2016 South Carolina Republican presidential primary
2016 South Carolina Republican presidential primary
Election results by county.
Donald Trump
20–30%
30–40%
40–50%
Marco Rubio
20–30%
The 2016 South Carolina Republican presidential primary took place on February 20 in the U.S. state of South Carolina , marking the Republican Party 's third nominating contest in their series of presidential primaries ahead of the 2016 presidential election .
The Democratic Party held its Nevada caucuses on the same day, while their South Carolina primary would only take place a week later on February 27.
The states delegates are allocated in this way: 29 delegates are awarded to the winner of the primary; 3 delegates are awarded to the winner of each of the seven congressional districts.[ 1]
Following a poor result in the primary, Jeb Bush announced the suspension of his campaign.[ 2]
Forums and debates
January 9, 2016 – Columbia, South Carolina
The Kemp Forum was held in the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center by the Jack Kemp Foundation. Bush, Carson, Christie, Fiorina, Huckabee, Kasich, and Rubio attended. The forum was moderated by Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Senator Tim Scott .[ 3] [ 4]
January 14, 2016 – North Charleston, South Carolina
On December 8, 2015, it was announced that Fox Business Network would host an additional debate two days after the State of the Union address .[ 6] The debate was held in the North Charleston Coliseum in North Charleston, South Carolina . The anchor and managing editor of Business News, Neil Cavuto , and anchor and global markets editor, Maria Bartiromo , reprised their roles as moderators for the prime-time debate, which began at 9 p.m. EST. The earlier debate, which started at 6 p.m. EST, was again moderated by anchors Trish Regan and Sandra Smith .[ 7] [ 8]
On December 22, 2015, Fox Business Network announced that in order to qualify for the prime-time debate, candidates had to either: place in the top six nationally, based on an average of the five most recent national polls recognized by FOX News; place in the top five in Iowa, based on an average of the five most recent Iowa state polls recognized by FOX News; or place in the top five in New Hampshire, based on an average of the five most recent New Hampshire state polls recognized by FOX News. In order to qualify for the first debate, candidates must have registered at least one percent in one of the five most recent national polls.[ 9]
On January 11, 2016, seven candidates were revealed to have been invited to the prime-time debate: Jeb Bush , Ben Carson , Chris Christie , Ted Cruz , John Kasich , Marco Rubio , and Donald Trump . The participants were introduced in order of their poll rankings at the debate.
Carly Fiorina , Mike Huckabee , and Rick Santorum participated in the undercard debate. Rand Paul was also invited to the undercard debate, but said, "I won't participate in anything that's not first tier because we have a first tier campaign."[ 10] [ 11] The candidates were introduced in order of their poll rankings. The first question was to assess the economy. The next questions asked Fiorina about the role of the US in the world, Santorum about the Iran deal, and Huckabee about the solution to Afghanistan's problems.
February 13, 2016 – Greenville, South Carolina
The ninth debate, and second debate in the month of February, was held in another early primary state of South Carolina, and aired on CBS News. The debate was moderated by John Dickerson in the Peace Center , began at 9 p.m. ET and lasted for 90 minutes.[ 12]
Endorsements
Jeb Bush
Statewide officials
U.S. Senators
State Senators
State Representatives
Ted Cruz
U.S. Representatives
State Senators
State Representatives
John Kasich
State Senators
State Representatives
Newspapers
Marco Rubio
Statewide officials
U.S. Senators
U.S. Representatives
State Senators
State Representatives
Mayors
Donald Trump
Statewide officials
State Representatives
Withdrawn candidates
Mike Huckabee (Withdrawn)
Rand Paul (Withdrawn)
U.S. Representatives
State Senators
State Representatives
Polling
Aggregate polls
Poll source
Date
1st
2nd
3rd
Other
Primary results
February 20, 2016
Donald Trump 32.51%
Marco Rubio 22.48%
Ted Cruz 22.33%
Jeb Bush 7.84%, John Kasich 7.61%, Ben Carson 7.23%
Opinion Savvy/
Augusta Chronicle[ 60]
Margin of error: ± 3.5% Sample size: 780
February 18–19, 2016
Donald Trump 26.9%
Marco Rubio 24.1%
Ted Cruz
18.8%
Jeb Bush 10.6%, Ben Carson 8.2%, John Kasich 7.5%, Undecided 3.9%
South Carolina
House GOP[ 61]
Margin of error: ± 2.0% Sample size: 3500
February 18, 2016
Donald Trump 33.51%
Ted Cruz
18.96%
Marco Rubio
18.07%
Jeb Bush 11.56%, John Kasich 8.49%, Ben Carson 5.22%, Undecided 4.19%
National Research[ 62]
Margin of error: ± ?% Sample size: 500
February 17–18, 2016
Donald Trump 32%
Ted Cruz
19%
Marco Rubio
18%
Jeb Bush 8%, John Kasich 7%, Ben Carson 6%, Refused 2%, Undecided 7%
ARG[ 63]
Margin of error: ± 5.0% Sample size: 401
February 17–18, 2016
Donald Trump 34%
Marco Rubio
22%
John Kasich
14%
Ted Cruz 13%, Jeb Bush 9%, Ben Carson 4%, Other 1%, Undecided 3%
Emerson College[ 64]
Margin of error: ± 4.7% Sample size: 418
February 16–18, 2016
Donald Trump 36%
Ted Cruz
19%
Marco Rubio
18%
John Kasich 10%, Jeb Bush 10%, Ben Carson 6%
Clemson University[ 65]
Margin of error: ± 3.0% Sample size: 650
February 14–18, 2016
Donald Trump 28%
Ted Cruz
19%
Marco Rubio
15%
Jeb Bush 10%, John Kasich 9%, Ben Carson 6%, Undecided 13%
ARG[ 66]
Margin of error: ± 5.0% Sample size: 400
February 16–17, 2016
Donald Trump 33%
Marco Rubio
20%
John Kasich
15%
Ted Cruz 13%, Jeb Bush 8%, Ben Carson 3%, Other 1%, Undecided 7%
Harper Polling[ 67]
Margin of error: ± 4% Sample size: 599
February 16–17, 2016
Donald Trump 29%
Ted Cruz
17%
Marco Rubio
15%
Jeb Bush 14%, John Kasich 13%, Ben Carson 8%, Undecided 5%
NBC News/Wall Street
Journal/Marist College[ 68]
Margin of error: ± 3.6% Sample size: 722
February 15–17, 2016
Donald Trump 28%
Ted Cruz
23%
Marco Rubio
15%
Jeb Bush 13%, Ben Carson 9%, John Kasich 9%, Undecided 5%
Fox News[ 69]
Margin of error: ± 3.5% Sample size: 759
February 15–17, 2016
Donald Trump 32%
Ted Cruz
19%
Marco Rubio
15%
Jeb Bush 9%, Ben Carson 9%, John Kasich 6%, Other 1%, Undecided 8%
Emerson College[ 70]
Margin of error: ± 5.0% Sample size: 315
February 15–16, 2016
Donald Trump 33%
Ted Cruz
20%
Marco Rubio
19%
John Kasich 9%, Jeb Bush 9%, Ben Carson 5%, Other 1%, Undecided 4%
ARG[ 71]
Margin of error: ± 5.0% Sample size: 400
February 14–16, 2016
Donald Trump 33%
Marco Rubio
16%
Ted Cruz
14%
John Kasich 14%, Jeb Bush 9%, Ben Carson 3%, Other 2%, Undecided 8%
Monmouth University[ 72]
Margin of error: ± 4.9% Sample size: 400
February 14–16, 2016
Donald Trump 35%
Ted Cruz
19%
Marco Rubio
17%
John Kasich 9%, Jeb Bush 8%, Ben Carson 7%, Undecided 5%
Bloomberg/Selzer[ 73]
Margin of error: ± 4.4% Sample size: 502
February 13–16, 2016
Donald Trump 36%
Ted Cruz
17%
Marco Rubio
15%
Jeb Bush 13%, Ben Carson 9%, John Kasich 7%, Undecided 3%
Public Policy Polling[ 74]
Margin of error: ± 3.3% Sample size: 897
February 14–15, 2016
Donald Trump 35%
Ted Cruz
18%
Marco Rubio
18%
John Kasich 10%, Jeb Bush 7%, Ben Carson 7%, Undecided 6%
South Carolina
House GOP[ 75]
Margin of error: ± 2.4% Sample size: 1700
February 15, 2016
Donald Trump 33.57%
Ted Cruz
15.54%
Marco Rubio
14.83%
Jeb Bush 14.54%, John Kasich 7.98%, Ben Carson 6.55%, Undecided 7.03%
CNN/ORC[ 76]
Margin of error: ± 5% Sample size: 404
February 10–15, 2016
Donald Trump 38%
Ted Cruz
22%
Marco Rubio
14%
Jeb Bush 10%, Ben Carson 6%, John Kasich 4%, Jim Gilmore 1%, Someone Else 1%, Undecided 1%, No Opinion 3%
ARG[ 77]
Margin of error: ± 5.0% Sample size: 400
February 12–13, 2016
Donald Trump 35%
John Kasich
15%
Marco Rubio
14%
Ted Cruz 12%, Jeb Bush 10%, Ben Carson 2%, Other 2%, Undecided 10%
South Carolina
House GOP[ 78]
Margin of error: ± ?%
Sample size: 1200
February 11–12, 2016
Donald Trump 34.5%
Ted Cruz
15.5%
Jeb Bush
13%
Marco Rubio 12.5%, John Kasich 8.5%, Ben Carson 5%, Undecided 11%
CBS News/YouGov[ 79]
Margin of error: ± 5.2% Sample size: 744
February 10–12, 2016
Donald Trump 42%
Ted Cruz
20%
Marco Rubio
15%
John Kasich 9%, Jeb Bush 6%, Ben Carson 6%, Chris Christie 1%, Carly Fiorina 0%, Jim Gilmore 0%, No preference 1%
Opinion Savvy/
Augusta Chronicle[ 80]
Margin of error: ± 3.5% Sample size: 779
February 10–11, 2016
Donald Trump 36.3%
Ted Cruz
19.6%
Marco Rubio
14.6%
Jeb Bush 10.9%, John Kasich 8.7%, Ben Carson 4.7%, Undecided 5.2%
NBC/WSJ/Marist[ 81]
Margin of error: ± 3.7% Sample size: 718
January 17–23, 2016
Donald Trump 36%
Ted Cruz
20%
Marco Rubio
14%
Jeb Bush 9%, Ben Carson 8%, Mike Huckabee 2%, Chris Christie 2%, Rand Paul 1%, John Kasich 1%, Carly Fiorina 1%, Other 0%, Undecided 6%
CBS/YouGov[ 82]
Margin of error: ± 5.3% Sample size: 804
January 18–21, 2016
Donald Trump 40%
Ted Cruz
21%
Marco Rubio
13%
Ben Carson 9%, Jeb Bush 8%, Rand Paul 3%, Mike Huckabee 2%, John Kasich 2%, Chris Christie 1%, Carly Fiorina 1%, Rick Santorum 0%, Jim Gilmore 0%, No Preference 0%
Morris News/Opinion Savvy[ 83]
Margin of error: ± 3.7% Sample size: 683
January 15, 2016
Donald Trump 32%
Ted Cruz
18%
Jeb Bush
13%
Marco Rubio 11%, Ben Carson 9%, Chris Christie 4%, Carly Fiorina 3%, Mike Huckabee 2%, John Kasich 2%, Rand Paul 2%, Rick Santorum 1%, Undecided 3%
Associated Industries of Florida
Margin of error: ± 3.9%
Sample size: 600
December 16–17, 2015
Donald Trump 27%
Ted Cruz 27%
Marco Rubio
12%
Ben Carson 11%, Jeb Bush 7%, Others 5%, Undecided 11%
CBS News/YouGov
Margin of error: ± 5%
Sample size: 1469
December 14–17, 2015
Donald Trump 38%
Ted Cruz
23%
Marco Rubio
12%
Ben Carson 9%, Jeb Bush 7%, Rand Paul 4%, John Kasich 2%, Chris Christie 1%, Carly Fiorina 1%, Mike Huckabee 1%, Lindsey Graham 1%, Rick Santorum 0%, George Pataki 0%, Jim Gilmore 0%, No preference 1%
Opinion Savvy/Augusta Chronicle
Margin of error: ± 4.2%
Sample size: 536
December 16, 2015
Donald Trump 28.3%
Ted Cruz
21.1%
Marco Rubio
11.6%
Jeb Bush 9.6%, Ben Carson 9.5%, Chris Christie 5.5%, Carly Fiorina 4.6%, Rand Paul 2.6%, Mike Huckabee 2.1%, Lindsey Graham 1.9%, John Kasich 1.4%, Rick Santorum 0.5%, George Pataki 0.2%, Undecided 1.3%
Winthrop University Archived December 14, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
Margin of error: ± 3.4%
Sample size: 828
November 30 – December 7, 2015
Donald Trump 24%
Ted Cruz
16%
Ben Carson
14%
Marco Rubio 11%, Jeb Bush 9%, Mike Huckabee 2%, Lindsey Graham 2%, Carly Fiorina 1%, Rand Paul 1%, Chris Christie 1%, John Kasich 1%, Rick Santorum 0%, George Pataki 0%
Fox News
Margin of error: ± 4.5%
Sample size: 437
December 5–8, 2015
Donald Trump 35%
Ben Carson
15%
Marco Rubio/Ted Cruz
14%
Jeb Bush 5%, Rand Paul 2%, Lindsey Graham 2%, Chris Christie 2%, Carly Fiorina 1%, John Kasich 1%, Mike Huckabee 1%, Rick Santorum 1%, George Pataki 0%, None of the Above 1%, Don't Know 5%
CBS News/YouGov
Margin of error: ± 5.1%
Sample size: ?
November 15–19, 2015
Donald Trump 35%
Ben Carson
19%
Marco Rubio
16%
Ted Cruz 13%, Jeb Bush 5%, Lindsey Graham 3%, Carly Fiorina 2%, Mike Huckabee 2%, John Kasich 2%, Chris Christie 1%, Rand Paul 1%, Rick Santorum 1%, George Pataki 0%, Bobby Jindal 0%, Jim Gilmore 0%
Public Policy Polling
Margin of error: ± 3.5%
Sample size: 787
November 7–8, 2015
Donald Trump 25%
Ben Carson
21%
Ted Cruz
15%
Marco Rubio 13%, Jeb Bush 8%, Carly Fiorina 5%, John Kasich 3%, Lindsey Graham 2%, Mike Huckabee 2%, Rand Paul 1%, Chris Christie 1%, Rick Santorum 1%, Bobby Jindal 0%, Jim Gilmore 0%, George Pataki 0%, Undecided 3%
CBS News/YouGov
Margin of error: ± 3.4%
Sample size: 843
October 15–23, 2015
Donald Trump 40%
Ben Carson
23%
Ted Cruz
8%
Marco Rubio 7%, Jeb Bush 6%, Carly Fiorina 3%, Lindsey Graham 2%, Mike Huckabee 2%, John Kasich 2%, Rand Paul 1%, Chris Christie 1%, Bobby Jindal 1%, Rick Santorum 1%, Jim Gilmore 0%, George Pataki 0%, No Preference 5%
Clemson-Palmetto Archived 2015-10-29 at the Wayback Machine
Margin of error: ± 4%
Sample size: 600
October 13–23, 2015
Donald Trump 23%
Ben Carson 19%
Ted Cruz
8%
Carly Fiorina 6%, Jeb Bush 7%, Marco Rubio 5%, Lindsey Graham 3%, Rand Paul 1%, Mike Huckabee 2%, Chris Christie 1%, John Kasich 2%, Bobby Jindal 1%, Rick Santorum 0%, Jim Gilmore 0%, George Pataki 0%, undecided/DK 15%
CNN/ORC
Margin of error: ± 4.5%
Sample size: 521
October 3–10, 2015
Donald Trump 36%
Ben Carson
18%
Marco Rubio
9%
Carly Fiorina 7%, Jeb Bush 6%, Ted Cruz 5%, Lindsey Graham 5%, Rand Paul 4%, Mike Huckabee 3%, Chris Christie 2%, John Kasich 1%, Rick Santorum 1%, Jim Gilmore *%, George Pataki *% Bobby Jindal *%, None 1%, No opinion 4%
Gravis Marketing
Margin of error: ± 3.6%
Sample size: 762
October 1, 2015
Donald Trump 29.1%
Ben Carson
16.4%
Carly Fiorina
11.1%
Ted Cruz 8.1%, Marco Rubio 8%, Jeb Bush 5.9%, John Kasich 3.5%, Mike Huckabee 3.1%, Lindsey Graham 1.5%, Chris Christie 1.4%, Rand Paul 0.9%, Rick Santorum 0.5%, George Pataki 0.3% Bobby Jindal 0.3%, Unsure 9.9%
CBS News/YouGov
Margin of error: ± 4.5%
Sample size: 1002
September 3–10, 2015
Donald Trump 36%
Ben Carson
21%
Ted Cruz
6%
Lindsey Graham 5%, Jeb Bush 5%, John Kasich 4%, Mike Huckabee 3%, Carly Fiorina 3%, Marco Rubio 3%, Scott Walker 3%, Chris Christie 2%, Bobby Jindal 1%, Rick Santorum 1%, Rand Paul 1%, Rick Perry 0%, George Pataki 0%, Jim Gilmore 0%, No preference 5%
Public Policy Polling
Margin of error: ± 3.6%
Sample size: 764
September 3–6, 2015
Donald Trump 37%
Ben Carson
21%
Ted Cruz
6%
Jeb Bush 6%, Carly Fiorina 4%, John Kasich 4%, Marco Rubio 4%, Lindsey Graham 3%, Mike Huckabee 3%, Scott Walker 3%, Rand Paul 3%, Rick Santorum 2%, Rick Perry 1%, Chris Christie 1%, Bobby Jindal 1%, George Pataki 0%, Jim Gilmore 0%
Monmouth University Archived 2015-08-29 at the Wayback Machine
Margin of error: ± 4.6%
Sample size: 453
August 20–23, 2015
Donald Trump 30%
Ben Carson
15%
Jeb Bush
9%
Carly Fiorina 6%, Marco Rubio 6%, Ted Cruz 5%, Lindsey Graham 4%, Scott Walker 4%, John Kasich 3%, Mike Huckabee 3%, Rand Paul 3%, Chris Christie 2%, Rick Santorum 1%, Rick Perry 0%, George Pataki 0%, Bobby Jindal 0%, Jim Gilmore 0%, Undecided 11%
Opinion Savvy/Insider Advantage
Margin of error: ± 4.3%
Sample size: 509
August 3, 2015
Donald Trump 31.3%
Jeb Bush
13.9%
Ben Carson
9.9%
Mike Huckabee 8.5%, Lindsey Graham 6.5%, Scott Walker 5.8%, Ted Cruz 4.3%, Chris Christie 4.1%, John Kasich 3.1%, Marco Rubio 2.3%, Carly Fiorina 1.8%, Rand Paul 1.7%, Bobby Jindal 0.7%, Rick Perry 0.6%, Rick Santorum 0.1%, George Pataki 0%, Someone else 3.1%, Undecided 2.5%
Gravis Marketing
Margin of error: ± 4.0%
Sample size: 609
July 29–30, 2015
Donald Trump 34%
Ben Carson
10.9%
Jeb Bush
10.5%
Scott Walker 10.3%, Marco Rubio 6%, Mike Huckabee 5.5%, Lindsey Graham 4.9%, Ted Cruz 3.4%, John Kasich 3.3%, Chris Christie 2.5%, Rick Perry 2.5%, Carly Fiorina 2.4%, Rick Santorum 1.3%, Rand Paul 1%, Bobby Jindal 0.9%, George Pataki 0.7%
Morning Consult
Margin of error: ± 5.0%
Sample size: 389
May 31 – June 8, 2015
Lindsey Graham 14%
Ben Carson 12%
Jeb Bush 11%
Scott Walker 10% , Marco Rubio 8%, Mike Huckabee 7%, Ted Cruz 6%, Chris Christie 5%, Rand Paul 5%, Donald Trump 2%, Carly Fiorina 1%, Don't know/No Opinion/Refused 16% , Someone else 2%
Winthrop University Archived 2012-03-21 at the Wayback Machine
Margin of error: ± 3.2%
Sample size: 956
April 4–12, 2015
Scott Walker 13.6%
Jeb Bush 12.7%
Ted Cruz
8.1%
Lindsey Graham 7.6%, Rand Paul 6.2%, Chris Christie 5%, Ben Carson 4.9%, Mike Huckabee 4.9%, Marco Rubio 4%, Rick Perry 1.9%, Donald Trump 1.9%, Bobby Jindal 0.9%, Rick Santorum 0.3%, John Bolton 0.2%, Other 1.4%, Undecided 25.1%
Gravis Marketing
Margin of error: ± 3%
Sample size: 1,371
March 26–27, 2015
Scott Walker 17%
Jeb Bush 16%
Ted Cruz
13%
Lindsey Graham 9%, Mike Huckabee 7%, Chris Christie 6%, Marco Rubio 6%, Rand Paul 5%, Rick Santorum 2%, Carly Fiorina 2%, Undecided 18%
Gravis Marketing
Margin of error: ± 3%
Sample size: 792
February 24–25, 2015
Jeb Bush 19%
Scott Walker 17%
Lindsey Graham
12%
Mike Huckabee 10%, Chris Christie 8%, Rand Paul 6%, Marco Rubio 6%, Ted Cruz 2%, Carly Fiorina 2%, Rick Santorum 2%, Undecided 16%
Public Policy Polling
Margin of error: ± 4.3%
Sample size: 525
February 12–15, 2015
Jeb Bush 19%
Scott Walker 18%
Ben Carson
13%
Lindsey Graham 13%, Mike Huckabee 12%, Chris Christie 7%, Rand Paul 5%, Ted Cruz 3%, Rick Perry 3%, Other/Undecided 6%
NBC News/Marist
Margin of error: ± 4.6%
Sample size: 450
February 3–10, 2015
Lindsey Graham 17%
Jeb Bush 15%
Scott Walker
12%
Ben Carson 10%, Mike Huckabee 10%, Rand Paul 7%, Chris Christie 6%, Rick Perry 4%, Marco Rubio 4%, Rick Santorum 3%, Ted Cruz 1%, Undecided 11%
Gravis Marketing
Margin of error: ± 3%
Sample size: 831
January 21–22, 2015
Mitt Romney 20%
Jeb Bush
16%
Scott Walker
9%
Ted Cruz 8%, Mike Huckabee 8%, Rand Paul 7%, Marco Rubio 7%, Chris Christie 5%, Rick Perry 4%, Rick Santorum 4%, Undecided 12%
Jeb Bush 18%
Mike Huckabee
11%
Scott Walker
11%
Ted Cruz 9%, Marco Rubio 9%, Chris Christie 8%, Rand Paul 8%, Rick Perry 5%, Rick Santorum 4%, Undecided 17%
Clemson University Archived 2014-06-06 at the Wayback Machine
Margin of error: ± 6%
Sample size: 400
May 22–29, 2014
Jeb Bush 22%
Chris Christie
10%
Ted Cruz
9%
Rand Paul 9%, Marco Rubio 6%, Bobby Jindal 3%, Undecided/Don't know 48%
Gravis Marketing
Margin of error: ± 4%
Sample size: 735
March 6–7, 2014
Jeb Bush 22%
Mike Huckabee 19%
Chris Christie
12%
Ted Cruz 8%, Rand Paul 8%, Marco Rubio 6%, Scott Walker 5%, Rick Santorum 2%, Undecided 19%
Gravis Marketing
Margin of error: ± 4%
Sample size: 601
November 30 – December 2, 2013
Chris Christie 16.6%
Jeb Bush 16%
Mike Huckabee 15.8%
Ted Cruz 11.1%, Rand Paul 9.7%, Marco Rubio 7.2%, Rick Santorum 2.8%, Scott Walker 2.3%, Undecided 18.5%
Harper Polling
Margin of error: ± 5.03%
Sample size: 379
October 27–28, 2013
Chris Christie 19%
Ted Cruz 17%
Rand Paul
13%
Marco Rubio 12%, Paul Ryan 12%, Bobby Jindal 6%, Not sure 21%
Results
Primary date: February 20, 2016
District conventions: April 2016
State convention: May 7, 2016
National delegates: 50
Exit Polls
2016 South Carolina Republican Primary by demographic subgroup (Edison exit polling)[ 84]
Demographic subgroup
Cruz
Trump
Rubio
Kasich
Bush
% of
total vote
Total vote
22.3
33.5
22.5
7.6
7.8
93%
Gender
Men
22
36
22
7
7
51%
Women
22
29
23
9
9
49%
Race
White
22
33
22
8
8
96%
Education and Race
White College Graduate
19
25
27
11
9
52%
White Non-college
24
42
17
4
6
45%
Age
17–44 years old
26
26
25
8
4
27%
45+ years old
21
35
22
7
9
73%
Income
$30,000 - $49,999
27
33
20
7
8
17%
$50,000 - $99,999
26
34
19
7
6
37%
$100,000 - $199,999
17
28
28
12
7
26%
Issue regarded as most important
Immigration
25
51
11
3
3
10%
Economy
15
36
24
13
7
29%
Terrorism
25
31
23
5
9
32%
Government spending
25
25
25
8
9
26%
Area type
Urban
18
23
31
12
10
23%
Suburban
26
36
18
5
7
48%
Rural
20
34
22
8
8
29%
Religion
Evangelical
26
34
21
5
7
67%
Non-Evangelical
17
38
22
16
9
33%
Veteran household
Yes
21
35
23
7
8
17%
No
24
31
21
9
8
83%
Analysis
Donald Trump won the South Carolina primary by ten points. He carried the crucial Evangelical vote with 33% to Cruz at 27% and Rubio at 22%.[ 85] [ 86] Many pundits were perplexed by Trump's dominance among culturally conservative Southern whites who were expected to view him as immoral , but he benefitted from voters' racial , cultural, and economic angst that mattered more than shared values .[ 87]
Marco Rubio, who enjoyed the endorsement of Governor Nikki Haley ,[ 88] came in second in the primary. Rubio won the two urban counties of Richland and Charleston , both of which have a higher percentage of college-educated voters.
References
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