Here Are The Results of SurveyUSA Election Poll #10416

Geography Surveyed: South Carolina
Data Collected: 10/14/2006 - 10/16/2006
Release Date: 10/17/2006 11:50 AM ET
Sponsors: WCSC-TV Charleston, WLTX-TV Columbia, SC

Republican Sanford Re-Elected SC Governor: In an election for Governor of South Carolina today, 10/17/06, Republican incumbent Mark Sanford defeats Democratic challenger Tommy Moore, 56% to 41%, according to a SurveyUSA poll conducted exclusively for WCSC-TV Charleston and WLTX-TV Columbia. Sanford's 15-point lead is the largest in 3 SurveyUSA tracking polls conducted so far. Sanford led by 13 points on 9/20/06, and by 4 points on 9/28/06. The election is in 3 weeks, on 11/7/06. Sanford gets 86% of Republican votes. Moore gets 83% of Democrat votes. Independents favor Sanford 5:3. Sanford leads by 30 points among men, but by 2 points among women, a 28-point Gender Gap. Sanford gets 68% of white votes. Moore gets 72% of black votes. Sanford leads 2:1 among seniors. Sanford leads by 25 points in Western SC. He leads by 10 points in Central SC and Eastern SC. Sanford was first elected Governor in 2002, when he defeated Jim Hodges 53% to 47%.

Republican Opens Tiniest Lead in Lt Governor Race: In an election for Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina today, 10/17/06, Republican Andre Bauer edges Democrat Robert Barber by 4 points, according to a SurveyUSA poll conducted exclusively for WCSC-TV Charleston and WLTX-TV Columbia. Bauer gets 51%, up 2 points from an identical SurveyUSA poll 9/28/06. Barber gets 47%, down 1 point. There is volatility among different age groups: Republican Bauer had led among the youngest voters, now trails. The Democrat Barber had led among voters age 35 to 49, now trails. Bauer had led among voters age 50 to 64, now tied. Bauer had led by a little among voters age 65+, now leads by a lot. Bauer today gets 82% of the Republican vote. Barber gets 86% of the Democrat vote. Barber leads by 11 among Independents. The election is on 11/7/06.

Republican Ravenel Surges in SC Treasurer Race: In an election for Treasurer of South Carolina today, 10/17/06, Republican Thomas Ravenel defeats Democratic Grady Patterson, 57% to 41%, according to a SurveyUSA poll conducted exclusively for WCSC-TV Charleston and WLTX-TV Columbia. Since an identical SurveyUSA poll 9/28/06, Ravenel has gained 8 points, Patterson has lost 8 points. Among voters age 35 to 49, Patterson had led by 10, now trails by 14, a 24-point reversal. Among white voters, Ravenel had led by 6, now leads by 25. Among Independents, Patterson had led by 3, now trails by 11. Ravenel leads by 37 points among men. Patterson leads by 4 points among women, a 41-point gender gap. The election is on 11/7/06.

Republican Floyd Still Atop Rex for SC Schools Superintendent: In an election for Superintendent of Education in South Carolina today, 10/17/06, Republican Karen Floyd defeats Democrat Jim Rex, according to a SurveyUSA poll conducted exclusively for WCSC-TV Charleston and WLTX-TV Columbia. 21 days to the 11/7/06 election, it's Floyd 51%, Rex 36%. In the past 19 days, Floyd's lead has grown ever so slightly, from 12 points to 15 points. 9% vote for other candidates. Floyd gets 84% of the Republican vote. Rex gets 79% of the Democrat vote.

Filtering: 900 South Carolina adults were interviewed 10/14/06 through 10/16/06. Of them, 728 were registered to vote. Of them, 453 were judged to be "likely" voters for Governor. 447 were judged to be "likely" voters for Lieutenant Governor. 446 were judged to be "likely" voters for Treasurer. 442 were judged to be "likely" voters for Superintendent of Education. Crosstabs reflect Likely Voters.