South Carolina Likely Voters
Which one of the following candidates do you think has the best chance to beat President Obama:
Newt Gingrich Mitt Romney Rick Santorum Ron Paul Rick Perry None Undecided
Row % Row % Row % Row % Row % Row % Row %
South Carolina Likely Voters 22% 56% 5% 5% 2% 2% 8%
South Carolina Likely Voters Pre-Debate 20% 57% 6% 5% 2% 2% 8%
Post-Debate 24% 54% 4% 5% 2% 2% 9%
Party Identification Republican 23% 58% 5% 3% 2% 2% 8%
Independent 20% 51% 5% 8% 3% 3% 10%
Tea Party Supporters 28% 52% 6% 5% 2% 1% 6%
Intensity of Tea Party Support Strongly support Tea Party 35% 49% 8% 1% 1% 1% 5%
Support Tea Party 24% 54% 4% 7% 2% 1% 7%
Does not support Tea Party 16% 59% 5% 5% 3% 4% 9%
Political Ideology Liberal-Moderate 10% 61% 5% 5% 4% 4% 11%
Conservative 22% 60% 4% 5% 1% 2% 6%
Very conservative 35% 43% 6% 5% 2% 1% 7%
Political Ideology Liberal-Moderate 10% 61% 5% 5% 4% 4% 11%
Conservative-Very conservative 26% 54% 5% 5% 1% 2% 7%
Past Participation** Yes 23% 55% 5% 5% 2% 3% 8%
No 16% 62% 3% 5% 4% 1% 9%
Top Tier Republican Candidates Mitt Romney 1% 92% 0% 0% 2% 2% 2%
Newt Gingrich 69% 25% 0% 1% 0% 1% 4%
Ron Paul 12% 44% 2% 26% 3% 4% 9%
Rick Santorum 9% 48% 31% 3% 1% 2% 7%
Candidate Support Strongly support 26% 56% 6% 6% 1% 1% 4%
Somewhat support 15% 65% 6% 5% 3% 2% 4%
Might vote differently 23% 51% 5% 4% 4% 4% 8%
Most Important Quality Shares your values 18% 49% 8% 11% 2% 3% 9%
Is closest to you on the issues 18% 53% 8% 6% 3% 3% 10%
Can beat President Obama in 2012 26% 61% 3% 2% 2% 1% 5%
Has the experience to govern 23% 56% 3% 3% 3% 2% 10%
Facebook Page Yes 18% 59% 5% 4% 2% 3% 8%
No-Unsure 25% 53% 5% 5% 2% 2% 8%
Gender Men 24% 52% 6% 7% 2% 2% 7%
Women 19% 60% 4% 3% 2% 2% 10%
Age Under 45 16% 60% 3% 5% 4% 2% 9%
45 or older 24% 54% 5% 5% 2% 2% 7%
Region Piedmont 27% 52% 4% 6% 1% 1% 8%
Midlands 16% 57% 7% 4% 1% 5% 10%
The Pee Dee 22% 52% 6% 5% 5% 3% 7%
Low Country 17% 63% 5% 3% 3% 2% 7%
Household Income Less than $75,000 24% 49% 5% 7% 3% 3% 9%
$75,000 or more 17% 69% 4% 1% 2% 2% 5%
Evangelical Christians 24% 52% 6% 5% 1% 3% 8%
Regular Religious Service Attendance 22% 53% 6% 4% 2% 3% 9%
Mormons are Christians Yes 19% 65% 5% 3% 1% 2% 5%
No-Unsure 25% 46% 5% 6% 3% 3% 11%
Education Not college graduate 24% 49% 5% 7% 3% 2% 10%
College graduate 19% 64% 5% 2% 1% 2% 6%
Interview Type Landline 22% 56% 5% 4% 2% 3% 7%
Cell Phone 20% 55% 3% 7% 2% 1% 12%
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.