Poll: Trump Top Choice of Most S.C. Republicans
Observer Reports
A new Winthrop University poll found most South Carolina Republican voters support former Donald Trump as their top choice among 2024 presidential candidates, even as the former president faces multiple criminal charges.
With less than five months until the 2024 South Carolina Feb. 24 GOP presidential primary, half of S.C. Republicans said they’re most likely to support Trump for the Republican nomination. Former S.C. Governor Nikki Haley trails Trump in her home state with 17 percent of Republicans supporting her nomination.
“We continue to see Trump’s dominance for the nomination in South Carolina,” said Winthrop Poll Director Scott Huffmon. “While a distant second, support for Nikki Haley has grown. Haley’s rise coincides with the continued slide of Ron DeSantis with his drop in national polls being mirrored in South Carolina.”
Tim Scott remains in the single digits and is virtually tied with businessman Vivek Ramaswamy among other GOP candidates. Both Haley and Scott do a bit better when Republican-leaning Independents are included in the analysis.
Results of the 2020 Presidential Election and Approval Ratings
When it comes to President Joe Biden, more South Carolina voters disapprove than approve of the way Joe Biden is handling his job, with roughly 30 percent approving of his performance, 10 percent lower than the president’s national approval rating of 40 percent.
Among all S.C. voters, half believe the 2020 presidential election between Biden and Trump was fair and accurate. Republicans are far less likely than Democrats to express belief the elections was fair. The ‘stolen election’ narrative remains a key component of Trump’s 2024 run.
Meanwhile, 47 percent of South Carolina voters approve of the way Governor Henry McMaster is handling his job. Among the Republican Party, approval remains strong at 73 percent compared to 25 percent among Democrats.
Half of South Carolina voters disapprove of the way U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham is handling his job, with Republicans at just under half, with 20 percent not having a firm opinion. U.S. Senator Tim Scott remains more popular than his senior counterpart with a 49 percent approval from all respondents and 72 percent among Republicans. Though generally more popular than not, many South Carolina voters (23 percent) are still unsure about Tim Scott.
When asked their opinion about men and women as political leaders, a majority of South Carolina voters say that, in general, women and men make equally good political leaders. Twelve percent said men make better political leaders than women, while about eight percent said women make better political leaders than men.
Support for Ukraine
Closing in on two years since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, S.C. voters were asked what they think the U.S. should do regarding the continuing conflict. When given two possible options, 1 in 5 South Carolina voters are unsure. Forty-one percent support Ukraine in reclaiming territory Russia has captured even if it results in a more prolonged conflict, while 34 percent want the U.S. to try to end the conflict as quickly as possible, even if it means allowing Russia to keep territory it has captured from Ukraine.
Republicans and Democrats differ in opinion with more Republicans favoring ending the conflict as soon as possible and more Democrats preferring the U.S. support Ukraine in reclaiming territory even if it prolongs the conflict.
What to do with Confederate Monuments?
Given four options for what to do with monuments and memorials to Confederate soldiers who died during the Civil War, South Carolina voters largely prefer either leaving them just as they are (34 percent) or leaving them but adding a plaque or marker for historical interpretation (33 percent). Forty percent of white respondents said to leave them just as they are compared to 17 percent of Black respondents. Black respondents more often prefer these monuments and memorials be moved to a museum.
When thinking about the Confederate battle flag, South Carolina voters are fairly split on whether it is more a symbol of racial conflict or of Southern pride. Close to half of white respondents said the flag is more a symbol of southern pride while over half of Black respondents said it is more a symbol of racial conflict.
Turn of Phrase
Winthrop Poll respondents were also asked how well certain phrases described both the Democratic and Republican parties. The questions were presented in random order. Respondents were more likely to say that the phrases “governs in an honest and ethical way,” “respects the country’s democratic institutions and traditions,” and “will not compromise to achieve their goals” describe the Republican Party very or somewhat well.
Respondents were more likely to say that the phrases “too extreme in its positions,” “supports policies that interfere too much in people’s lives,” “is good at getting their way,” and “is willing to do what it takes to win elections” describe the Democratic Party very or somewhat well.
A near even majority believe the phrase “respectful and tolerant of different types of people” describes both the Republican and Democratic parties well.