Current Findings

February 2013 Winthrop Poll

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For methodological questions please read the full Methodology Statement

ROCK HILL, S.C. - The April 2013 Winthrop Poll interviewed 1069 adults living in South Carolina. The survey was in the field from 4/6-4/14, 2013.

After weights (for sex, age, and race) have been applied, results which use all respondents have a margin of error of approximately +/- 3% at the 95% confidence level. Results that use less than the full sample will naturally have a higher margin of error. For results using only Registered voters, n=832, margin of error of approximately +/- 3.5% at the 95% confidence level. For additional information on methodology, see methodology page. 

Among the Winthrop Poll findings:

• Approval ratings for most politicians dropped in April from the February Winthrop Poll, with the exception of S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley. Since the last Winthrop Poll, the sequestration, or budget cuts to  federal spending which began on March 1, have taken place to instill austerity in the nation’s fiscal policy. More than five months after Barack Obama won a second term as president, 43.4 percent of all South Carolinians polled approve of the job he is doing, compared to 46.5 percent who disapprove.

• Only 14.9 percent of all respondents and only 11.1 percent of registered SC voters approve of the way Congress is doing its job. Regarding the S.C. General Assembly, 37.9 percent of SC residents approved and 35.8% disapproved.

• S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley picked up more support among Republicans and those leaning to the GOP from the February poll. That number ticked up from 66.8 percent to 69 percent. For all SC residents, the number climbed 1 percent to 43.5 percent.

• U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, who is up for re-election in 2014, received a 44% approval rating among S.C. registered voters but his approval rating has dropped from 71.6% to 57.5% among Republicans and those independents who lean toward the GOP compared to the February poll.  This drop corresponds to the entry of two vocal challengers, and discussion of a third, into the primary race against him. Meanwhile, S.C.’s newest senator, the newly appointed Tim Scott, a congressman from Charleston, S.C., has a 39.7% approval rating among registered voters; this is more than 18 points higher than the percent who disapprove of his performance. Nearly 40 percent still aren’t sure about his handling of his new job.

• Half of Republicans and leaning GOP respondents reported that they feel strongly that food stamp recipients should be forbidden from buying unhealthy food items, while only 1/3 of Democrats feel the same way.

• Tea Party membership continues lose its momentum. Only ¼ of respondents approve of the Tea Party movement. Overall, only about 3.7% of all registered voters consider themselves members of the movement, which is half of what was reported just a few months ago.

• Fewer respondents think country is on the right track (29%) compared with those who say it is headed in the wrong direction (60.3%). And 34.8% said the economic conditions for the country are fairly bad, while another third said conditions are fairly good.

• As for the economy of South Carolina, about half of respondents said the economy is fairly good and 56.7% said they are getting better. Half said their own financial situation was either excellent or good, and more than half said it was improving.

• The most important problems facing the U.S. respondents said are, in order: the economy, jobs or employment, budget deficit or debt and politicians/government. The most important problem facing the Palmetto State are: jobs or unemployment, education, economy/economic-financial crisis and politicians/government.

Note: Topline (may not sum to 100% due to rounding)
Weighted Demographics 

T.1

*Census percentages are ONLY for those S.C. residents age 18 and over.

T.2

Questions: (may not sum to 100% due to rounding)

T.3 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as President of the United States?

*NOTE: it is not an ‘apples’ to ‘apples’ comparison to compare a sitting president’s approval ratings to those of any statewide official.  A simple look at how many more people have no opinion on state level officials as compared to the president should make it obvious that these types of comparisons are not entirely valid.

T.4 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Congress is handling its job?

T.5 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Nikki Haley is handling her job as Governor of South Carolina?

*NOTE: We do not register by political party in South Carolina. Therefore, partisanship is self-reported.

T.6 Do you approve or disapprove of the way the South Carolina State Legislature is handling its job?

T.7 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Lindsey Graham is handling its job as a United States Senator for South Carolina?

*NOTE: We do not register by political party in South Carolina. Therefore, partisanship is self-reported.

T.8 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Tim Scott is handling his job as a United States Senator for South Carolina?

*NOTE: We do not register by political party in South Carolina. Therefore, partisanship is self-reported.

T.9 Thinking about the current path that our nation is taking, do you think our country is on the right track or headed in the wrong direction?

T.10 Thinking about the current path that state of South Carolina is taking, do you think state of South Carolina is on the right track or headed in the wrong direction?

T.11 What do you think is the most important problem facing the United States of America today?

(Top four responses listed. Response options are not read to respondents. Interviewers code responses into one of 30 answer options)

T.12 What do you think is the most important problem facing the State of South Carolina today?

(Top four responses listed. Response options are not read to respondents. Interviewers code responses into one of 30 answer options)

T.13 How would you rate the condition of the national economy these days? Is it very good, fairly good, fairly bad or very bad?

T.14 Right now, do you think that economic conditions in the country as a whole are getting better or getting worse?

T.15 How would you rate the condition of the economy of South Carolina these days? Is it very good, fairly good, fairly bad, or very bad?

T.16 Right now, do you think that economic conditions in the South Carolina are getting better or getting worse?

T.17 How would you rate your financial situation today? As excellent, good, only fair, or poor?

T.18 Right now, do you think that your financial situation as a whole is getting better or getting worse?

T.19 Some people in South Carolina have suggested adding certain limits to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which is more commonly known as the Food Stamps program.  If added, these restrictions would forbid people who receive food stamps from using them to purchase certain unhealthy foods.  While a final list has not been proposed, some of the prohibited items might include soft drinks and candy.

Do you feel food stamp recipients should or should not be forbidden from buying certain unhealthy items?

Do you feel that way “strongly” or “Somewhat?”

T.20 In general, would you say you approve or disapprove of the Tea Party movement or are you not familiar enough with the Tea Party movement to have an opinion?

*NOTE: We do not register by political party in South Carolina. Therefore, partisanship is self-reported.

T.21 Would you consider yourself a MEMBER of the Tea Party Movement?

*NOTE: We do not register by political party in South Carolina. Therefore, partisanship is self-reported.

T.22 In the debate over immigration reform, some proposals include a “path to citizenship” for undocumented persons who are in the country illegally. This path to citizenship would require these individuals to go to the back of the line to apply for citizenship, require English proficiency exams, ensure immigrants are paying taxes and impose a fine for those who are here illegally. Would you support or oppose a “path to citizenship” as part of larger immigration reform? 

Do you feel that way Strongly or Somewhat

*NOTE: The specifics of this plan come from Sen. Lindsey Graham’s plan as reported in The State newspaper: “South Carolina becomes Republican's immigration reform 'test market'” published March 27, 2013

*NOTE: We do not register by political party in South Carolina. Therefore, partisanship is self-reported.

T.23 I’d like to ask you about Medicaid expansion in South Carolina

[The following two statements were rotated]

Some who support Medicaid expansion argue that it would help many low income individuals get health insurance and bring in as much as 11 billion dollars in federal money to South Carolina by the year 2020

Some who oppose Medicaid expansion argue that it is an inappropriate expansion of the power of the national government and, even if it brought in federal money, it would still cost the state as much as 1.9 billion dollars by the year 2020.

What is your opinion? In general, would you say you support or oppose Medicaid expansion?

*NOTE: Dollar amounts used in the pro and con arguments in this question come from reports in The State newspaper; see: “Exclusive: SC Democrats push 3-year test of Medicaid expansion” published March 9, 2013 and “Healthcare advocates debate SC’s role in Medicaid expansion” published March 28, 2013

*NOTE: We do not register by political party in South Carolina. Therefore, partisanship is self-reported.

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See full methodology page for more info.

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Contact Information:
Judy Longshaw
803/323-2402 (office)
803/984-0586 (cell)

The Winthrop Poll is paid for by Winthrop University with additional support from The West Forum on Politics and Policy at Winthrop University.

For additional information, or to set up an interview with Dr. Scott Huffmon, please contact Judy Longshaw at longshawj@winthrop.edu or 803/323-2404.

Note: Winthrop University, located in Rock Hill, S.C., is a nationally recognized public university offering graduate and undergraduate degrees to an inclusive, international student body.
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