Ken O’Brien
Public Policy Polling, which had the best record inforecasting 2012 election results, has released a new poll showing that SouthCarolina voters favor Comedy Central host and South Carolina native StephenColbert to replace departing Senator Jim DeMint.DeMint, reportedly the lowest net worth member ofthe Senate, as well as among the most conservative, announced he will resignfrom the Senate to head up The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.His predecessor was paid in excess of $1 million last year.
The appointment of DeMint’s successor is in thehands of South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley who has said that she would notconsider Colbert for the position.
Haley is one of the most unpopular Governors in thecountry. Only 42% of voters approve of the job she's doing to 49% whodisapprove. Out of 43 sitting Governors PPP has polled on, that ranks her 35thin popularity. Haley has pretty solid numbers within her own party. 70% ofRepublicans approve of the job she's doing to 22% who disapprove. But withDemocrats (15/78 approval) and independents (28/57) her numbers are prettywoeful.
Public Policy Polling’s survey shows that there is apath back to popularity for Haley through appointing Stephen Colbert to replaceJim DeMint in the Senate. Colbert tops the wish list of who South Carolinavoters would like to see join that body at 20%, followed by Tim Scott at 15%,Trey Gowdy at 14%, Jenny Sanford at 11%, Henry McMaster and Mark Sanford at 8%,Jeff Duncan and Joe Wilson at 5%, and Mick Mulvaney at 4%.
It's Democrats and independents- those voters Haleymost needs to improve her standing with- who are pining for a Colbertappointment. Among Democrats 32% say they'd like Colbert to be picked withJenny Sanford at 19% and no one else in double digits. With crucial independentvoters Colbert has a 15 point lead for the appointment, getting 28% to 13% forTim Scott, 12% for Jenny Sanford, and 10% for Trey Gowdy with no one else indouble digits.
If Colbert's lacking knowledge of the state beveragekeeps him from Haley's consideration, voters say their top choice is JennySanford at 17%, followed by Tim Scott at 16%, Henry McMaster at 13%, and TreyGowdy at 12%. If you further filter the field and take the Sanfords out of thepotential appointment list three men really stand out from the field: Tim Scottat 19%, Henry McMaster at 17%, and Trey Gowdy at 15%. The other threeCongressmen we tested end up well back- Joe Wilson at 8%, Mick Mulvaney at 7%,and Jeff Duncan at 6%.
“Nikki Haley could score some points with theDemocrats and independent voters she’s “Nikki Haley could score some pointswith the Democrats and independent voters she’s struggling with by appointingStephen Colbert to the US Senate,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public PolicyPolling. “But if she goes down a more traditional path voters’ top choice isTim Scott.”
PPP surveyed 520 South Carolina voters from December7th to 9th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-4.3%. The poll was notpaid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization.
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