| South Carolina Likely Voters | ||||||
| Which one of the following qualities is most important to you in deciding whom to support for the Republican presidential nomination? A candidate who: | ||||||
| Shares your values | Is closest to you on the issues | Can beat President Obama in 2012 | Has the experience to govern | Unsure | ||
| Row % | Row % | Row % | Row % | Row % | ||
| South Carolina Likely Voters | 20% | 21% | 39% | 18% | 3% | |
| South Carolina Likely Voters | Pre-Debate | 19% | 20% | 39% | 19% | 3% |
| Post-Debate | 22% | 21% | 39% | 16% | 3% | |
| Party Identification | Republican | 21% | 16% | 44% | 16% | 3% |
| Independent | 18% | 30% | 28% | 21% | 2% | |
| Tea Party Supporters | 18% | 18% | 47% | 14% | 3% | |
| Intensity of Tea Party Support | Strongly support Tea Party | 19% | 14% | 52% | 12% | 2% |
| Support Tea Party | 17% | 20% | 45% | 15% | 3% | |
| Does not support Tea Party | 21% | 25% | 27% | 24% | 2% | |
| Political Ideology | Liberal-Moderate | 18% | 30% | 27% | 23% | 3% |
| Conservative | 18% | 17% | 42% | 20% | 3% | |
| Very conservative | 27% | 17% | 46% | 7% | 3% | |
| Political Ideology | Liberal-Moderate | 18% | 30% | 27% | 23% | 3% |
| Conservative-Very conservative | 21% | 17% | 43% | 16% | 3% | |
| Past Participation** | Yes | 20% | 19% | 40% | 18% | 3% |
| No | 23% | 29% | 28% | 17% | 3% | |
| Top Tier Republican Candidates | Mitt Romney | 12% | 14% | 50% | 22% | 2% |
| Newt Gingrich | 15% | 17% | 46% | 19% | 3% | |
| Ron Paul | 25% | 31% | 24% | 17% | 3% | |
| Rick Santorum | 35% | 25% | 26% | 10% | 3% | |
| Candidate Support | Strongly support | 18% | 20% | 40% | 20% | 3% |
| Somewhat support | 25% | 20% | 36% | 18% | 1% | |
| Might vote differently | 18% | 24% | 43% | 14% | 1% | |
| Facebook Page | Yes | 22% | 25% | 34% | 16% | 3% |
| No-Unsure | 19% | 17% | 42% | 19% | 3% | |
| Gender | Men | 20% | 22% | 39% | 16% | 2% |
| Women | 21% | 19% | 38% | 19% | 4% | |
| Age | Under 45 | 22% | 26% | 31% | 21% | 0% |
| 45 or older | 19% | 19% | 41% | 16% | 4% | |
| Region | Piedmont | 22% | 18% | 39% | 19% | 3% |
| Midlands | 15% | 26% | 39% | 17% | 3% | |
| The Pee Dee | 25% | 19% | 32% | 19% | 4% | |
| Low Country | 18% | 22% | 43% | 15% | 2% | |
| Household Income | Less than $75,000 | 20% | 22% | 37% | 17% | 3% |
| $75,000 or more | 20% | 20% | 41% | 17% | 1% | |
| Evangelical Christians | 24% | 17% | 41% | 14% | 4% | |
| Regular Religious Service Attendance | 23% | 18% | 39% | 17% | 3% | |
| Mormons are Christians | Yes | 16% | 21% | 43% | 17% | 3% |
| No-Unsure | 24% | 20% | 34% | 18% | 3% | |
| Education | Not college graduate | 22% | 18% | 38% | 17% | 4% |
| College graduate | 18% | 24% | 39% | 18% | 2% | |
| Interview Type | Landline | 20% | 20% | 39% | 18% | 3% |
| Cell Phone | 21% | 26% | 35% | 15% | 3% | |
| NBC News/Marist Poll South Carolina Likely Republican Primary Voters. Interviews conducted January 16th and 17th, 2012, N=684 MOE +/- 3.8 percentage points. Totals may not add to 100% due to rounding. **Past participation refers to previous participation in a South Carolina Republican Presidential Primary. | ||||||