Presidential Poll: South Carolina Set to Vote; Who's Your Pick for President?
Lemont Patch will begin polling its readers on a weekly basis to gauge their interest in the election, its candidates and what issues are most important to them.
UPDATE: Texas Gov. Rick Perry officially dropped out of the 2012 presidential race Thursday.
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South Carolina polls have been a rollercoaster throughout the campaign, Spring Valley Patch reports, but as the South Carolina primary inches closer, former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney may be able to coast to a victory and further cement his lead status as the Republican presidential nominee.
Romney, according to the report, earned 33 percent support among likely Republican primary voters, while Gingrich earned 22 percent. Sen. Rick Santorum and Rep. Ron Paul both dropped to the third tier, with Santorum earning 14 percent support and Paul getting 12 percent.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry earned 6 percent support and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, who left the race Tuesday, earned 4 percent.
Three of the five presidential candidates spoke to a packed room of South Carolina business leaders about the economy and jobs on Tuesday afternoon. For a recap of that event, CLICK HERE.
Gingrich, meanwhile, is urging competitors Rick Santorum and Rick Perry bow out of the Republican presidential race so conservatives can rally behind one "anti-Mitt Romney" candidate, according to CNN.
The South Carolina primary is Thursday and will be followed by Florida on Jan. 31. Illinois' primary is set for March 20.
Lemont Patch is polling its readers to gauge their interest in the election, its candidates and what issues are most important to them. This poll will be published each week until the end of the election season.
And at the end of the Illinois primary (March 20) and general election (Nov. 8), we hope these numbers will provide insight into how attitudes and ideologies shifted throughout what seems sure to be a cutthroat political atmosphere.
For more on the candidates, CLICK HERE.
After you're done voting, tell us why you voted the way you did by leaving a comment below!
Rob Atchison
9:43 am on Thursday, January 19, 2012
I am a veteran and understand the hate our foreign policy spurs in foreign lands. We can only fix the economy after we change our roll in the world. I will be voting for Dr. Paul this year because of all the candidates he is the one that understands the issues the best and will strictly adhere to the Constitution.
Edward Andrysiak
1:01 pm on Thursday, January 19, 2012
I'm for Gingrich. We don't have time for a "learner"...I need someone who knows their way around the dirt bags and system in Washington. He is very smart but most of all he is extremely creative. A real idea man! I don't care about his "baggage" because I believe his ego is so big that he will strive to do a record breaking job as our president and leave a very positive mark on history. And yes, I'm a bit nervous about that vote but anything is better than what we have going on now.
Clyde Macc
4:35 pm on Friday, January 20, 2012
Newt Gingrich isn't going to make it past the first week in the General Election. but if he magically does become president he will be impeached for sleeping with staff while his advisors bomb countries for suspected weapons that don't even exist. Newt Gingrich is Clinton. just more of the same. stop abusing our troops with bad votes. please.
Spencer D. Smith
1:12 pm on Thursday, January 19, 2012
As interesting as it would be to see an Obama/Paul presidential race, the GOP primary is all but wrapped up with Romney.
I'll be happy to see the more theatrical aspects go away (Santorum and Perry, I'm looking at you) and see a fact-based debate on relevant issues. I'm hoping there's a minimum of pandering to people's emotions and religious beliefs. These are often paid lip service to gain votes, but are quickly left in the dirt once the presidency is achieved. Let's leave them at the door to begin with and focus on things that actually affect us, such as the economy, foreign affairs, and health care.
Daniel Sopher
2:09 am on Friday, January 20, 2012
This election my whole family will be voting "republican" for the first time. (quotations as Dr. Paul is actually Libertarian) not another talking head from one of the 2 prehistoric parties that have destroyed everything that real Americans have lived, strived and died for. Obama or Romney will not limit or check/balance the federal reserve. Paul wants gold/silver to back our currency again- and as bank controlled media will try to slander anyone who has any new pioneering ideas that challenge old profit mongers, I hope it doesn't disuade intelligent people from seeing through the century old guise.