By Lisa Anderson
COLUMBIA, SC—Despite miserable, chill, rainy weather in much of the state older voters, conservatives and white evangelical Christians turned out heavily at the polls for South Carolina’s Republican first-in-the-nation primary Saturday, according to the Associated Press exit polls.
This is good news for former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who rode to victory in Iowa on the support of evangelical and conservative Christians. He is counting on that same bloc to propel him to a win here, where evangelicals represent more than half of the GOP primary voters.
Veterans made up about 25 percent of the overall vote, a group that Arizona Sen. John McCain is relying on in this race. Veterans and active military represent about 14 percent of the state’s adult population.
Voters told pollsters their most important issue was the economy. This was not surprisingly since South Carolina’s unemployment shot to 6.6 percent in December, up from 5.9 percent in November, making the Palmetto State’s unemployment rate the third worst in the nation behind Michigan and Mississippi.
The next most compelling issue voters reported was illegal immigration. Again, South Carolina has seen population of Hispanic descent rise 47 percent between 2000 and 2005. Although the numbers are still relatively small, illegal immigration is a growing concern in the state.
And, voters told pollsters the most important quality they sought in a candidate was one who shares their values, although, beyond faith in the case of the evangelicals, it’s not clear exactly what those values are.
The polls have just closed but the race remains too tight between McCain and Huckabee for any call yet to be made. Former Tennessee Gov. Fred Thompson and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who is in Nevada tonight, appeared to be wrestling each other for third place.
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Comments
I am happy to see that as of 830p EST Ron Paul has twice the number of votes as Rudy Guiliani at 4%. The downside of course is that 96 out of every 100 Republicans in SC dont want him representing their Party. Considering that SC is where the Civil War began over "States Rights" *wink*, I expect this champion of individualism to do a wee bit better.
Posted by: Smirky McFlightsuit | January 19, 2008 8:26 PM
This is a good ole boy state. If you let yourself be used by those with a little power and money, you are a good ole boy. You can be a deacon and have you flask of cough medicine and no one says a word.
The federal government spends a lot of money here on military bases and the Savannah river nuclear storage facility.
We will help anyone who needs help and also we have those who will help you during the day and steal from you at night.
We will hold our hands out and say the federal government should cut taxes, even though most of us only got the 300 dollars per person tax cut (the 10% bracket). Most think of that as thousands of dollars.
Posted by: Joesph Canton | January 19, 2008 9:08 PM
This is a good ole boy state. If you let yourself be used by those with a little power and money, you are a good ole boy. You can be a deacon and have you flask of cough medicine and no one says a word.
The federal government spends a lot of money here on military bases and the Savannah river nuclear storage facility.
We will help anyone who needs help and also we have those who will help you during the day and steal from you at night.
We will hold our hands out and say the federal government should cut taxes, even though most of us only got the 300 dollars per person tax cut (the 10% bracket). Most think of that as thousands of dollars.
Posted by: Joesph Canton | January 19, 2008 9:10 PM
Secular conservatives like Rush and Sean Hannity have been attacking the old fashioned values of True conservatives, Mike Huckabee isn't the perfect candidate, however, the most important issue of our time is abortion, how dare we claim to be for against oppression and mass murder in the middle east, which is a just cause by the way, and allow our young to be consumed by women in this country who indulge in thier own dark fantasies and choose not to pay the consequences. Even in the case of rape, if you commit abortion on the innocent child, you have just committed an atrosity far worse to an innocent bistandard than was committed on you. America wake up, the worst casualties of war are suffered in the ranks of our unborn. Where are the marines? Who will call out the Navy, what Airforce does lil Johnny doe have to releive him of the preying animals that eat their young?
Posted by: Reggie | January 19, 2008 9:32 PM
These are the same exit polls that forecast an Obama triumph in New Hampshire?
Who other than the media would be dumb enough to cite as sources the same polls that have failed so many times before?
Posted by: Bruce | January 20, 2008 12:11 AM
Reggie,
Hang in there. You'll get your heaven ticket punched.
Posted by: Doug Zook | January 20, 2008 6:52 AM
the most important issue of our time is abortion,
Posted by: Reggie | January 19, 2008 9:32 PM
That's where you are wrong. It may be to you, but to most Americans it is settled law.
Posted by: bill r. | January 20, 2008 9:22 AM
the most important issue of our time is abortion,
Posted by: Reggie | January 19, 2008 9:32 PM
That's where you are wrong. It may be to you, but to most Americans it is settled law.
Posted by: bill r. | January 20, 2008 9:22 AM
True dat. ps. Bruce your on a roll today. I guess that McCain win has got you republicans who like dishonesty in an uproar!!!
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | January 20, 2008 1:14 PM
If the conservative vote had not been split by Thompson receiving so many votes, McCain would never have won.
Don't let the same thing happen in FLA. Vote for Romney. Splitting the anti-McCain vote by voting for other candidates besides Romney will be a vote for McCain and ultimately a vote for the democrats.
Let me explain. Romney is the only one who can beat Obama or Hillary.
McCain is an old, worn out man who has had cancer three times already. He may not even live out the campaign (though I don't wish anything bad on him or anyone else). How in the world could he compete against youthful, energetic Obama, or even Hillary?
Posted by: Rubystars | January 21, 2008 1:56 PM