Walker, Bush lead GOP presidential field in latest Winthrop Poll
In the early horse race for the 2016 SC Republican Presidential primary, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush lead the pack with 13.6% and 12.7% of the voters, respectively, if the election was held today, according to the latest Winthrop Poll.
The remaining dozen candidates garnered single digit support or less in the poll of likely GOP voters.
However, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and Bush show the most potential support in a series of questions that asked respondents whether they would consider voting for each candidate.
Other politicians close behind if the election were held today are the U.S. senators – Ted Cruz of Texas, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Rand Paul of Kentucky.
Bush appears to have converted more of his potential support into active support, said Poll Director Scott Huffmon.
Poll participants who identify as Evangelicals could be a strong source of potential support for Huckabee, but more than six in 10 Evangelicals cannot see themselves supporting Graham and more than three-quarters of Evangelicals cannot see themselves supporting N.Y. tycoon Donald Trump.
Those who approve of the Tea Party can see themselves supporting Cruz more than any other candidate at this stage.
The Winthrop Poll surveyed 956 residents in South Carolina by landline and cell phones between April 4-12.
The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.2% at the 95% confidence level, according to Huffmon.
The Winthrop Poll questioned what type of candidate the likely GOP voter thought had the best chance of winning the general election and becoming president.
Sixty percent said a moderate candidate had a better shot, but 36.8% thought a strong conservative candidate was a contender.
On the other hand, seven in 10 respondents said when selecting a Republican nominee for president, they thought it was more important for a candidate’s beliefs and values to match to their own than to vote for someone likely to win the election.