Raleigh, N.C. – Jim DeMint’s poll numbers aren’t great but with an opponent who’s currently an unknown and President Obama unpopular in the state he leads by 19 points in his bid for a second term in the Senate.
43% of voters in the state approve of the job DeMint is doing with 36% disapproving. His reviews are as polarized as you would expect them to be. 67% of Republicans approve of him with 15% disapproving, while only 14% of Democrats like him with 59% disapproving. Independents are split right down the middle at 42%.
Vic Rawl, DeMint’s likely general election opponent, is currently an unknown to 82% of voters in the state. DeMint leads him 49-30. Those numbers are likely to tighten since 30% of Democrats are undecided while only 11% of Republicans are. But DeMint does enjoy a 48-27 advantage with independents.
Voters do appear to be pushing back some against DeMint’s increasing role in the national spotlight. 39% of voters think he’s not spending enough of his time advocating for South Carolina in the Senate while 38% think the amount he’s spending is about right.
There’s little support in the state for DeMint making a 2012 Presidential run. Only 15% of voters would like to see him aim for the White House while 56% are opposed to a bid and 29% have no opinion. Even among Republicans only 24% want him to go for President.
“Jim DeMint is in a pretty solid position for reelection,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “The race should end up closer than it looks right now but he’s already close to hitting that 50% mark.”
PPP surveyed 1,255 South Carolina voters, with a margin of error of +/-2.8%, from May 22nd to 23rd. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.
If you would like an interview regarding this release, please contact Dean Debnam at (888) 621-6988 or 919-880-4888.
Topline results are below. Full results, including crosstabs, can be found here.
Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of President
Barack Obama’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 43%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 51%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 6%
Q2 Do you support or oppose President Obama’s
health care plan, or do you not have an
opinion?
Support ………………………………………………….. 41%
Oppose ………………………………………………….. 51%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 8%
Q3 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Jim
DeMint’s job performance?
Approve …………………………………………………. 43%
Disapprove……………………………………………… 36%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 21%
Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion
of Vic Rawl?
Favorable……………………………………………….. 5%
Unfavorable ……………………………………………. 14%
Not Sure…………………………………………………. 82%
Q5 The candidates for US Senate are Republican
Jim DeMint and Democrat Vic Rawl. If the
election was today, who would you vote for?
Jim DeMint……………………………………………… 49%
Vic Rawl…………………………………………………. 30%
Undecided………………………………………………. 21%
Q6 Do you think that Jim DeMint should run for
President in 2012?
Yes ……………………………………………………….. 15%
No …………………………………………………………. 56%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 29%
Q7 Do you think Jim DeMint spends too much, not
enough, or about the right amount of time
advocating for South Carolina in the US
Senate?
Too much……………………………………………….. 6%
Not enough …………………………………………….. 39%
About right ……………………………………………… 38%
Not sure …………………………………………………. 17%
Q8 Who did you vote for President last year?
John McCain…………………………………………… 52%
Barack Obama………………………………………… 43%
Someone Else/Don’t Remember………………… 5%
Q9 Would you describe yourself as a liberal,
moderate, or conservative?
Liberal ……………………………………………………. 12%
Moderate………………………………………………… 40%
Conservative…………………………………………… 48%
Q10 If you are a woman, press 1, if a man, press 2.
Woman ………………………………………………….. 53%
Man……………………………………………………….. 47%
Q11 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If you are a
Republican, press 2. If you are an independent
or identify with another party, press 3.
Democrat ……………………………………………….. 35%
Republican……………………………………………… 43%
Independent/Other…………………………………… 21%
Q12 If you are white, press one now. If you are
African-American, press two now. If other,
press 3.
White …………………………………………………….. 74%
African-American …………………………………….. 23%
Other……………………………………………………… 3%
Q13 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1 now. If
you are 30 to 45, press 2. If you are 46 to 65,
press 3. If older, press 4.
18 to 29………………………………………………….. 9%
30 to 45………………………………………………….. 22%
46 to 65………………………………………………….. 47%
Older than 65………………………………………….. 22%
