Poll: Huckabee Leads, Dems Tied In S.C.

GOP Hopeful Huckabee Propelled By Evangelicals, While Clinton And Obama Experience "Reverse Gender Gap"

(CBS)  One month before the first votes are cast in South Carolina, a new CBS News poll finds Republican Mike Huckabee with a comfortable, if not overwhelming, lead over Mitt Romney, and a Democratic race that is even closer, with Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in a dead heat.

Huckabee leads Romney by eight points among likely Republican primary voters, with Rudy Giuliani, Sen. John McCain and Fred Thompson virtually tied for third place.

On the Democratic side, Obama, at 35 percent, and Clinton, at 34 percent, lead among the state's likely primary voters, with John Edwards in third at 13 percent.

South Carolina's Republican primary is Jan. 19, 11 days after the New Hampshire primary. The state's Democratic primary will take place Jan. 26.

Huckabee has 28 percent support in South Carolina, where he has been boosted by weekly churchgoers and white evangelicals, 33 percent of whom back the former Arkansas governor. Romney, who has 20 percent overall support, is the candidate whom likely Republican primary voters in the state say most shares their views on illegal immigration, their top issue. Giuliani trails at 12 percent, while McCain has 11 percent and Thompson has 10 percent.

More than 70 percent of likely GOP primary voters say it is too early to settle definitively on a candidate, however.

There is something of a "reverse gender gap" phenomenon among the state's likely Democratic primary voters, with Clinton, a New York senator and former first lady, leading among men and Obama, a senator from Illinois, leading among women. Black women are voting for Obama by a margin of more than two to one, while black men are voting for him by a smaller margin.

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Complete Poll On Republican Race
Complete Poll On Democratic Race

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The reason voters favor the two top candidates closely mirror the candidates' messages: While Clinton voters cite experience as the top reason they support their candidate, Obama voters cite the notion of change.

On the endorsement front, Bill Clinton seems to have a larger positive impact than Oprah Winfrey. Thirty-eight percent of likely Democratic primary voters in the state say the former president’s involvement makes them more likely to back Hillary Clinton, while just 10 percent say Winfrey's involvement steers them toward Obama. Fifteen percent say Winfrey's involvement makes them less likely to support Obama.

Edwards is the candidate seen as caring most about problems in South Carolina, while Obama is seen as the most likely to bring about real change in Washington. Clinton is seen as having the best chance to win the presidency.

Nearly half of South Carolina's likely Democratic primary voters say they have not yet settled on whom they will vote for. They cite health care as the issue they most want to hear the candidates discuss, followed by the war in Iraq and the economy. Fifty-seven percent say they are at least somewhat concerned someone in their household will lose a job within the next year.

Many of Huckabee’s supporters have switched from supporting another candidate -- six in ten say they used to support one of his rivals for the GOP presidential nomination. When asked why they are supporting him, Huckabee’s supporters mention his honesty (17 percent) and his religious beliefs (15 percent).

Romney’s voters say they agree with him on the issues (18 percent), think he is honest (13 percent), and cite his experience (12 percent). Romney is a Mormon, and 39 percent of the state's likely Republican primary voters -- including more than half of white evangelicals -- say they have an unfavorable view of the religion. One-third say they would prefer to vote for a candidate of their own faith.

McCain has the highest favorability rating among the GOP candidates, at nearly 50 percent, followed by Huckabee and Romney. More than 40 percent of likely Republican primary voters say they don't yet know enough about Huckabee or Thompson to have opinions about them.

Weekly churchgoers comprise 43 percent of South Carolina’s likely Republican primary voters, and white evangelicals are 50 percent. After immigration, the state's likely Republican primary voters list the war in Iraq, the economy, and health care as the issues candidates should discuss. Three quarters say they approve of George W. Bush's performance as president.
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This poll was conducted among a South Carolina statewide random sample of 1319 registered voters, including 599 likely Democratic Primary voters and 447 likely Republican Primary voters, and also including an oversample of African-American registered voters. Interviews were conducted December 13-17, 2007. The error due to sampling could be plus or minus three percentage points for results based on the full sample of registered voters, plus or minus four percentage points for results based on likely Democratic primary voters, and plus or minus five percentage points for results based on likely Republican primary voters.

[k3build]

It''s too bad about these candidates. Politics as usual! These candidates are the same old material we always get - POLITICIANS. Nothing new here. Very disappointing! It''s obvious poles are fixed. Just look at how much the MSM ignores RON PAUL. If they were so true, then how can RON PAUL have so much support relating to his 6.3 million $ record fundraiing? There is really only one answere to fixing all of the political problems and treating the symptom won''t make it go away. That is what has been the coarse of action for many years and what do we have, the same old problems only getting worse because the only cure for these deep wounds so far has been putting a band-aid over them. To fix these problems right we must get to the foundation. A house that''s built upon a weak foundation will not last but a house that is built on a firm foundation will endure. That foundation is our CONSTITUTION that is being chiseled away very rapidly. It is the foundation that sets us apart from the rest of the world and if we look towards it, it will guide us towards the right coarse of action.

[k3build]

No politician anymore upholds or addresses this, they ignore it and replace it with political law (majority rule) that is based upon changing opinions and what sells themselves. The CONSTITUTION is foundational law. There is only one candidate that upholds this and stands firmly and unchanging. His name is RON PAUL. The MSM ignores him because he poses a threat to their agendas, nevertheless his support has been resonating across our nation silently as if by magic and his support is far greater than the MSM will admit! Let''s face it, if the republicans want to gain the presidency, than RON PAUL is their only choice to win. He is the only republican who supports the 74% of Americans that want out of the war immediately! Scores of democrats already support him and his powerful message of the Constitution and freedom appeals to everyone! He has a flawless record and character to add to this. There is nothing to dig up on him. Along with these attributes, his tactful, humorous, honest and wise speaking skills will most definitely be the weapon to beat the democrats including Hilary. Do yourselves a favor and research him for our countries sake and think out of the box like a leader and not follow like blind sheep. RON PAUL!

[xubio]

To the people posting negative stuff about Huckabee.

How is it you''re all posting the same stuff talked about thousands of times on TV''s and other news articles? It''s not like we''ve never heard these stuff before. I''m not a religious person or a southerner hick. I''m don''t think TAX is a four-letter word. Yet, I think Huckabee is probably the most refreshing candidate in the running right now.

I think TAX for the right purpose and properly spent/invested is probably best instrument for change in this country but Republican fiscal-conservative crazies are too rabid to realize that tie times for Supply-side or Trickle-down''s have long passed. If Huckabee amends his Fair-Tax plan or at least says that he is open to ideas and input from all walks of the society, he gets my vote right now.

Anyways, people posting negative stuff about Huckabee or other candidates should know that they''re very ineffective in changing anyone''s opinion.

[prinzowhales]

Hucksterbee loves Christmas...its when influence peddlars give him lots and lots and lots of gifts.

Romney is no better...they are both war pigs...Bush''s partners in the criminal enterprise known as the US government. He earned millions taking advantage of the loopholes his fellow dishonest politicians put into the tax code for the Oligarchs that employ them.

Hucksterbee''s ''Fairtax'' is the wet dream of America''s oligarchy...the ''Romneys'' of America will no longer have to depend on loopholes--their tax evasion will be enshrined in the ''Fairtax.''

When you look beyond the superficialities of the mainstream candidates'' position, you''ll see there is not a dime''s worth of difference between them--EVERY ONE OF THEM SUPPORT THE FEDERAL RESERVE and the economic privileges that it bestows on the economic ''No-ability'' of America.

[coolprophet]

HUCKABEE CARRIES SLICK TO NEW LEVELS
Huckabee orchestrated the release of convicted rapist Wayne Dumond. He usurped the authority of the Arkansas'' justice system to release this scumbag. Shortly after the release, Dumond sexually brutalized and murdered a woman in Missouri. Huckabee accepted at least $150,000 in "gifts" while governor. Yet he calls others'' salaries "immoral." Huckabee says that he is more concerned with main street than he is wall street. Yet this self-righteous politician accepted a sizeable donation from the owner of the largest race track in Arkansas after Huckabee fought for a law permitting video gambling machines at Arkansas race tracks. Huckabee tried to use taxpayer money to renovate his lake house. Huckabee destroyed evidence of his record upon leaving the governor''s office. If that''s not Clintonian, I don''t know what is. Hucakbee was a disaster when it comes to illegal immigration in his state. His policies as governor undermined the efforts of our federal government to regulate who''s coming into this country. He effectively fought to make Arkansas a sanctuary state. He supports birthright citizenship an college scholarships for children of illegal immigrants. He even wants to amend the Constitution so foreigners can run for President. Huckabee''s "Fair Tax" proposal is nothing more than a bait and switch scheme which is not fair at all.

[scottfromaz]

Huckabee''''''''s son beat a dog to death after hanging the dog on a tree... Then fired the county attorney who was pescuteing the son...

State bugdet grew from 6 billion to 16 billion. WOW.

Pardon 12 murderers, their location currently unknown.

Found guilty of ethics violations 6 times.

I have no agenda, other then to tell we do NOT want this man in the white house for 4 years...

Sure you agree with his religon, but we do not need him as President. He is a sweet talker who is good with a joke, and a little Jesus talk.

This

[scottfromaz]

Huckabee''''''''s son beat a dog to death after hanging the dog on a tree... Then fired the county attorney who was pescuteing the son...

State bugdet grew from 6 billion to 16 billion. WOW.

Pardon 12 murderers, their location currently unknown.

Found guilty of ethics violations 6 times.

I have no agenda, other then to tell we do NOT want this man in the white house for 4 years...

Sure you agree with his religon, but we do not need him as President. He is a sweet talker who is good with a joke, and a little Jesus talk.

This

[coolprophet]

ron paul is the olny pres canidate that has the voting record to prove he does not recognize corp. intrest as the peoples illeagal wars make us look bad

[coolprophet]

CLINTON LETS BUSH PARDON HIMSELF
Buried deep inside Military Commisions Act, which was FULLY SUPPORTED by Senators Clinton, Obama and McCain, is a provision which pre-pardons President Bush and all the members of his administration for any crimes which they may have committed all the way back to September 11, 2001. Why that far back? That kind of makes you wonder. Huh? I can''t help but recall what Nixon said during an interview following the Watergate scandal when he said, "If the President does it, by definition, it''s not illegal." History never repeats itself, folks. It only rhymes. At least Nixon had enough class to wait for another President to pardon him for his crimes against our country. Bush apparently doesn''t want to take that chance. He has to consider the risk that Ron Paul will become our next President.

[k3build]

It''''s too bad about these candidates. Politics as usual! These candidates are the same old material we always get - POLITICIANS. Nothing new here. Very disappointing! It''''s obvious poles are fixed. Just look at how much the MSM ignores RON PAUL. If they were so true, then how can RON PAUL have so much support relating to his 6.3 million $ record fundraiing? There is really only one answere to fixing all of the political problems and treating the symptom won''''t make it go away. That is what has been the coarse of action for many years and what do we have, the same old problems only getting worse because the only cure for these deep wounds so far has been putting a band-aid over them. To fix these problems right we must get to the foundation. A house that''''s built upon a weak foundation will not last but a house that is built on a firm foundation will endure. That foundation is our CONSTITUTION that is being chiseled away very rapidly. It is the foundation that sets us apart from.....,