The exit poll data showed that South Carolina voters overwhelmingly cited the economy as the most important issue, with 61 percent citing it. (The economy was the top issue in Iowa and New Hampshire as well.) It was followed by the federal budget deficit (23 percent), abortion (8 percent) and health care (4 percent). Seventy-eight percent of voters in South Carolina, where the unemployment rate is 9.9 percent, said they are "very" worried about the nation's economy.
As in Iowa and New Hampshire, South Carolina Republican voters cited electability as the most important quality in a candidate. Forty-five percent say it's most important that they have a candidate who can defeat Barack Obama in a general election, while 21 percent are most concerned someone with the right experience, 17 percent they have strong character, and 14 percent they are a true conservative.
Asked which candidate ran the most unfair campaign, 30 percent pointed to Romney, 26 percent to Gingrich and 14 percent to Paul.
CBS News will release full exit poll data when the polls close at 7:00 p.m. EasternMITT IS THE BEST ON THE ECONOMY AND MANAGEMENT OF THE BUDGET AND EXPERIENCE AND CHARACTER.
SO HE SHOULD HAVE WON.
BUT PEOPLE LIKED NEWT'S PUGNACITY - IN PART BECAUSE IT MIRRORS AND REINFORCES THEIR OWN ANGER.
AND NEWT'S A SOUTHERNER - LIKE THEM.
FLORIDA WILL TELL US MORE.
The Early South Carolina exit polls are showing that voters say the most
ReplyDeleteimportant quality they were looking for in a candidate was someone
who could beat President Barack Obama
and what is weird about that is that mitt does way way way better on head to heads against obama than newt does.
ReplyDeletenewt's negatives are as grandiose as newt's ego.
he cannot beat obama.
sigh.
newt gave the crowds the red meat they wanted.
and he's one of them: a southerner.
that's why he won.
mitt will win florida.
and keep this in mind:
only mitt does well everywhere.
the rest are regional one note candidates.