Democrats Relatively Tied in South Carolina Presidential Poll

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Sep 4, 2003   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Democrats Relatively Tied in South Carolina Presidential Poll

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
September 4, 2003

Columbia, SC (LifeNews.com) — It doesn’t receive the same kind of attention as Iowa and New Hampshire, but South Carolina becomes the next battleground state for those candidates who make it past the first two presidential primaries.

Pro-abortion Sen. Joe Lieberman had been leading the polls in the state, due in large part to the name recognition he developed during the 2000 presidential race. Now, other Democrats have caught up.

Though none were above 10 peIrcent in a recent Zogby International poll, John Edwards, John Kerry and Howard Dean have caught up to Lieberman.

Lieberman’s support dropped from 13 percent in July to 8 percent in the poll conducted this week. Gephardt, who was at 10 percent in March, fell to 4 percent in the recent survey.

Edwards, the senator from neighboring North Carolina, was at 10 percent, while Dean was at 9 percent. Kerry, the Massachusetts senator who formally announced his candidacy in South Carolina Tuesday, was at 8 percent.

Some 46 percent said they were still undecided.

Al Sharpton had 5 percent, and Sen. Bob Graham of Florida had 2 percent. Retired Gen. Wesley Clark, who is considering a run for president, also was at 2 percent. Carol Moseley Braun and Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio were at 1 percent.

Pollster John Zogby said the outcome of the New Hampshire and Iowa contests would significantly determine the results in South Carolina. A candidate who can pick up momentum in the first two states may be able to build on it and capture the nomination.

South Carolina holds its primary Feb. 3, the Iowa caucuses are Jan. 19 and New Hampshire’s primary is tentatively set for Jan. 27.

Dean has a 21 point lead in New Hampshire and a small lead in Iowa.

All of the Democratic candidates, including General Clark, are pro-abortion.