A majority in SC dissatisfied with federal, state COVID-19 response, new poll says
More than half of South Carolinians are dissatisfied with the federal and state governments’ responses to the COVID-19 outbreak.
But that dissatisfaction appears to differ greatly depending on whether someone identifies as a Republican or Democrat and whether that person is white or African American, according to a new, online Clemson University Palmetto Poll out Monday.
Clemson University’s Palmetto Poll surveyed 1,030 people between April 21-29, compiling South Carolinian’s attitudes toward COVID-19, the sometimes severe respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, and whether they believe both the federal and state government is adequately responding.
As of the weekend, more than 8,800 people in South Carolina had tested positive for COVID-19 since the state’s Department of Health and Environmental Control logged its first positive cases back in March.
Of those cases, nearly 400 have so far resulted in death, according to S.C. public health officials.
In its poll, Clemson found that 52% of the South Carolinians surveyed are dissatisfied with the Trump administration’s COVID-19 response, while 40% said they were satisfied. Similarly, 51% of those surveyed said they are dissatisfied with the state’s handling of the virus, compared to 43% who said they were satisfied.
The poll also found that South Carolinians are split on President Donald Trump’s early handling of the pandemic.
Fifty-five percent of those surveyed said they think Trump acted too slowly, the poll said.
But the widest disagreements in the poll occurred among South Carolinians with different political persuasions and race.
Sixty-eight percent of Republicans surveyed said they were satisfied with the federal government’s handling of COVID-19, compared to just 6% of Democrats. And 86% of Republicans, compared to just 3% of Democrats, approved Trump’s handling.
In contrast, 71% of South Carolina Democrats surveyed said they were somewhat or extremely worried they will become sick with the virus, compared with 37% of Republicans who said they felt the same way.
Meanwhile, 68% of black South Carolinians surveyed said they are extremely concerned about the outbreak, while only 27% of white residents said they were extremely concerned. And 67% of black residents said they are somewhat or extremely concerned about getting sick, compared with 46% of white South Carolinians who answered the same.
African Americans are disproportionately affected by the virus.
In South Carolina, African Americans make up 27% of the population but 43% of positive COVID-19 cases and 54% of deaths.
Steven Miller, an associate professor in Clemson University’s political science department, said in the poll that Republicans who responded to the survey put more weight on reopening the economy versus public health — 44% to Democrats’ 39%.
But, he added, South Carolinians overwhelmingly — 63% to 26% — prioritize health over the economy to deal with the virus.
“Most South Carolinians, kind of like most Americans, say public health is important,” Miller said. “Generally, South Carolinians, much like Americans, are willing to incur these costs because they understand it’s important. Neither surprising or horrifying, it’s kind of assuring.”
The partisan responses to the survey can 100% reflect where South Carolinians take in news and whether they already were supportive of the president and his administration, Miller told The State.
“I think, journalists and the public alike, really underestimate just how strong of a force partisanship is,” Miller said.
This story was originally published May 18, 2020 at 11:43 AM.
