Staff reports | A new poll by Winthrop University in Rock Hill showed two in five S.C. Republicans are sticking with former President Donald Trump as their early favorite for South Carolina’s 2024 Republican presidential primary. But a majority of GOP voters favor Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley and other candidates.
Meanwhile this week, a second South Carolinian with a national profile, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, took a step closer to joining the presidential race by launching an exploratory committee.
In the Winthrop Poll, Trump garnered 41% of support among GOP respondents, while DeSantis got 20% and Haley placed third at 18%. Some 7% said they preferred Scott while others nabbing single-digit poll results were former Vice President Mike Pence, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu.
Other results from the poll:
- Marijuana legalization is supported by 76% of South Carolina respondents.
- Legalization of sports gambling is favored by half of those who responded.
- More people disapprove of banning drag shows (47%) than those who do (37%).
- More than two in three respondents disagreed or were undecided that the federal government should declare the U.S. a Christian nation.
- Some 56% of respondents said they felt same-sex marriages should be recognized as valid, compared to 32% who said they didn’t.
In other recent news:
Senate approves bond reform. Anyone in South Carolina who is charged with a violent crime or gun-involved felony while awaiting trial for additional and similar charges would see their bond immediately revoked under a unanimously passed bill from the state Senate. The bill likely will go to a conference committee with the House. Earlier in the week, Gov. Henry McMaster used a recent shooting at Isle of Palms as a backdrop to pressing the legislature to pass bond reform.
Officials planning for millions in expanding broadband. South Carolina is anticipating at least $100 million in federal money for statewide broadband expansion by the end of the year. But to get the money, state officials are working together to create a five-year plan that will lay out areas with the greatest needs, and what those needs are.
S.C. requiring fact-based school lessons on fate has bipartisan support. State senators advanced legislation that clears up existing law prohibiting racist lessons in South Carolina classrooms after removing sections that revolve around the brutal and ugly parts of history.
$250K payment part of settlement with former agency director. The state has agreed to pay $250,000 as part of an agreement for a wrongful termination case by the former director of the state agency that provides services for disabled and special needs adults.
We Can Do Better, South Carolina!