If the 2012 Republican presidential primary in South Carolina were held today, whom would you support if the candidates are:
Newt Gingrich Mitt Romney Michele Bachmann Rick Santorum Jon Huntsman Herman Cain Ron Paul Gary Johnson Rick Perry Undecided
Row % Row % Row % Row % Row % Row % Row % Row % Row % Row %
South Carolina Potential Republican Electorate* 6% 27% 5% 2% 1% 28% 6% 0% 10% 17%
Party Identification Republican 6% 27% 5% 2% 0% 27% 5% 0% 11% 17%
Independent 7% 25% 6% 1% 2% 29% 7% 1% 7% 16%
Tea Party Supporters 9% 25% 4% 2% 0% 39% 5% 0% 8% 8%
Intensity of Tea Party Support Strongly support Tea Party 14% 12% 4% 2% 0% 50% 3% 0% 8% 8%
Support Tea Party 6% 31% 4% 3% 0% 33% 6% 0% 8% 8%
Does not support Tea Party 4% 31% 6% 1% 2% 20% 7% 1% 11% 18%
Political Ideology Liberal-Moderate 4% 31% 8% 2% 2% 21% 10% 0% 7% 15%
Conservative 5% 27% 3% 1% 0% 29% 4% 1% 12% 18%
Very conservative 11% 20% 6% 3% 0% 34% 3% 1% 8% 14%
Past Participation** Yes 6% 27% 5% 1% 1% 29% 6% 1% 8% 16%
No 6% 24% 7% 3% 1% 21% 5% 0% 14% 19%
Candidate Support Strongly support 9% 31% 3% 2% 0% 39% 8% 0% 7% 0%
Somewhat support 5% 36% 6% 2% 1% 32% 6% 0% 12% 0%
Might vote differently 7% 26% 10% 2% 2% 28% 6% 1% 18% 0%
Most Important Quality Shares your values 4% 20% 7% 2% 0% 31% 5% 1% 11% 17%
Is closest to you on the issues 5% 30% 5% 2% 2% 31% 6% 0% 7% 12%
Can beat President Obama in 2012 10% 27% 4% 0% 0% 30% 4% 0% 7% 17%
Has the experience to govern 6% 31% 5% 1% 1% 19% 7% 0% 13% 17%
Republican Candidate Field Satisfied 7% 28% 6% 1% 1% 30% 4% 1% 11% 11%
Not satisfied 4% 25% 4% 3% 2% 27% 10% 0% 6% 19%
Republican Debates Viewers 9% 27% 3% 1% 0% 37% 5% 0% 7% 10%
Non-Viewers 4% 27% 6% 2% 1% 22% 6% 1% 11% 20%
Uses Social Media for Campaign Information 7% 27% 9% 3% 0% 22% 11% 0% 10% 11%
Gender Men 7% 26% 5% 2% 1% 31% 8% 1% 9% 11%
Women 5% 28% 5% 1% 1% 24% 3% 0% 10% 23%
Age Under 45 3% 24% 8% 3% 0% 27% 8% 1% 10% 16%
45 or older 8% 28% 3% 1% 1% 28% 4% 0% 10% 16%
Region Piedmont 6% 26% 3% 3% 0% 32% 4% 0% 10% 15%
Midlands 6% 30% 6% 0% 2% 23% 6% 1% 8% 18%
The Pee Dee 7% 21% 6% 2% 2% 24% 5% 0% 14% 20%
Low Country 6% 29% 6% 1% 0% 27% 7% 2% 8% 15%
Household Income Less than $75,000 5% 30% 7% 2% 1% 24% 5% 1% 10% 15%
$75,000 or more 9% 23% 3% 2% 1% 32% 7% 1% 13% 11%
Evangelical Christians 6% 27% 4% 2% 0% 28% 5% 0% 12% 16%
Mormons are Christians Yes 8% 35% 6% 2% 1% 25% 4% 1% 8% 10%
No 4% 20% 5% 1% 1% 30% 7% 0% 11% 22%
Tea Party-Conservative-Evangelical 6% 25% 6% 3% 0% 35% 4% 0% 10% 10%
Education Not college graduate 6% 28% 7% 2% 0% 24% 5% 1% 11% 18%
College graduate 6% 26% 3% 1% 2% 33% 7% 0% 8% 15%
Interview Type Landline 6% 28% 4% 1% 1% 28% 6% 1% 8% 17%
Cell Phone 5% 23% 8% 4% 1% 25% 5% 0% 15% 14%
NBC News/Marist Poll South Carolina Potential Republican Electorate. Interviews conducted October 11th through 13th, 2011, N=992 MOE +/- 3.1%. Totals may not add to 100% due to rounding.
*The potential Republican electorate in South Carolina includes all Republicans, all Republican leaning independents and those who plan to vote in the Republican presidential primary.
**Past participation refers to previous participation in a South Carolina Republican Presidential Primary.