| South Carolina Likely Voters | ||||
| Which is more important to you: | ||||
| The Republican nominee for president is a true conservative | The Republican nominee for president has the best chance to beat President Obama | Unsure | ||
| Row % | Row % | Row % | ||
| South Carolina Likely Voters | 36% | 58% | 6% | |
| South Carolina Likely Voters | Pre-Debate | 36% | 58% | 5% |
| Post-Debate | 36% | 58% | 6% | |
| Party Identification | Republican | 34% | 61% | 5% |
| Independent | 40% | 52% | 8% | |
| Tea Party Supporters | 35% | 61% | 4% | |
| Intensity of Tea Party Support | Strongly support Tea Party | 33% | 63% | 4% |
| Support Tea Party | 36% | 60% | 4% | |
| Does not support Tea Party | 38% | 55% | 7% | |
| Political Ideology | Liberal-Moderate | 33% | 58% | 9% |
| Conservative | 37% | 60% | 3% | |
| Very conservative | 40% | 55% | 5% | |
| Political Ideology | Liberal-Moderate | 33% | 58% | 9% |
| Conservative-Very conservative | 38% | 58% | 4% | |
| Past Participation** | Yes | 35% | 59% | 6% |
| No | 45% | 50% | 5% | |
| Top Tier Republican Candidates | Mitt Romney | 21% | 75% | 5% |
| Newt Gingrich | 30% | 66% | 4% | |
| Ron Paul | 57% | 35% | 8% | |
| Rick Santorum | 60% | 38% | 2% | |
| Candidate Support | Strongly support | 35% | 60% | 5% |
| Somewhat support | 41% | 56% | 4% | |
| Might vote differently | 35% | 60% | 5% | |
| Most Important Quality | Shares your values | 63% | 32% | 4% |
| Is closest to you on the issues | 52% | 39% | 9% | |
| Can beat President Obama in 2012 | 12% | 86% | 3% | |
| Has the experience to govern | 43% | 53% | 5% | |
| Facebook Page | Yes | 40% | 54% | 6% |
| No-Unsure | 33% | 61% | 6% | |
| Gender | Men | 39% | 56% | 5% |
| Women | 33% | 60% | 7% | |
| Age | Under 45 | 48% | 49% | 2% |
| 45 or older | 32% | 60% | 7% | |
| Region | Piedmont | 37% | 57% | 6% |
| Midlands | 34% | 57% | 8% | |
| The Pee Dee | 43% | 52% | 6% | |
| Low Country | 33% | 64% | 3% | |
| Household Income | Less than $75,000 | 40% | 53% | 7% |
| $75,000 or more | 32% | 65% | 3% | |
| Evangelical Christians | 39% | 57% | 4% | |
| Regular Religious Service Attendance | 37% | 57% | 6% | |
| Mormons are Christians | Yes | 29% | 66% | 5% |
| No-Unsure | 43% | 50% | 7% | |
| Education | Not college graduate | 39% | 53% | 7% |
| College graduate | 33% | 63% | 4% | |
| Interview Type | Landline | 35% | 59% | 6% |
| Cell Phone | 45% | 52% | 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. | ||||