News Summary
A recent Winthrop poll shows South Carolinians divided on President Trump and Elon Musk, with Trump’s approval at 44% and Musk’s at 35%. Voters prioritize illegal immigration and support for impoverished communities differently along party lines. As the 2024 election approaches, Trump leads Harris by 10% among likely voters. The poll highlights the state’s political divides ahead of the presidential election.
Columbia, South Carolina – A recent Winthrop poll indicates that South Carolinians have divided opinions regarding President Donald Trump and entrepreneur Elon Musk. The poll, released on Monday, reveals that President Trump holds a 44 percent approval rating among the state’s residents, while 43 percent view him negatively. In contrast, Musk’s approval stands at 35 percent, with 45 percent expressing negative views towards him.
Among the issues that concern voters, Republicans in South Carolina predominantly view illegal immigration as the most pressing matter, whereas Democrats prioritize the lack of support for impoverished communities. Additionally, the poll reveals that 47 percent of respondents believe the country is headed in the right direction, in contrast to 44 percent who hold this view about South Carolina specifically.
When examining Trump’s approval further, the figure rises to 53 percent when considering only those who have expressed an opinion. The poll also showed that 39 percent of participants support imposing tariffs on countries such as China, but not on allies like Canada. Furthermore, a quarter of respondents indicated that they are preparing for potential price increases by stockpiling certain items in light of possible tariffs.
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) received a somewhat mixed review, with only 37 percent of respondents expressing positive feelings towards it. Currently, about 38 percent of South Carolinians view Musk favorably, while 41 percent view him unfavorably. Notably, over 60 percent believe that Musk possesses significant influence within the Trump administration, while 41 percent prefer that he have no influence at all.
Additionally, nearly 60 percent of participants support Governor Henry McMaster’s performance in his role. Familiarity with potential candidates for the 2026 election remains high among residents; over 50 percent are familiar with Nancy Mace and 39 percent with Alan Wilson.
South Carolina is traditionally regarded as a safe Republican state, with Trump securing victories in the state during the 2016 and 2020 elections. Recent polls reveal that Trump has a substantial lead in precincts located in York, Chester, and Lancaster counties, where he garnered between 58-62 percent of the votes.
As the 2024 Presidential election approaches, the poll indicates that 52 percent of South Carolinians would choose to vote for Trump, while 42 percent would vote for Vice President Kamala Harris. Only 2 percent would select another candidate, and 4 percent remain undecided among likely voters expressing a preference. In the previous 2020 election, Trump defeated his opponent Joe Biden by a margin of 11.68 percent.
This polling data provides a snapshot of the political landscape in South Carolina, illustrating the divided sentiments regarding key political figures as the nation gears up for the next presidential election.
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Additional Resources
- Fox Carolina: Poll on Trump’s First 100 Days
- WCNC: South Carolina Voter Approval of Trump
- Herald Online: Election Polls in South Carolina
- Wikipedia: 2024 United States Presidential Election
- Google Search: South Carolina polls 2024
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