South Carolina Likely Voters
Do you think this year's field of Republican candidates is one of the best, above average, average, below average, or one of the worst?
One of the best Above average Average Below average One of the worst Unsure
Row % Row % Row % Row % Row % Row %
South Carolina Likely Voters 8% 21% 48% 13% 8% 2%
South Carolina Likely Voters Pre-Debate 8% 21% 47% 13% 9% 2%
Post-Debate 8% 21% 48% 13% 8% 2%
Party Identification Republican 9% 23% 50% 10% 6% 2%
Independent 7% 16% 43% 19% 13% 3%
Tea Party Supporters 10% 23% 50% 11% 5% 1%
Intensity of Tea Party Support Strongly support Tea Party 12% 24% 48% 9% 4% 1%
Support Tea Party 8% 23% 51% 11% 6% 1%
Does not support Tea Party 6% 17% 47% 17% 13% 2%
Political Ideology Liberal-Moderate 4% 17% 48% 16% 13% 2%
Conservative 8% 22% 51% 11% 6% 1%
Very conservative 13% 24% 41% 15% 5% 2%
Political Ideology Liberal-Moderate 4% 17% 48% 16% 13% 2%
Conservative-Very conservative 10% 22% 48% 12% 6% 2%
Past Participation** Yes 9% 22% 47% 13% 8% 2%
No 7% 14% 54% 14% 11% 0%
Top Tier Republican Candidates Mitt Romney 9% 22% 51% 10% 6% 1%
Newt Gingrich 13% 28% 46% 9% 4% 0%
Ron Paul 5% 17% 42% 17% 17% 2%
Rick Santorum 8% 13% 52% 19% 6% 1%
Candidate Support Strongly support 12% 27% 44% 10% 6% 2%
Somewhat support 4% 18% 51% 19% 7% 1%
Might vote differently 6% 14% 50% 16% 12% 1%
Most Important Quality Shares your values 8% 22% 46% 17% 6% 1%
Is closest to you on the issues 8% 16% 49% 15% 11% 1%
Can beat President Obama in 2012 9% 23% 47% 11% 7% 2%
Has the experience to govern 6% 20% 50% 11% 10% 3%
Facebook Page Yes 7% 21% 48% 13% 9% 1%
No-Unsure 9% 20% 48% 13% 7% 2%
Gender Men 7% 21% 49% 13% 9% 2%
Women 10% 20% 47% 14% 7% 2%
Age Under 45 3% 19% 56% 13% 9% 0%
45 or older 10% 22% 45% 13% 8% 2%
Region Piedmont 9% 21% 47% 13% 8% 2%
Midlands 7% 26% 41% 14% 9% 2%
The Pee Dee 7% 19% 54% 11% 8% 1%
Low Country 9% 16% 53% 14% 7% 2%
Household Income Less than $75,000 9% 21% 47% 12% 9% 3%
$75,000 or more 6% 23% 48% 16% 6% 1%
Evangelical Christians 9% 21% 48% 13% 7% 2%
Regular Religious Service Attendance 9% 19% 49% 12% 9% 2%
Mormons are Christians Yes 10% 22% 48% 13% 6% 1%
No-Unsure 6% 19% 49% 12% 10% 3%
Education Not college graduate 8% 19% 49% 13% 8% 3%
College graduate 9% 22% 46% 13% 9% 1%
Interview Type Landline 9% 21% 47% 13% 8% 2%
Cell Phone 3% 20% 54% 13% 7% 2%
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.