Well, for the most part, that is.
Public Policy Polling (5/22-23, South Carolina voters):
Jim Rex (D): 36
Gresham Barrett (R): 38
Undecided: 25Vincent Sheheen (D): 33
Gresham Barrett (R): 43
Undecided: 25Jim Rex (D): 40
Andre Bauer (R): 38
Undecided: 22Vincent Sheheen (D): 38
Andre Bauer (R): 38
Undecided: 23Jim Rex (D): 36
Nikki Haley (R): 45
Undecided: 19Vincent Sheheen (D): 34
Nikki Haley (R): 44
Undecided: 22Jim Rex (D): 36
Henry McMaster (R): 42
Undecided: 22Vincent Sheheen (D): 36
Henry McMaster (R): 43
Undecided: 21
(MoE: ±2.8%)
Of course, the Fort McHenry-sized red flag here is that this poll was taken before the maybe-dubious revelations that state Rep. Nikki Haley, the Republican front-runner, was involved in an “inappropriate physical relationship” with an ex-Sanford aide. Who knows what kind of havoc that’s wreaking on this race, but hopefully we’ll see some kind of follow up in advance of the state’s June 8th primary. (Though keep in mind that South Carolina is a runoff state.)
More, from Jensen:
The Democratic candidates may have some room to grow. Right now neither of them is as well known as any of the Republican contenders. 67% of voters don’t know enough about Sheheen to have formed an opinion and despite a term in statewide office 62% are ambivalent toward Rex as well. The eventual nominee’s name recognition will obviously pick up by the fall and that could provide an opportunity to pick up more support.
Still, Barrett and McMaster aren’t that all well-known, either. Other than Haley, the best bet for Dems has got to be frat boy Lt. Governor Andre Bauer, whose reputation is notoriously bad in insider circles, and who nearly lost his race in 2006.
Meanwhile, here’s what the primaries looked like over the weekend:
Vincent Sheheen (D): 36
Jim Rex (D): 30
Robert Ford (D): 11
Undecided: 23
(MoE: ±4.8%)Nikki Haley (R): 39
Henry McMaster (R): 18
Gresham Barrett (R): 16
Andre Bauer (R): 13
Undecided: 14
(MoE: ±3.9%)
It’s interesting to see Sheeheen, a state senator, perform so well against the only statewide elected Democrat in the race, state School Superintendent Jim Rex. As for the Republican primary… well, who knows.
He is (R) not (D).
One is Maryland, the other is South Carolina.
Well, bless their hearts! Glad to see that the legacy of Jim Hodges means the D party is still alive in SC. This bit from the Jim Rex campaign site provides a hint about Sheheen
“The State” has endorsed Sheheen in glowing terms…
So I guess that means Rex is the (slightly) more progressive of the two.
A frat boy? Bauer? Um…probably not in the way you’re thinking of…
A friend of mine from Georgia who’s vaguely interested in politics told me he wanted Bauer to win the nomination because he seemed like the most moderate candidate. And, as is often the case, a Barney Frank quote seemed the perfect response:
“Sure, he’s a moderate, in the sense that I marched in the moderate pride parade last summer and went to a moderate bar.”
Missed the reference? Here: http://rawstory.com/news/2005/…
I looked at the websites of the four leading Republicans, and what a bunch of loons! This state has seen more than its share of absolute Republican asshats.
Attorney General Henry McMaster talks about South Carolina’s sovereignty being under attack and how me was the first to file suit regarding health care — apparently he thinks he’s John C. Calhoun nullifying tariffs in the 1830s.
Andre Bauer has a video from Mike Huckabee saying he was “tea party before there was a tea party.
Gresham Barrett’s entire website is structured around illegal immigration, and his proposal for an Arizona style law.
And Nikki Haley is endorsed by Mama Moose — ‘nuf said there.
Hadn’t remembered seeing a general election poll for SC gov recently. Seems competitive but the numbers do seem to be all over the place, Barrett beats Rex by 2 but Sheheen by 10 and Haley beats Rex by 9 but tied with Sheheen. What gives? More of regional rather then partisan strength of a particular candidate maybe? Both Dems are running equally strong against Bauer and McMaster.
I have never seen anything like this Haley-Folks scandal, and I have lived in SC 46 years. The blogger is saying Barrett was pushing him to expose the scandal.
Opinions are all over the map on who is lying and Haley is getting some sympathy vote, but that could change depending on what comes out next.
Sheheen is the favorite to win the D nod, and I would not consider him any more or less conservative/progressive than Rex. Rex has been incapable of raising decent funds, and has spent what little he has raised. On what is anyone’s guess, I certainly haven’t seen it on mailings or ads.
Sheheen has been a ‘waiting in the wings’ candidate for statewide office almost since the day he won his senate seat. His uncle use to be House Speaker, BTW.
Nearly all of the D endorsements of note have gone to Sheheen. I put his chances of being the D nomineee at 75%. Assuming he does, I put his chances of winning at 45% or better. Higher than that, if Bauer or a badly burned Haley wins. I hear that many promenient GOPers are quietly supporting him too.
BTW, there is only one D statewide race of note (governor), so many D’s and Indies will vote in the GOP primary. Myself included. There is no party registration here.
Say what you will about the woman (she’s not my favorite by any extent), but she is becoming very powerful on the endorsement scene. First Perry, then Emmer, now Fiorina and Haley–everyone Palin has campaigned for has either already won their nomination or has seen a significant jump in their primary numbers. I wonder what Palin will do as the general election approaches, and if her support will come back to sting anyone.
Does Haley have 44 instead of 34 in that matchup?