Poll: Romney holds double-digit lead, looks poised for easy SC win (Pre-debate Monmouth U of SC)

The Hill ^ | January 17, 2012 | Justin Sink

[C19fan]

A new Monmouth University poll of South Carolina voters shows Republican front-runner Mitt Romney maintaining a double-digit lead over the remainder of the GOP field, further increasing the likelihood of the Massachusetts governor winning the South Carolina primary and Republican nomination.

Romney earned 33 percent support of likely Republican voters, 11 percent higher than Newt Gingrich, whose 22 percent of support was good enough for second. Rick Santorum, whom Romney was able to narrowly edge in the Iowa caucuses, is earning 14 percent of voters, locking him into a struggle for third place with Ron Paul. The Texas congressman was earning 12 percent of those polled.

[C19fan]

Getting a flash back to 2008.

[delapaz]

Keep in mind, these are the people who have Lindsey Graham representing them.

[goodnesswins]

Isn’t S Carolina an OPEN Primary???

[Cato in PA]

Give the masses time to hear about and think over what happened last night. There’s no way Newt’s performance will go unrewarded.

[Resettozero]

We always do remember.

Exactly what are you trying to rub in?

[nhwingut]

Keep in mind, these are the people who have Lindsey Graham representing them.

I have been saying that forever. Everyone pegs SC as this big conservative state. Yet they continue to elect the biggest RINO in the country.

[manc]

yes it is and I’ve still not heard a decent explanation as to why we allow the left, liberals,Dems, socialists and libertarians to vote for OUR CANDIDATE.

Then here down in FL we have a closed primary and photo ID but Romney and Paul have been focusing on absentee ballots, curious isn’t it why they focus on those when we have the closed primary and photo ID

Absentee means we don’t have to show ID and absentee can mean those with vacation addresses down here from the north east will use that and then vote in our state while voting back up north too.

[eddie willers]

I’d say pre-debate is pretty much meaningless.

[VinL]

Newt needs one more break to win SC- a conservative drop out- or a Sarah Palin drop-in.

[swampfox101]

If Romney’s lead is really that big, It may be too big a mountain for any of the other candidates to climb.

Conservatives will soon have a decison to make: Obama, Obama lite, or........?

[Jeff Head]

I’m interested in the first reliable polls (meaning polling a lot of likely Republican voters in a scientific way) after the debates.

Gingrich was stunning. I though Perry equitted himself very well too. I did not think Santorum did as well.

I felt Romneuy handled himself well...nothing spectacular, but also nothing damaging. He came across with several very patriotic general statements that got a lot of applause...but nothing like the fervor Gingrich generated.

I hope that after South Carolina, which IMHO is lining up to be a Gingrich race and assault on Romeny’s lead, that both Santorum and Perry will throw their support behind Newt, which should give Newt the advantage going forward.

This would end up allowing, IMHO, Newt to win, with Romney having a sizable seconbd place finish and number of delegates, and Paul himself having a 3rd place finish with a surprising number of delegates too...though I do not see him winning any of the contests.

[Servant of the Cross]

This is some furious spinning by the Willard media minions who are scared to death of Newt. Here's real South Carolina poll data (even before last night's debate) and trend analysis ...

Mitty 29, Newt 25 (and gaining)

[celtic gal]

yes as I understand it so the democRATS will vote for MIttens and ensure he gets the nomination. What makes me mad is the rest of the nation is not getting a fair say in any of this..great...the Super Tuesday thing but when the others drop out..what are WE left with?Mittens? Sad to say but if Mittens gets the nomination we have to stand with him in order to get rid of 0bama..too bad we can’t vore 4 someone rather than against a Marxist. Color me ticked off.

[Leep]

Please,SC.

[MEGoody]

I urge all South Carolinians to get out and vote for Gingrich, or Santorum or even Perry. If Mitt doesn’t win, or he wins but only by a slim margin over any of the previously mentioned, we still have a chance to pull this thing out.

[Resettozero]

He was re-elected in 2008 because McCain/Palin/Haley carried the State and not enough Conservatives split their ticket leaving Lindsey out of the voting. It was a mistake that cannot be corrected until 2014. Ask any SC Conservative; none intended to vote for Graham, the Columbia/Low-Country candidate.

Apparently, the Upstate’s re-election of DeMint hasn’t impressed you other folk that we plan to rid ourselves of Graham next chance. As for the ever-present SC election fraud, well...

[fortheDeclaration]

Two primaries and it is over-amazing.

[Gator113]

I’ll wait.

GO NEWT GO......

[Ole Okie]

Maybe not.

Santorum apparantly leads a final count in the Hawkeye Cauci by 88 votes.

Gingrich made a strong impression (at least on me) in last night’s debate, and I thought Willard was substantially flustered at times.

Hope Gingrich, Santorum or Perry pull through.

[Gator113]

Pelosi, a liar: “We have to pass the bill so you can find out what is in it”.

Romney, a liar, essentially said the same thing about his tax records. First you need to give him the nomination, then he may show America what’s in it.