will you? He’s the only true conservative. A good VP choice?
Go Mitt… Go Guiliani… Florida loves you BOTH!
A Conservative Florida Mom
PS I commend you Cameron on your hard work and your use of modern technology!!!
Awesome!
“McCain can’t win the general election, he is the problem in Washingtonn not the solution. Go Mitt!!!”
Nothing against Romney, but what are *you* smoking? Have you seen the polls that show McCain being able to beat any one of the Democratic candidates in the general election? Right now, he is the ONLY Republican that can beat the Democrats–and as of now, IIRC, Mitt even loses to Silky Pony (Edwards)! Come on, now–be realistic.
Norma,
The newspaper article that came out of Loa Angeles last week ,that had information of Romney’s helping people thru some of these so called buisnesses that you so conveniently point out, to Hide money in the Caymon islands so they won’t have to pay American taxes on it,not to mention His own little Post office Box,so that he can hide money.I think this Is the discription,of this buisness magnate that you want us to vote for….right….Mr nice suit,isn’t the nice guy you make Him out to be….we don’t need more whitewater like stuff or more lies.,and we don’t need more Bain Capitol baloney,to deal with This sounds all too familiar to me….if I wanted a duplication of that I’d vote for another Clinton.At least I’d know what I’m getting.With Romney,its a deceiving type thing that keeps leaking out,and each week there seems to be more and more
Whats McCain going to do when he gets to states where ONLY REPUBLICANS can vote for him?
<——Exit, stage LEFT!!!!!!!