Trump narrowly leads Clinton in SC, poll says
South Carolina voters prefer Donald Trump as their next president only slightly more than they prefer Hillary Clinton, according to a new Winthrop Poll.
But they mostly dislike both candidates.
Despite that, Palmetto State voters overwhelmingly say the outcome of the November election is important to their personal future and the future of the country.
Released Thursday, the poll shows Republican presidential nominee Trump with 42 percent support among likely S.C. voters. Clinton, the Democratic nominee, trails close behind at 38 percent.
Trump’s lead is within the 4.5 percentage-point margin of error for the 475 likely voters who were surveyed from Sept. 18-26, ending before the first presidential debate.
On social media, S.C. Democrats lauded the poll’s results as evidence November’s presidential match-up will be competitive. “This will be a close race,” tweeted Jaime Harrison, chairman of the S.C. Democratic Party.
S.C. Republican Party chairman Matt Moore disagreed. “South Carolina is not a swing state,” Moore said. “Trump and (his running mate Mike) Pence are on a pathway to victory.”
Winthrop Poll director Scott Huffmon said the poll’s margin of error could mean that Trump’s lead is wider than the results indicate. In response to Democrats’ enthusiasm, he said, “Hope springs eternal.”
However, Trump is not performing as well in South Carolina as previous GOP nominees, according to the poll. That could be a result of most S.C. voters disliking the candidates, Huffmon added.
Fifty-seven percent of S.C. likely voters have an unfavorable opinion of Clinton, according to the poll. Trump fares only slightly better — 52 percent of likely voters dislike him.
Also, most likely S.C. voters say both candidates are untrustworthy. Only about a third – 35 percent – said Trump is honest, and about one in four – or 23 percent – said the same of Clinton.
Still, voters see Clinton as more capable than Trump, who has faced questions about whether he is presidential material. Fifty-two percent described the former secretary of state, U.S. senator and first lady as capable, compared to 48 percent who said the same of Trump.
“While Clinton is seen as the more capable candidate, she is also viewed as more dishonest,” Huffmon said. “However, both candidates are setting records for being viewed unfavorably.”
Despite the unpopularity of the major-party candidates, S.C. voters overwhelmingly said the outcome of the race is important.
Nearly four in five – or 78 percent – said the race’s outcome was very important to their personal future. Ninety-percent said the race’s outcome was important to the future of the country.
According to the poll, Libertarian Gary Johnson has 6 percent support among likely S.C. voters, and the Green Party’s Jill Stein has 3 percent support. Another 11 percent were undecided or refused to say who they would vote for.
Economic outlook shifting
In total, the Winthrop poll surveyed 694 S.C. residents, including the 475 likely voters.
Despite their unhappiness with the presidential candidates, the 694 South Carolinians surveyed are less pessimistic about the country’s economy now than a year ago, with 49 percent saying it is fairly good compared to 39 percent last September.
However, 70 percent still feel – as they did a year ago – that the country is heading in the wrong direction.
Those surveyed are slightly more pessimistic about the state’s economy – with 53 percent rating it as fairly good, down from 59 percent a year ago.
About half – 49 percent – said the state is on the right track, down slightly from 51 percent a year ago.
Meanwhile, S.C. residents’ outlook on their personal finances ticked up slightly, with 11 percent of S.C. residents saying their financial situation is excellent compared to 9 percent a year ago.
Top issues for S.C. residents
The S.C. residents surveyed said the economy is the most important issue facing the United States and education is the most important problem facing South Carolina – similar to how they felt a year ago.
However, one new important national concern emerged in this month’s poll.
Those surveyed said racial issues are now among the top issues facing the nation. One in 10 S.C. residents said those issues are the most important problem facing the country.
“The rise for concern over racism and racial divisiveness hardly seems surprising given growing attention to the death of black men in confrontations with police, the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement and the racial undercurrents that have marked this presidential contest,” Huffmon said.
Jamie Self: 803-771-8658, @jamiemself
Winthrop Poll findings
The Winthrop Poll surveyed 694 S.C. residents, including 475 likely voters in November’s general election, from Sept. 18-26. Here’s some of what those surveyed said:
Favor equal pay
Q: Would you support or oppose S.C. state government passing a law requiring private companies to pay the same amount to men and women with the same job and experience while still allowing for different pay based on seniority or job performance?
Support: 81 percent
Oppose: 15 percent
Favor reauthorizing S.C. Conservation Bank
Q: The S.C. Conservation Bank is a state agency that protects South Carolina’s rivers, farms, and forests through voluntary land protection agreements. It is funded through a portion of the fees collected through real estate transactions. The Conservation Bank will expire in 2018 and is being considered for reauthorization in 2017 and 2018. Supporters want to reauthorize the bank because they believe land protection provides clean air, clean water and wildlife for our communities and future generations to enjoy. Opponents say the bank should not be reauthorized because money should be spent elsewhere and enough land already is protected. Would you support or oppose the reauthorization of the conservation bank?
Support: 79 percent
Oppose: 15 percent
Mixed opinion of S.C. pols
▪ Fifty-six percent of S.C. likely voters say Gov. Nikki Haley is doing a good job, while 33 percent disapprove of her performance.
▪ Forty-six percent of S.C. likely voters approve of President Barack Obama’s job performance, while 49 percent disapproved. That is up from a 41 percent job approval a year ago.
▪ Fifty-four percent of S.C. likely voters said U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-North Charleston, is doing a good job, while only 36 percent said the same about U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-Seneca.
Other findings
▪ The top problems facing the nation, according to S.C. residents, are: Economy, 11.3 percent; racial issues or racism, 9.8 percent; terrorism, 8.3 percent; politicians and government, 7.8 percent; immigration, 6.7 percent
▪ The top problems facing South Carolina, those residents say, are: Education, 12.4 percent; jobs and unemployment, 11 percent; racial issues or racism, 6.5 percent; roads, bridges and infrastructure, 5.9 percent; politicians and government (5.4 percent)
▪ GOP voters who approve of the Tea Party movement dropped to 36 percent from 38 percent a year ago. Only 8 percent of GOP voters consider themselves members of the Tea Party – the same as a year ago.
This story was originally published September 29, 2016 at 5:39 AM with the headline "Trump narrowly leads Clinton in SC, poll says."