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Staff Report
COLUMBIA -- Nearly 60% of South Carolinians characterized their current financial situation as either excellent or good, according to the the results of the latest Winthrop/ETV Poll.
Conducted between Feb. 2 and Feb. 17, the poll surveyed South Carolinians on issues of importance to them as well as ascertained their impressions of how the federal government and the Bush administration are handling the war in Iraq and other front-burner issues.
The Winthrop/ETV Poll was conducted among 722 randomly sampled South Carolinians over the age of 18. It has a margin of error of plus/minus 3.65 percent.
"In terms of the economy, there may be a bit of a disconnect as to how South Carolinians feel. They are seeing economic problems more in national terms than as a statewide issue. Given the high unemployment numbers in S.C., and the fact that most economists believe we are in a recession, there might be a little bit of denial involved here, especially given the large number of South Carolinians who say they believe their jobs are secure," said Dr. Scott Huffmon, director of the Winthrop/ETV Poll initiative.
"As far as a gasoline-tax increase is concerned, while opposition to it is a reflection of a general anti-tax sentiment in the state, what also could be at play is a response to the incredibly high price of gasoline. If we were seeing cheap oil, people would remember the bridge collapse in Minnesota and be willing to absorb a small increase in the gasoline tax to improve our infrastructure."
The poll results also show that South Carolinians want to see troop reductions in Iraq.
"South Carolina is a bellwether state, and if S.C. conservatives are saying that is what they want to see, candidates need to pay attention, and realize this sentiment needs to be addressed," Huffmon said.
Among the Winthrop/ETV Poll findings
· Almost 60 percent of respondents characterized their current financial situation as either excellent or good, with 50 percent saying their financial circumstances as a whole are getting better. This despite the fact that almost 80 percent said that overall, economic conditions in the country are getting worse.
· Over 80 percent of those who were polled said that they can trust the national government to do what is right some of the time, most of the time, or just about always. On the state level, over 90 percent of respondents said they could trust state government to do what is right some of the time, most of the time, or just about always. And on the local level, almost 86 percent said that they can trust their local government to do what is right some of the time, most of the time, or just about always.
· Over 60 percent of respondents oppose a small increase in the gasoline tax for the purpose of improving South Carolina's roadways and repairing old bridges.
· When asked if the cigarette tax should be increased, and, if so, how should the resulting money be spent, almost 27 percent said there should be no increase whatsoever, while almost 52 percent of those who favored it, targeted offsetting Medicaid costs as how the additional money should be spent.
· Almost 30 percent of respondents said that global warming is mostly the result of natural causes, with almost 28 percent saying the effects of global warming are being exaggerated, or aren't even real. Still, over 36 percent said the federal government needs to take immediate action to combat global warming.
Among the additional findings
· Almost 60 percent of South Carolinians felt that the current criminal penalties for both domestic abuse and driving under the influence of alcohol were too lenient.
· Almost one-quarter of those polled said they did not know enough about the issue of school vouchers to either support or oppose them. This is reminiscent of the results of a previous Winthrop/ETV poll, released in Sept. 2007, only this one taken exclusively among African Americans, that found 33 percent said they either did not know enough about the issue, or were not sure how they stood on the subject of school vouchers.
· Over 47 percent thought the next president should gradually reduce all troop levels with the eventual goal of complete withdrawal.
· The issue of abortion remains complex for South Carolinians. While over 53 percent believe a woman should be able to obtain a legal abortion in certain circumstances, almost one-quarter of respondents said abortion should be illegal in all circumstances.
· Over half of the respondents disapprove of the way George W. Bush is doing his job as president and his handling of the war in Iraq.
Selected results from the Winthrop/ETV Poll
Currently, the offices of governor and lieutenant governor are elected separately in South Carolina. Do you think the candidates for governor and lieutenant governor should run together on one ticket or continue to be elected separately?
Run together 30.9
Elected separately 56.3
Don't know/ Refused 12.8
In South Carolina, we have several statewide elected offices. These include the Secretary of State, Superintendent of Education, Comptroller General, Commissioner of Agriculture, and others. Some people believe that it would increase the efficiency and effectiveness of government if some of these positions were appointed by the governor, while others feel that they should continue to be elected and remain directly accountable to the voters. Which of these comes closer to your opinion?
Appointed by governor 18.2
Continue to be elected 75.6
Don't know/ Refused 6.2
Thinking about the current path that our nation is taking, do you think our country is on the right track or headed in the wrong direction?
Right track 27.6
Wrong direction 59.3
Don't know / Refused 13.1
Now, thinking about the current path that South Carolina is taking, do you think our state is on the right track or headed in the wrong direction?
Right track 51.5
Wrong direction 34.8
Don't know / Refused 13.8
Right now, do you think that economic conditions in the country as a whole are getting better or getting worse?
Getting better 14.3
Getting worse 77.7
Don't know/ Refused 7.9
How concerned are you about the possibility of losing your job in the next year? Are you very concerned, somewhat concerned, not very concerned, or not at all concerned?
Very concerned 15.7
Somewhat concerned 11.7
Not very concerned 14.4
Not at all concerned 53.3
Don't know/ Refused 5.0
If you had to find a new job in the next year, do you believe that you would need additional education or job training?
Yes 42.4
No 52.1
Don't know/ Refused 5.6
How would you rate your financial situation today: Excellent, good, only fair, or poor?
Excellent 12.5
Good 47.1
Fair 27.9
Poor 11.9
Don't know/ Refused 0.6
Right now do you think that your financial situation as a whole is getting better or getting worse?
Better 50.4
Worse 34.6
don't know/ refused 15.0
Some people believe that providing school vouchers to parents so they can send their children to private schools would best help parents get their children out of failing public schools, while others feel that vouchers take desperately needed money away from the public school system.
From what you know, or have heard, do you favor or oppose school vouchers, or do you not know enough to say?
Favor 30.1
Oppose 44.9
Don't know enough to say 24.6
Refused 0.4
Some have proposed that South Carolina increase the cigarette tax and use the money to either: [Rotate] Reduce income tax on the highest income bracket, or to offset increasing Medicaid costs.
Which of these proposals would you prefer, or would you rather the cigarette tax not be increased?
Reduce income tax on highest bracket 11.4
Offset Medicaid costs 51.9
Cigarette tax not increased 26.6
Don't know/ Refused 10.0
Do you smoke cigarettes?
Yes 21.4
No 78.6
Don't know/ Refused 0.0
Some have proposed a small increase in the gasoline tax for the purpose of improving South Carolina's roadways and repairing old bridges. Would you favor or oppose such a proposal?
Favor 34.5
Oppose 62.3
Don't know/ Refused 3.2
Payday lenders allow people to borrow money when they write a postdated check. The check is written for the amount to be borrowed plus a fee and is cashed after the borrower receives their next paycheck unless they renew the loan. If you were to translate this fee into an Annual Percentage Rate, such as you might have on a credit card or home loan, what would you estimate the Annual Percentage Rate on a typical payday loan to be?
**The ACTUAL annual percentage rate on a typical payday loan in S.C. is 396%**
The mean guess by respondents was 82.48%. The modal guess was 20% and the median guess was less than 30%.
Do you think that the state of South Carolina should further regulate the payday loan industry?
Yes 76.2
No 13.5
Not sure 9.9
Refused 0.4
[Only asked of those who said "yes" or "not sure" when asked if the payday loan industry should be regulated] Other states have regulated the payday lending industry in both of the following ways. Which of the following would you prefer for South Carolina: [Rotate] Capping the amount of interest and fees that payday lenders may charge, or outlawing the business of payday lending?
Capping the amount of interest 51.1
Outlawing 40.5
Not sure 8.3
Refused 0.2
Some believe that money has too much influence in state elections while others feel that our current system works just fine. Would you support or oppose a proposal for South Carolina to have a system of public financing for candidates who agree to spending limits and pledge not to accept campaign contributions from special interests?
Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?
Strongly support 35.4
Somewhat support 23.8
Somewhat oppose 13.0
Strongly oppose 18.0
Not sure 9.5
Refused 0.4
If this system would cost each taxpayer about three dollars and sixty cents a year and would reduce the impact that money has on elections would you support or oppose it?
Do you feel that way strongly or somewhat?
Strongly support 42.4
Somewhat support 21.6
Somewhat oppose 10.0
Strongly oppose 19.9
Not sure 6.0
Refused 0.0
We'd like to get your thoughts on Global Warming. Which of the following statements comes closest to your beliefs: [rotate]
Global warming is real and is occurring now 54.8
Global warming is real but won't be a problem for a long time 11.5
The effects of global warming are being exaggerated 21.1
Global warming is not real 6.7
Not sure [volunteered] 5.5
Refused [volunteered] 0.4
[Not asked of those who do not believe global warming is real, those who weren't sure about global warming, or those who refused to answer the question on global warming] Which do you think explains most of the reason that global warming is occurring: [rotate]
Global warming is mostly the result of human activity 51.3
Global warming is mostly the result of natural causes 29.3
Both equally [volunteered] 17.0
Not sure [volunteered] 2.4
Refused [volunteered] 0.0
Do you believe that the war in Iraq has made America safer or created additional threats to our security?
Safer 42.3
Additional threats 47.8
Not sure 9.8
Refused 0.1
Do you approve or disapprove of George W. Bush's handling of the war in Iraq?
Approve 38.0
Disapprove 55.8
Not sure 5.9
Refused 0.3
Some have argued that stability in Iraq will require stepped up efforts from the Iraqi government. Which of the following do you think would be most likely to spur or aid action by the Iraqi government: [rotate]
Begin drawing down combat troops as an incentive to the Iraqi government to step up 43.5
Leave combat troops in place as a buffer to protect the Iraqi government while it works 30.6
Leave it to the military/ generals to decide [volunteered] 14.6
Not sure [volunteered] 10.7
Refused [volunteered] 0.6
What action do you think the next president of the United States should take with regard to the level of US troops in Iraq: [Rotate]
Draw down the number of combat troops but leave a smaller defensive force 13.1
Gradually reduce all troop levels with the goal of completely withdrawing in time 47.4
Immediately withdraw all troops 12.1
Do not change current troop levels 9.6
Increase troop levels 2.8
Leave it to the military/generals to decide [volunteered] 9.4
Not sure [volunteered] 5.5
Refused [volunteered] 0.1
Many people are debating about how to better control health care costs and increase the number of people covered. One idea would require those who can afford it to purchase private health insurance while the government provides coverage for those who can't afford it. Would you favor or oppose such a plan or haven't you thought much about this issue?
Favor 43.6
Oppose 31.4
Haven't though much 23.3
Refused 1.8
Generally speaking, do you consider yourself a Republican, a Democrat, or an Independent?
Republican 38.9
Democrat 28.8
Independent 27.7
Other 2.7
Don't know/Refused 1.8
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