ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Over half of South Carolinians think tariffs placed on imports from other countries will end up costing the U.S. more money than it brings in. While nearly 9 in 10 South Carolinians anticipate paying more for the products they buy because of these tariffs, 62% believe higher tariffs will result in the creation of more U.S. manufacturing jobs.
Half of South Carolinians approve of the way Donald Trump is handling immigration – another hot topic of his second term as president. When asked whether deporting a legal immigrant or letting an illegal immigrant stay in the U.S. is worse, 53% say deporting a legal immigrant is worse. Sharp divides exist between Republicans and Democrats within the state on the topic of immigration.
The following are more GENERAL POPULATION results from the survey of South Carolinians:
See full results, commentary, and methodology below.
For additional information or to set up an interview with Scott Huffmon, contact Judy Longshaw at longshawj@winthrop.edu or 803/323-2404 (office) or 803/984-0586 (cell).
Nearly half of South Carolinians (46%) think things in the nation are on the wrong track. Republicans and Democrats differ with 72% of Republicans saying the nation is headed in the right direction and 77% of Democrats saying it is on the wrong track.
When asked about how things are going in the state of South Carolina, 45% of South Carolinians say things are headed in the right direction. Seventy-one percent of Republicans say things are headed in the right direction while 56% of Democrats say things in the state are on the wrong track.
South Carolinians remain split over how Donald Trump is handling his job as president with 45% saying they approve and 43% saying they disapprove. Among those who expressed an opinion – excluding those who are not sure or refused to answer – this 2-point difference remains with 51% saying they approve of the way Trump is handling his job and 49% saying they disapprove.
When it comes to how Trump is handling the economy, 45% disapprove and 43% approve. Among those who expressed an opinion, just over half (51%) disapprove.
When it comes to how Trump is handling immigration, half approve while 40% disapprove. Among those who expressed an opinion, 56% approve.
Forty-two percent of South Carolinians approve of the way Henry McMaster is handling his job as Governor of South Carolina while 30% disapprove, and 28% are not sure. Among those who express an opinion, McMaster’s approval is 16 points higher than his disapproval.
When asked about Lindsey Graham, 40% disapprove, 34% approve, and 25% are not sure of the way he is handling his job as United States Senator for South Carolina. Among those who expressed an opinion, a majority (54%) disapproves.
Forty-one percent approve of the way Tim Scott is handling his job as United States Senator for South Carolina while 31% are not sure and 27% disapprove. Among those who expressed an opinion, 60% approve and 40% disapprove.
According to Scott Huffmon, the Director of the Winthrop Poll, “The key to understanding political approval ratings among the general population is to remember that general population polls contain more Independents, more moderates, more who respond with ‘Not Sure,’ and fewer respondents who follow politics closely than likely voter polls. The president and all of the statewide Republican officials are more popular than unpopular. This positive view is reinforced when we only examine respondents who expressed an opinion.”
In reference to mistakes made by all immigration systems, respondents were asked to indicate which mistake is worse: to deport a legal immigrant or to let an illegal immigrant stay. Over half of all respondents (53%) said to deport a legal immigrant is worse. A majority of Republicans (56%) said letting an illegal immigrant stay is worse while for 71% of Democrats, to deport a legal immigrant is worse.
According to Huffmon, “All of the findings on immigration show the deep divide between Republicans and Democrats on anything even remotely related to the issue. Republicans feel that the situation is so dire that deportations must take place first and the determination of whether an individual should have been deported should come afterwards. Seven out of 10 Democrats feel that the order of those things should be reversed.”
When asked whether Trump should bring Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was deported to El Salvador despite a court order prohibiting it, back to the U.S., 44% of South Carolinians say yes, 33% say no, and 23% are unsure. Of those who expressed an opinion, a majority (57%) say Trump should bring Abrego Garcia back. Republicans and Democrats have different opinions of the issue with a majority of Republicans (55%) saying Abrego Garcia should not be brought back and a majority of Democrats (69%) saying he should.
Huffmon noted, “We shouldn’t assume that all of the respondents knew the particulars of the Abrego Garcia case. If they didn’t, this becomes more of a referendum on whether the Trump administration should be bound by court orders when it comes to immigration.”
A majority of South Carolinians (63%) strongly or somewhat agree with the assertion that an immigrant’s ability to speak English shows their willingness to assimilate into American culture and way of life. Republicans and Democrats agree.
Most South Carolinians do not worry about immigrants becoming so numerous that they themselves will become a minority in their own country. Sixty percent of Republicans do worry about this while 59% of Democrats do not.
Forty-two percent of South Carolinians think that immigrants today have more trouble assimilating to the American way of life than previous immigrants because they come from very different cultures than before. A majority of Republicans (56%) agree. Thirty-four percent of Democrats agree while 37% disagree.
Nearly half of South Carolinians (49%) think welcoming immigrants in the U.S. has been equally good and bad. Thirty-four percent say this has been mainly good, and 18% think it has been mainly bad. Almost half of both Republicans and Democrats think welcoming immigrants has been equally good and bad. Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say this has been mainly good.
A majority of South Carolinians (68%) think the fact that the U.S. population is made up of people of many different races and ethnicities strengthens American society. Only 9% thinks this reality weakens American society, and 23% say the diverse racial and ethnic makeup of the country doesn’t make much of a difference to society.
Added Huffmon, “As with so many other things, we see a division between parties on the nature of the very fabric of society. Assimilation to modern American culture is far more important to Republicans. There is greater common ground on historical immigration into the United States. Many from both parties see past immigration as having both positive and negative impacts.”
Over half of South Carolinians (53%) think that new tariffs the U.S. is putting on imports from other countries will end up costing the U.S. more money than it brings in from other countries. Forty-seven percent think these tariffs will bring in more money than the U.S. will pay.
A strong majority of South Carolinians (87%) think it is very or somewhat likely that higher tariffs will result in them paying more for the products they buy.
A majority of South Carolinians (62%) think higher tariffs are very or somewhat likely to result in the creation of more U.S. manufacturing jobs. Thirty-eight percent think this is not too likely or not likely at all. Republicans and Democrats think differently with a majority of Republicans (87%) saying it is likely higher tariffs will result in more domestic manufacturing jobs while 62% of Democrats think this is not too likely or not likely at all.
Huffmon noted, “There is a fundamental disconnect between the political parties when it comes to tariffs. This even extends to how the tariffs will function with respect to whether they will eventually be financially beneficial or detrimental. Nearly all Democrats and a solid majority of Republicans think that tariffs will result in higher prices, but combined with other results here, it seems clear that Republicans see it as a matter of short-term pain bringing a long-term benefit while Democrats see it as a baked-in aspect of tariffs.”
Thirty-six percent of South Carolinians do not think the federal government should declare the United States a Christian nation. Thirty-four percent think it should and a quarter neither agree nor disagree with declaring the U.S. a Christian nation. A majority of Republicans (55%) want to declare the U.S. a Christian nation while nearly half of Democrats (45%) do not.
Respondents were asked how serious they believe various issues to be in America on a scale of 0 to 10 where 0 is “not a problem” and 10 is “extremely serious problem.” These questions were asked in a random order. Responses are reported in means.
Opioid addition is the most severe problem for all respondents among issues asked with a mean of 7.8. Republicans and Democrats agree on the seriousness of the issue.
The country not doing enough to take care of the poor is the second-most serious issue for all respondents with a mean of 7.4. This is the most serious issue for Democrats with a mean of 8.4. For Republicans, illegal immigration is the most serious issue with a mean of 8.6. This is only a moderate issue for Democrats with a mean of 5.8.
Of all issues presented, difficulty voting is the least serious issue.
Thirty-seven percent of South Carolinians prefer to leave monuments or memorials to Confederate soldiers who died during the Civil War where they are, but to add a plaque or marker for context and historical interpretation. Thirty-two percent want to leave them just as they are – no plaque or marker required – while 17% want to move them to a museum. Only 7% want to remove these monuments or memorials entirely.
Among white South Carolinians, 40% say to leave them just as they are and 41% say to leave them but add a plaque or marker while 28% of Black South Carolinians say they want them moved to a museum. Almost half of Republicans (47%) want these monuments or memorials to be left just as they are while 30% of Democrats prefer to leave them but add a plaque or marker.
When it comes to the Confederate battle flag, 36% of South Carolinians think the flag is a symbol of Southern pride, while 23% see it more as a symbol of racial conflict. Thirty-two percent view the flag as both equally. Nearly half of white South Carolinians (48%) and over half of Republicans (61%) see the flag as a symbol of Southern pride. Forty-four percent of Democrats see it as more of a symbol of racial conflict, and 41% percent of Black respondents see the flag as a symbol of both racial conflict and Southern pride.
Half of South Carolinians (51%) believe the Civil War was about slavery and states’ rights equally. The same percentage of both white and Black South Carolinians agree in saying the Civil War was about slavery and states’ rights. While far more Democrats than Republicans say the Civil War was mainly about slavery, most within both parties believe the Civil War was about both slavery and states’ rights.
Huffmon added, “It is interesting that while the largest divide on Confederate monuments remains between whites and blacks, attitudes on the Confederate flag and the causes of the Civil War have become more partisan issues than racial issues.”
When asked how well they feel their political party represents their personal beliefs, 56% of Republicans say “good” and 28% say “excellent.” Twelve percent of Republicans say their party is “only fair” at representing their personal beliefs, and 4% believe the party represents their beliefs poorly.
Fifty-five percent of Democrats say the Democratic party is “good” at representing their personal beliefs, and 22% say it is “only fair.” Eighteen percent believe the party represents their beliefs excellently, and 5% say the party represents their beliefs poorly.
According to Huffmon, “It is notable that only minorities of people who identify as both Democrats and Republicans feel that their party does an excellent job of representing their beliefs. This number would certainly be higher among likely voters. Majorities of general population partisans feel that their party could do a better job representing them. Majorities of people who identify with both parties would prefer a less ideologically extreme version of their party. However, the people who lead the parties at the county, district, and state level for Republicans and Democrats tend to be individuals with preferences further away from the ideological center of their party. Additionally, the partisans who show up to vote in the political primaries are less likely to be people who identify as moderates. This means that to win a primary, a wise candidate will gravitate further from the moderate wing of his or her party. When you combine this with gerrymandering, which creates non-competitive districts where general elections for the state legislature are often not even contested, you have a situation where moderate partisans, who certainly won’t vote for the other party, can only cast a ballot for a candidate from their party who is less moderate.”
When asked if they could choose a political party that most accurately represents their beliefs, 33% of South Carolinians say that party would be truly neutral – neither conservative nor liberal. Another 32% say that party would be moderately conservative.
Republicans favor a moderately conservative party with over half (53%) saying this ideology best represents their beliefs. Thirty-six percent of Democrats prefer a moderately liberal party. Among Independents, 55% would choose a truly neutral party, 21% would choose a moderately conservative party, and 13% would choose a moderately liberal party.
Respondents were asked to indicate which of three statements best describes their views about the Bible: (1) The Bible is the actual word of God and is to be taken literally, word for word; (2) The Bible is the inspired word of God but not everything in it should be taken literally; and (3) The Bible is an ancient book of fables, legends, history, and moral precepts recorded by man.
Thirty-nine percent of South Carolinians say the Bible is the inspired word of God, but not everything in it should be taken literally, while 38% say the Bible is the actual word of God and is to be taken literally, word for word. Fifteen percent say the Bible is an ancient book of fables, legends, history, and moral precepts recorded by man.
While over 40% of both Republicans and Democrats believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible, 42% of Independents say not everything needs to be taken literally.
Among Evangelical Christians, 61% believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible, 34% think not everything needs to be taken literally, and only 3% see the Bible as a book of stories recorded by man.
Huffmon noted, “Democrats and Republicans in South Carolina tend to have the same attitudes toward the Bible. What I find interesting are the responses from Evangelicals. More than six in ten is certainly a strong majority who believe the Bible should be seen as the literal Word of God, but from the days of Billy Graham until the early 21st century, it seems like that number would have been even higher. This hints at the fact that the term Evangelical may slowly be evolving to become a political badge among some as well as a heartfelt theological position among others.”
RESULTS MAY NOT SUM TO 100 DUE TO ROUNDING
NOTE: This is a GENERAL POPULATION poll, NOT just a poll of Likely Voters or Registered Voters. Especially note that General Population polls contain more Independents, more Moderates, more who respond with ‘Not Sure,’ and fewer respondents who follow politics closely than Likely Voter polls.
NOTE: Political Independents are included in “All Respondents” and do not always have attitudes “in between” Republicans and Democrats. They are also often more likely to respond to questions with Not Sure or No Answer.
All in all, do you think things in the nation are generally headed in the right direction, or do you feel that things are off on the wrong track?
|
|
All Respondents MOE+/-2.82% |
All Respondents Who Expressed an Opinion |
Republicans (not including leaners) MOE+/-4.58% |
Democrats (not including leaners) MOE+/-5.35% |
|
Right Direction |
40 |
47 |
72 |
18 |
|
Wrong Track |
46 |
53 |
17 |
77 |
|
Not sure |
14 |
-- |
11 |
6 |
All in all, do you think things in the state of South Carolina are generally headed in the right direction, or do you feel that things are off on the wrong track?
|
|
All Respondents |
All Respondents Who Expressed an Opinion |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Right Direction |
45 |
56 |
71 |
27 |
|
Wrong Track |
34 |
43 |
16 |
56 |
|
Not sure |
20 |
-- |
13 |
18 |
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling his job as President of the United States?
[Note: For All Respondents, Trump’s Approval is 2 points higher than his Disapproval
even when those with no opinion are included]
|
|
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Republicans Who Expressed an Opinion (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
All Respondents |
All Respondents Who Expressed an Opinion |
|
Approve |
84 |
89 |
13 |
45 |
51 |
|
Disapprove |
10 |
11 |
80 |
43 |
49 |
|
Not sure |
5 |
-- |
6 |
9 |
-- |
|
Prefer not to answer |
1 |
-- |
1 |
3 |
-- |
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Trump is handling the economy?
|
|
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
All Respondents |
All Respondents Who Expressed an Opinion |
|
Approve |
79 |
12 |
43 |
49 |
|
Disapprove |
13 |
81 |
45 |
51 |
|
Not sure |
8 |
6 |
10 |
-- |
|
Prefer not to answer |
-- |
1 |
1 |
-- |
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Trump is handling immigration?
|
|
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
All Respondents |
All Respondents Who Expressed an Opinion |
|
Approve |
88 |
17 |
50 |
56 |
|
Disapprove |
7 |
75 |
40 |
44 |
|
Not sure |
5 |
6 |
8 |
-- |
|
Prefer not to answer |
0 |
2 |
2 |
-- |
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Henry McMaster is handling his job as Governor of South Carolina?
[Note: For All Respondents, McMaster’s Approval is 12 points higher than his Disapproval even when those with no opinion are included]
|
|
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Republicans Who Expressed an Opinion (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
All Respondents |
All Respondents Who Expressed an Opinion |
|
Approve |
66 |
86 |
25 |
42 |
58 |
|
Disapprove |
11 |
14 |
56 |
30 |
42 |
|
Not sure |
22 |
-- |
19 |
28 |
-- |
|
Prefer not to answer |
0 |
-- |
1 |
1 |
-- |
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Lindsey Graham is handling his job as a United States Senator for South Carolina?
|
|
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Republicans Who Expressed an Opinion (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
All Respondents |
All Respondents Who Expressed an Opinion |
|
Approve |
55 |
75 |
20 |
34 |
46 |
|
Disapprove |
18 |
26 |
66 |
40 |
54 |
|
Not sure |
26 |
-- |
14 |
25 |
-- |
|
Prefer not to answer |
1 |
-- |
1 |
1 |
-- |
Do you approve or disapprove of the way Tim Scott is handling his job as a United States Senator for South Carolina?
[Note: For All Respondents, Scott’s Approval is 14 points higher than his Disapproval
even when those with no opinion are included]
|
|
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Republicans Who Expressed an Opinion (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
All Respondents |
All Respondents Who Expressed an Opinion |
|
Approve |
68 |
88 |
21 |
41 |
60 |
|
Disapprove |
9 |
12 |
51 |
27 |
40 |
|
Not sure |
22 |
-- |
27 |
31 |
-- |
|
Prefer not to answer |
1 |
-- |
1 |
1 |
-- |
All systems of immigration make mistakes, but which do you think is worse?
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
To deport a legal immigrant |
53 |
35 |
71 |
|
Let an illegal immigrant stay |
37 |
56 |
21 |
|
Not sure |
10 |
9 |
8 |
Turning now to tariffs, which are taxes on goods imported from other countries and taxes that the U.S. pays on exports it sends to other countries.
In the long run, do you think new tariffs the U.S. is putting on imports from other countries...
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Will bring more money into the U.S. than it ends up paying in tariffs to other countries |
47 |
78 |
19 |
|
Will end up costing the U.S. more money than it brings in from other countries |
53 |
22 |
81 |
How likely do you think it is that higher tariffs will result in…
You paying more for the products you buy.
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Very likely |
55 |
34 |
77 |
|
Somewhat likely |
32 |
45 |
21 |
|
Not too likely |
10 |
19 |
2 |
|
Not likely at all |
2 |
3 |
0 |
How likely do you think it is that higher tariffs will result in…
More U.S. manufacturing jobs created.
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Very likely |
30 |
51 |
15 |
|
Somewhat likely |
32 |
36 |
23 |
|
Not too likely |
28 |
12 |
44 |
|
Not likely at all |
10 |
2 |
18 |
The Trump administration recently deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador despite a court order prohibiting his deportation. Do you believe Trump should bring Abrego Garcia back to the U.S.?
|
|
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
All Respondents |
All Respondents Who Expressed an Opinion |
|
Yes |
27 |
69 |
44 |
57 |
|
No |
55 |
11 |
33 |
43 |
|
Not sure |
18 |
20 |
23 |
-- |
Tell us whether you strongly agree, somewhat agree, neither agree nor disagree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with the following statements.
The federal government should declare the United States a Christian nation.
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Strongly agree |
21 |
37 |
15 |
|
Somewhat agree |
13 |
18 |
11 |
|
Neither agree nor disagree |
25 |
22 |
24 |
|
Somewhat disagree |
10 |
7 |
9 |
|
Strongly disagree |
26 |
13 |
36 |
|
Not sure/Prefer not to answer |
6 |
4 |
5 |
An immigrant’s ability to speak English shows their willingness to assimilate into American culture and way of life.
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Strongly agree |
30 |
40 |
25 |
|
Somewhat agree |
33 |
31 |
32 |
|
Neither agree nor disagree |
20 |
17 |
23 |
|
Somewhat disagree |
7 |
6 |
8 |
|
Strongly disagree |
7 |
5 |
9 |
|
Not sure/Prefer not to answer |
3 |
1 |
3 |
I worry that immigrants will become so numerous that I will become a minority in my own country.
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Strongly agree |
19 |
31 |
11 |
|
Somewhat agree |
20 |
29 |
12 |
|
Neither agree nor disagree |
19 |
17 |
17 |
|
Somewhat disagree |
15 |
13 |
18 |
|
Strongly disagree |
25 |
8 |
41 |
|
Not sure/Prefer not to answer |
3 |
1 |
1 |
Immigrants today come from cultures very different than previous immigrants and so have more trouble assimilating to the American way of life.
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Strongly agree |
18 |
26 |
13 |
|
Somewhat agree |
24 |
30 |
21 |
|
Neither agree nor disagree |
25 |
22 |
24 |
|
Somewhat disagree |
15 |
13 |
14 |
|
Strongly disagree |
14 |
6 |
23 |
|
Not sure/Prefer not to answer |
5 |
2 |
5 |
On a scale of 0 to 10 where 0 is Not a Problem and 10 is Extremely Serious Problem, please tell us how serious a problem you believe each of the following to be in America.
[Questions from Tables 18-26 were asked in a random order]
Elections are not secure enough
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Mean Score |
6.1 |
6.6 |
5.6 |
Illegal immigration
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Mean Score |
7.1 |
8.6 |
5.8 |
It is too hard to vote
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Mean Score |
3.2 |
2.6 |
4.3 |
Opioid addiction
[Independents, including Leaners, have a mean of 7.6]
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Mean Score |
7.8 |
8.1 |
7.8 |
The country turning its back on God
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Mean Score |
6.4 |
7.2 |
5.9 |
The country not doing enough to take care of the poor
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Mean Score |
7.4 |
6.6 |
8.4 |
Addressing climate change
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Mean Score |
6.1 |
4.9 |
7.6 |
Not doing enough to protect the environment
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Mean Score |
6.7 |
5.7 |
7.9 |
People not respecting the American Flag
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Mean Score |
6.2 |
7.6 |
5.2 |
Some people have called the United States “a nation of immigrants.” Do you think welcoming immigrants has been...
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Mainly good |
34 |
26 |
43 |
|
Mainly bad |
18 |
26 |
12 |
|
Equally good and bad |
49 |
48 |
46 |
In general, do you think the fact that the U.S. population is made up of people of many different races and ethnicities…
(options 1-2 listed in random order)
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Strengthens American society |
68 |
57 |
81 |
|
Weakens American society |
9 |
15 |
6 |
|
Doesn’t make much difference |
23 |
28 |
13 |
Which of the following comes closest to your opinion about what to do with monuments or memorials to Confederate soldiers who died during the Civil War?
(options 1-4 listed in random order)
|
|
All Respondents |
White Respondents |
Black Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Leave them just as they are |
32 |
40 |
15 |
47 |
21 |
|
Leave them, but add a plaque or marker for context and historical interpretation |
37 |
41 |
25 |
38 |
30 |
|
Move them to a museum |
17 |
12 |
28 |
7 |
28 |
|
Remove them completely |
7 |
3 |
16 |
4 |
13 |
|
Not sure |
8 |
4 |
15 |
4 |
9 |
Some people say the confederate battle flag reminds them of white supremacy and racial conflict. Other people say the confederate battle flag is a symbol of southern heritage and pride.
Do you think the flag is more a symbol of racial conflict or of southern pride?
(options 1-2 listed in random order)
|
|
All Respondents |
White Respondents |
Black Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Racial Conflict |
23 |
17 |
39 |
8 |
44 |
|
Southern Pride |
36 |
48 |
11 |
61 |
12 |
|
Equally Both |
32 |
28 |
41 |
24 |
39 |
|
Not sure |
8 |
7 |
9 |
7 |
5 |
In your opinion, was the Civil War mainly about slavery, mainly about states’ rights, or about both equally?
(options 1-2 listed in random order)
|
|
All Respondents |
White Respondents |
Black Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Slavery |
25 |
23 |
31 |
16 |
36 |
|
States’ rights |
19 |
22 |
12 |
27 |
12 |
|
Equally Both |
51 |
51 |
51 |
53 |
47 |
|
Not sure |
6 |
5 |
6 |
4 |
5 |
How well do you think your political party represents your personal beliefs?
|
|
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
|
Excellent |
28 |
18 |
|
Good |
56 |
55 |
|
Only Fair |
12 |
22 |
|
Poor |
4 |
5 |
If you could choose a political party that most accurately represents your beliefs, would that party be...
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
Independents (including leaners) MOE+/-5.43% |
|
Extremely conservative |
14 |
27 |
7 |
7 |
|
Moderately conservative |
32 |
53 |
17 |
21 |
|
Truly neutral |
33 |
16 |
27 |
55 |
|
Moderately liberal |
16 |
4 |
36 |
13 |
|
Extremely liberal |
5 |
1 |
13 |
3 |
Which of the following statements comes closest to describing your views about the Bible?
|
|
All Respondents |
Republicans (not including leaners) |
Democrats (not including leaners) |
Independents (including leaners)
|
Evangelical (Evangelical identity only asked of those who identified as Christian) MOE+/-5.26% |
|
The Bible is the actual word of God and is to be taken literally, word for word |
38 |
46 |
41 |
25 |
61 |
|
The Bible is the inspired word of God but not everything in it should be taken literally |
39 |
39 |
37 |
42 |
34 |
|
The Bible is an ancient book of fables, legends, history, and moral precepts recorded by man |
15 |
10 |
16 |
22 |
3 |
|
Not sure |
8 |
5 |
6 |
12 |
2 |
The May 2025 Winthrop Poll was an online survey conducted and paid for by Winthrop University. The survey is a sample of adult residents of South Carolina. The sample includes a non-probability sample from an online panel curated by Dynata. Data from 1211 (weighted) respondents were collected between May 23 and May 31, 2025. Results using all respondents have a margin of error of +/-2.82% at the 95% confidence level (weighted data). All subgroups will have a higher margin of error.
The May 2025 Winthrop Poll was conducted online and was paid for by Winthrop University (1, 2). The online sample is a non-probability sample drawn from panels of adult residents of South Carolina curated by and purchased from Dynata (4, 5). Data were weighted on sex, race, and age based on data from the US Census Bureau (9). Full question wording for released results is included (3). Participants responded using CAPI via computer or smartphone; the survey averaged 14.9 minutes (6). Data were collected between May 23 and May 31, 2025 (7). Weighted data include a sample of 1211 respondents which translates to a margin of error of +/-2.82% at the 95% confidence level for results using all respondents; all subgroups will have a higher margin of error (8). Center for Public Opinion & Policy Research personnel conducted quality control by eliminating data with inappropriate responses (didn’t match the question asked), “line” data (strings of the same number punched in in a long row), responses that did not pass attention checks, or completions recorded too quickly for an individual to have actually read the questions for data collected online (10). All survey research contains unmeasured error and results should be seen as informative, not definitive (11).
Numbers correspond to the AAPOR Transparency Initiative Disclosure Elements found HERE.
