Poll: South Carolina still solidly for Donald Trump (Trump 42, Cruz 20, Rubio 15, Kasich 9, Jeb 6)

CBS News ^ | 2/14/16 | Anthony Salvanto, Fred Backus, Jennifer De Pinto, Sarah Dutton

[jimbo123]

Poll: South Carolina still solidly for Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton

The CBS News Battleground Tracker poll Donald Trump keeps a large lead in South Carolina, bolstered by support from conservatives and also from evangelical voters, who make up a large share of the electorate here.

Ted Cruz is in second place, but well behind Trump. Cruz has the support of those who consider themselves very conservative, but trails Trump among all conservatives as well as moderates.

John Kasich has gotten a little bounce out of his surprisingly strong showing in New Hampshire, but he may be limited here by the fact that evangelical voters are not as strongly in support of him as non-evangelicals.

For Trump voters, who have been relatively steadfast in their support over the last few months, the percentage who say they've firmly decided on Trump has increased. Trump's lead among evangelicals is up from January, and he has widened his lead among conservatives, too.

In a contest marked by divisions among so-called "insiders" and "outsiders," South Carolina Republicans show a strong preference for campaigns running as the latter, and this poll helps illustrate why. By four to one, South Carolina Republicans describe the "establishment" as a bad thing, and few describe it as a group that knows how to get things done.

[Kit cat]

77% strong not changing vote does NOT surprise me at ALL!!! Like the people here our heels are dug in, Trump supporters are VERY LOYAL!!!

[SamAdams76]

Interesting stats on the declining GOP viewership numbers. I think a lot of people have debate fatigue. I only watched myself last night because it was zero degrees outside and I was not going anywhere.

[fireman15]

It is Sunday. Maybe they are at church this morning, claiming Dominion!

In all seriousness... I assume that at least a few of the Cruz trolls have been in Church this morning and/or taking the Sabbath off. But all of them? I did notice that there are several pro-Cruz threads this morning that are going strong with few if any Trump supporters bothering to rain on their parade. So those guys are still active.

My assumption is that some of the negative activity that has been taking place here has been from been from operatives who have some connection with the Cruz campaign. There is no disputing that Cruz has hired people who are experts at manipulating social media.

To me the abrupt end this morning of open hostilities is more suspicious than the actual posts themselves. It feels like the result of some type of central direction. But maybe the eye of the hurricane is just passing over? Regardless it has been a welcome reprieve this morning.

[Godebert]

You've never heard me say I don't like Cruz. To me it's not about like or dislike, it's about the law, which is clear... He was born in Canada.

Even if he was born in Texas, Cruz would still NOT be a natural born Citizen. His father was not a U.S. Citizen at the time of his birth. That's right, Rubio, Cruz, Jindal and Nikki Punjab Haley are not eligible for either POTUS or vice-POTUS.

[V K Lee]

The debate was seen and evaluated. They have shown nothing to sway my opinion other than the fact the RNC is even more a 'dirty rotten traitor' than originally believed. It appears persons in South Carolina have the same opinion...even though they did at one time elect a Governor N. Haley. Go TRiUMPh

[EDINVA]

I was all for Cruz until he hired Jeff Roe. That was my first seed of doubt (let’s leave aside for now that whole eligibility thing - I’d thought that would be Rubio’s problem and that Cruz wouldn’t even take it on). Then, it’s been one thing after the other. One of the worst campaigns I’ve seen in my many years observing politics.

There was a point when I thought Cruz could recover, long term. As in, I didn’t see it in the cards for him this year, but that he has a future. Now, I’m not so sure. I fear he’s blown it. Big time.

[moehoward]

ROTFLMAO!!!

Man are you in the wrong place.

[smoothsailing]

LOL. Cruz comes across as a greasy Washington lawyer, not a southerner by any stretch of the imagination.

[DoughtyOne]

As a candidate he doesn’t appeal to me on any level.

Seems like more South Carolinians agree with me on that, than don’t.

Go Trump.

[moehoward]

Fantastic numbers!

“Tea Party support: Trump 45, Cruz 31”
*snicker*

[smoothsailing]

He’s gone from my second choice all the way to the bottom

[r_barton]

Donald Trump kicked backsides and took names in the debate. For that he came away with another 6-points in the polls.

[freedomjusticeruleoflaw]

True.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

"To me the abrupt end this morning of open hostilities is more suspicious than the actual posts themselves. It feels like the result of some type of central direction.

I understand exactly what you are saying. I suspect it will resume before long.

[smoothsailing]

When is Jeb gonna start having “Nickel Nites”?

[Lower55]

“But how does that man get 14,000 at a rally”

None of his supporters have jobs??

[Jeff Head]

I've been tracking the average [polls since September 1st. My latest poll averages (and all the rest I do) will also include the actual election results in the averages along with the latest four polls.

Such averages, including the actual voting will, I believe give the clearest picture of the trends.

Here's what today's results show:

Including the NH results drove Trump's average down some...but overall he is maintaining his sizable lead.

Next weeks SC poll will be interesting now that the 10% of the vote that other wise would have gone to Christi, Fiorina, etc. is available to the others.

We will either see Trump increase his lead...or we may see Cruz or Rubio narrow it depending on where those votes go. In addition, with the higher evangelical totals in SC< I expect to see Cruz close the lead somewhat in any case.

we'll soon find out.

[r_barton]

The further this election season moves along the more the words TRUMP MANDATE comes to mind.

[OKSooner]

Hmmm. 42/6=7

7*100=700%

Yo Jeb...

[OKSooner]

Those are the people who own him.