| South Carolina Likely Voters Pre-Debate | ||||||||
| Tossup including those who are undecided yet leaning toward a candidate or voted absentee | ||||||||
| Newt Gingrich | Mitt Romney | Rick Santorum | Ron Paul | Rick Perry | Other | Undecided | ||
| Row % | Row % | Row % | Row % | Row % | Row % | Row % | ||
| South Carolina Likely Voters Pre-Debate | 22% | 37% | 15% | 15% | 3% | 0% | 8% | |
| Party Identification | Republican | 26% | 39% | 14% | 10% | 4% | 0% | 7% |
| Independent | 14% | 31% | 17% | 24% | 4% | 1% | 10% | |
| Tea Party Supporters | 27% | 35% | 18% | 12% | 2% | 0% | 6% | |
| Intensity of Tea Party Support | Strongly support Tea Party | 32% | 36% | 17% | 7% | 3% | 0% | 5% |
| Support Tea Party | 24% | 34% | 19% | 15% | 2% | 0% | 6% | |
| Does not support Tea Party | 15% | 39% | 13% | 19% | 5% | 1% | 9% | |
| Political Ideology | Liberal-Moderate | 6% | 47% | 13% | 19% | 2% | 2% | 11% |
| Conservative | 27% | 36% | 12% | 15% | 3% | 0% | 7% | |
| Very conservative | 32% | 27% | 24% | 8% | 5% | 0% | 4% | |
| Political Ideology | Liberal-Moderate | 6% | 47% | 13% | 19% | 2% | 2% | 11% |
| Conservative-Very conservative | 29% | 33% | 16% | 13% | 4% | 0% | 6% | |
| Candidate Support | Strongly support | 27% | 46% | 11% | 14% | 3% | 0% | 0% |
| Somewhat support | 13% | 42% | 22% | 20% | 3% | 0% | 0% | |
| Might vote differently | 28% | 17% | 24% | 23% | 8% | 0% | 0% | |
| Most Important Quality | Shares your values | 15% | 21% | 27% | 23% | 4% | 1% | 8% |
| Is closest to you on the issues | 18% | 28% | 21% | 21% | 1% | 1% | 9% | |
| Can beat President Obama in 2012 | 25% | 46% | 10% | 10% | 4% | 0% | 5% | |
| Has the experience to govern | 26% | 44% | 8% | 11% | 4% | 0% | 9% | |
| Facebook Page | Yes | 23% | 34% | 16% | 18% | 3% | 1% | 5% |
| No-Unsure | 21% | 38% | 14% | 13% | 4% | 0% | 10% | |
| Gender | Men | 22% | 32% | 16% | 17% | 3% | 1% | 8% |
| Women | 22% | 42% | 14% | 12% | 4% | 0% | 7% | |
| Age | Under 45 | 21% | 31% | 18% | 21% | 3% | 1% | 5% |
| 45 or older | 22% | 39% | 14% | 13% | 4% | 0% | 8% | |
| Region | Piedmont | 26% | 29% | 8% | 23% | 4% | 0% | 8% |
| Midlands | 18% | 38% | 17% | 10% | 6% | 0% | 11% | |
| The Pee Dee | 21% | 37% | 21% | 12% | 4% | 0% | 5% | |
| Low Country | 18% | 49% | 22% | 4% | 0% | 2% | 4% | |
| Household Income | Less than $75,000 | 19% | 34% | 16% | 16% | 5% | 0% | 10% |
| $75,000 or more | 21% | 40% | 13% | 17% | 3% | 1% | 5% | |
| Evangelical Christians | 22% | 36% | 18% | 12% | 5% | 0% | 7% | |
| Regular Religious Service Attendance | 23% | 35% | 17% | 14% | 4% | 0% | 8% | |
| Mormons are Christians | Yes | 21% | 45% | 11% | 15% | 3% | 1% | 5% |
| No-Unsure | 22% | 29% | 20% | 16% | 4% | 0% | 10% | |
| Education | Not college graduate | 23% | 33% | 17% | 14% | 5% | 0% | 9% |
| College graduate | 21% | 42% | 13% | 15% | 2% | 1% | 6% | |
| Interview Type | Landline | 21% | 39% | 13% | 15% | 3% | 1% | 8% |
| Cell Phone | 25% | 26% | 23% | 16% | 4% | 0% | 6% | |
| NBC News/Marist Poll South Carolina Likely Republican Primary Voters Pre-Debate. Interviews conducted January 16th, 2012, N=349 MOE +/- 5.5 percentage points. Totals may not add to 100% due to rounding. | ||||||||