The Winthrop Poll Findings
Suppose the election for U.S. president was being held today. Who would you be more
likely to vote for?
South Carolina
McCain
Obama
someone else
undecided
Refused
North Carolina
McCain
Obama
someone else
undecided
Refused
Virginia
McCain
Obama
someone else
undecided
Refused
All
55.1
34.9
1.6
6.6
1.8
All
44.2
44.6
1.9
7
2.2
All
43.6
44.6
2.1
5.9
3.8
White Women
64.6
23.3
1.3
9.4
1.3
White Women
46.1
38.6
3
10.5
1.9
White Women
48.3
40.5
1.3
6
3.9
Working Class Whites
67.1
23.6
1.9
6.8
0.6
Working Class Whites
48.6
38.4
3.4
9
0.6
Working Class Whites
53.7
36.6
1.5
7.5
0.7
As of today, do you lean more toward [only asked of undecided]
South Carolina
McCain
Obama
someone else
undecided
Refused
North Carolina
McCain
Obama
someone else
undecided
Refused
Virginia
McCain
Obama
someone else
undecided
Refused
All
24.4
8.9
2.2
62.2
2.2
All
25.4
18.6
8.5
47.5
0
All
10
15
7.5
65
2.5
For further information on the Winthrop Poll, please contact Dr. Scott Huffmon at 803/323-4669.
The Winthrop Poll Findings
Which of the following qualities is most important to you in selecting the candidate for
whom you will vote?
South Carolina
Experience
Knowledge/intelligence
Honesty
Diplomatic skills
Holds positions similar
to yours
Exhibits values similar
to yours
not sure
refused
North Carolina
Experience
Knowledge/intelligence
Honesty
Diplomatic skills
Holds positions similar
to yours
Exhibits values similar
to yours
not sure
refused
Virginia
Experience
Knowledge/intelligence
Honesty
Diplomatic skills
Holds positions similar
to yours
Exhibits values similar
to yours
not sure
refused
All
16.2
17.5
White Women
18.2
15.1
Working Class Whites
16
17.9
28.4
3.1
32
3.1
34
3.1
3.4
2.7
1.2
23.7
7.1
0.5
All
16.1
18.9
26.9
3.8
20.9
8
0
White Women
15.8
22.8
26.1
2.9
18.5
9.3
0
Working Class Whites
19.1
10.1
33.1
3.9
6.4
6.6
4.5
20.5
6.8
0.7
All
16
20.2
26.2
4.6
21.7
3.3
0.7
White Women
18.5
21.6
24.1
3.4
21.9
6.2
1.1
Working Class Whites
12.8
15.8
39.8
3
5.2
6.5
6
22.2
5.3
0.3
22.4
3.4
0
18
4.5
0
For further information on the Winthrop Poll, please contact Dr. Scott Huffmon at 803/323-4669.
The Winthrop Poll Findings
What is the one issue that is most important to you in the upcoming presidential
election?
South Carolina
All
White Women
Working Class Whites
North Carolina
All
White Women
Working Class Whites
Virginia
All
White Women
Working Class Whites
Economy
43.1
42.9
36.6
Economy
48.8
46.3
44.6
Economy
48.5
48.1
44.8
I’m going to read a list of issues. For each issue, I’d like for you to tell me-–if you had to
choose—whether you think John McCain or Barack Obama would do a better job on that
issue.
The first issue is healthcare, who do you think would do better on that issue?
South Carolina
McCain
Obama
Neither / do the same
Not Sure
refused
North Carolina
McCain
Obama
Neither / do the same
Not Sure
refused
Virginia
McCain
Obama
Neither / do the same
Not Sure
refused
All
45.6
42.2
4.9
6.6
0.7
All
34.9
51.4
5.8
6.8
1.1
All
32.4
52.6
7.6
6.3
1.1
White Women
51.1
32.9
7.1
8.4
0.4
White Women
37.9
47.1
5.9
8.5
0.7
White Women
34.8
48.9
7.3
7.7
1.3
Working Class Whites
53.1
29
9.9
7.4
0.6
Working Class Whites
39.9
47.8
2.2
9.6
0.6
Working Class Whites
36.6
47
9.7
6.7
0
For further information on the Winthrop Poll, please contact Dr. Scott Huffmon at 803/323-4669.
The Winthrop Poll Findings
How about the economy?
South Carolina
McCain
Obama
neither / do the same
Not sure
refused
North Carolina
McCain
Obama
neither / do the same
Not sure
refused
Virginia
McCain
Obama
neither / do the same
Not sure
refused
All
50.7
38.5
5.1
5.2
0.5
All
39
48.1
6.7
5.4
0.8
All
38.2
48.2
6.4
5.6
1.5
White Women
58.2
29.8
5.8
5.8
0.4
White Women
44.3
42.8
5.9
6.6
0.4
White Women
40.3
43.8
7.3
6.9
1.7
Working Class Whites
58.6
28.4
8
4.9
0
Working Class Whites
42.9
42.4
5.6
9
0
Working Class Whites
40.3
46.3
9.7
3
0.7
How about energy, including gas prices?
South Carolina
McCain
Obama
Neither / do the same
Not sure
refused
North Carolina
McCain
Obama
Neither / do the same
Not sure
refused
Virginia
McCain
Obama
Neither / do the same
Not sure
refused
All
51.8
35.1
6.1
6.6
0.5
All
42.3
43.9
6.5
6.4
1
All
40.4
42.1
8.7
7.2
1.5
White Women
59.1
26.2
5.3
8.9
0.4
White Women
43
43
4.8
8.8
0.4
White Women
44
40.5
6.9
6.9
1.7
Working Class Whites
56.8
27.2
7.4
8.6
0
Working Class Whites
46.1
37.6
5.6
10.7
0
Working Class Whites
41
38.8
11.2
8.2
0.7
For further information on the Winthrop Poll, please contact Dr. Scott Huffmon at 803/323-4669.
The Winthrop Poll Findings
How about the situation in Iraq?
South Carolina
McCain
Obama
neither / do the same
Not sure
refused
North Carolina
McCain
Obama
neither / do the same
Not sure
refused
Virginia
McCain
Obama
neither / do the same
Not sure
refused
All
58.9
33.1
3.1
4.4
0.5
All
51.4
40.4
3.5
3.9
0.8
All
51.7
39.8
3.2
3.5
1.8
White Women
68.9
24.9
3.1
2.7
0.4
White Women
55.1
36
3.7
4.8
0.4
White Women
55.6
36.2
3
3.4
1.7
Working Class Whites
66.7
25.9
4.9
2.5
0
Working Class Whites
54.5
32.6
5.1
7.9
0
Working Class Whites
60.4
31.3
2.2
4.5
1.5
All
50.5
36.2
6.1
6.4
0.8
All
42.7
44.4
6.5
5.4
1
All
42.3
44.1
7.4
4.7
1.5
White Women
58.7
27.1
4.9
8.9
0.4
White Women
43.4
41.2
7
8.1
0.4
White Women
42.2
42.7
8.2
5.2
1.7
Working Class Whites
59.3
27.8
6.2
5.6
1.2
Working Class Whites
50.6
37.1
5.6
6.7
0
Working Class Whites
46.3
40.3
9
3.7
0.7
How about taxes?
South Carolina
McCain
Obama
Neither / do the same
Not sure
refused
North Carolina
McCain
Obama
Neither / do the same
Not sure
refused
Virginia
McCain
Obama
Neither / do the same
Not sure
refused
For further information on the Winthrop Poll, please contact Dr. Scott Huffmon at 803/323-4669.
The Winthrop Poll Findings
How about illegal immigration?
South Carolina
McCain
Obama
neither / do the same
not sure
refused
North Carolina
McCain
Obama
neither / do the same
not sure
refused
Virginia
McCain
Obama
neither / do the same
not sure
refused
All
45.2
27.9
13.6
12.5
0.8
All
38.9
30.3
14.9
14.5
1.4
All
39.4
29.8
13.8
15.3
1.7
White Women
50.2
20.9
12
16.4
0.4
White Women
42.3
27.6
10.3
19.1
0.7
White Women
43.5
25.9
12.9
15.9
1.7
Working Class Whites
50
16.7
17.3
15.4
0.6
Working Class Whites
42.1
24.2
15.2
18.5
0
Working Class Whites
41.8
26.9
14.2
16.4
0.7
All
62.5
27.4
4.4
5.1
0.7
All
56.8
32.1
5.3
4.8
1.1
All
55.7
30.9
6.1
5.8
1.4
White Women
73.3
17.3
3.6
5.3
0.4
White Women
60.7
29.4
5.1
4.4
0.4
White Women
57.8
26.7
6.9
6.9
1.7
Working Class Whites
70.4
17.9
5.6
5.6
0.6
Working Class Whites
64.6
22.5
5.1
7.9
0
Working Class Whites
64.2
21.6
3.7
9.7
0.7
How about terrorism?
South Carolina
McCain
Obama
neither / do the same
not sure
refused
North Carolina
McCain
Obama
neither / do the same
not sure
refused
Virginia
McCain
Obama
neither / do the same
not sure
refused
For further information on the Winthrop Poll, please contact Dr. Scott Huffmon at 803/323-4669.
The Winthrop Poll Findings
Thinking about the following characteristics and qualities, please say whether you think
each one applies more to Barack Obama or more to John McCain?
The first is ―Understands the problems Americans face in their daily lives.‖
South Carolina
McCain
Obama
Applies to Both Equally
Applies to Neither
Not Sure
Refused
North Carolina
McCain
Obama
Applies to Both Equally
Applies to Neither
Not Sure
Refused
Virginia
McCain
Obama
Applies to Both Equally
Applies to Neither
Not Sure
Refused
All
42.3
44.6
3.9
5.6
3.1
0.5
All
29.7
54.8
5.7
7.9
1.4
0.5
All
27.9
55.1
7.9
6.9
1.2
1.2
White Women
50.7
36
4
6.2
2.7
0.4
White Women
31.6
53.3
7
6.3
1.5
0.4
White Women
28.3
51.1
11.2
7.7
0.9
0.9
Working Class Whites
51.9
32.1
4.3
8
3.1
0.6
Working Class Whites
37.6
48.9
5.1
6.7
1.7
0
Working Class Whites
30.6
51.5
5.2
9
3
0.7
Would work well with both parties to get things done in Washington.
South Carolina
McCain
Obama
Applies to Both Equally
Applies to Neither
Not Sure
Refused
North Carolina
McCain
Obama
Applies to Both Equally
Applies to Neither
Not Sure
All
52.5
36.7
5.4
3.1
2
0.3
All
44.3
38.9
8.9
4.4
2.9
White Women
61.3
27.6
5.3
2.7
2.7
0.4
White Women
44.5
34.6
12.1
4.4
4
Working Class Whites
57.4
28.4
6.8
4.3
3.1
0
Working Class Whites
50.6
31.5
8.4
3.9
5.6
For further information on the Winthrop Poll, please contact Dr. Scott Huffmon at 803/323-4669.
The Winthrop Poll Findings
Refused
Virginia
McCain
Obama
Applies to Both Equally
Applies to Neither
Not Sure
Refused
0.7
All
46.7
38.3
8.5
2.6
2.4
1.4
0.4
White Women
49.4
33.5
12.4
2.6
1.3
0.9
0
Working Class Whites
50
32.8
7.5
5.2
3.7
0.7
Cares about the needs of people like you.
South Carolina
McCain
Obama
Applies to Both Equally
Applies to Neither
Not Sure
Refused
North Carolina
McCain
Obama
Applies to Both Equally
Applies to Neither
Not Sure
Refused
Virginia
McCain
Obama
Applies to Both Equally
Applies to Neither
Not Sure
Refused
All
41.4
40.8
6.7
7.1
3.6
0.3
All
32.2
50.1
7.1
7.2
2.6
0.7
All
29.6
49.9
8.9
8.1
2.1
1.4
White Women
50.7
31.1
8.9
4.9
4
0.4
White Women
35.3
47.8
7.4
4.8
4.4
0.4
White Women
33.9
44.2
11.6
6.9
2.6
0.9
Working Class Whites
51.9
30.9
6.8
6.8
3.7
0
Working Class Whites
38.8
45.5
7.3
3.9
4.5
0
Working Class Whites
35.1
44
7.5
11.9
0.7
0.7
All
60
29.9
4.9
2.1
2.6
0.3
White Women
70.2
18.2
4.4
2.7
4
0.4
Working Class Whites
71
21.6
1.9
1.9
3.7
0
Is a strong leader.
South Carolina
McCain
Obama
Applies to Both Equally
Applies to Neither
Not Sure
Refused
For further information on the Winthrop Poll, please contact Dr. Scott Huffmon at 803/323-4669.
The Winthrop Poll Findings
North Carolina
McCain
Obama
Applies to Both Equally
Applies to Neither
Not Sure
Refused
Virginia
McCain
Obama
Applies to Both Equally
Applies to Neither
Not Sure
Refused
All
47.7
37.2
9.6
3
1.9
0.7
All
46.3
35.5
11
4.1
2
1.1
White Women
51.1
31.3
13.2
2.2
1.8
0.4
White Women
52.2
30.2
11.2
4.3
1.3
0.9
Working Class Whites
55.6
27
10.7
2.8
3.9
0
Working Class Whites
55.2
28.4
6
7.5
2.2
0.7
Would stand up to special interest including those aligned with his party.
South Carolina
McCain
Obama
Applies to Both Equally
Applies to Neither
Not Sure
Refused
North Carolina
McCain
Obama
Applies to Both Equally
Applies to Neither
Not Sure
Refused
Virginia
McCain
Obama
Applies to Both Equally
Applies to Neither
Not Sure
Refused
All
50
34
3.1
7.4
5.1
0.3
All
42.6
40.4
4.6
7.4
4
1
All
45.7
36.9
6.1
6.4
3.2
1.7
White Women
60.9
22.7
4.4
4.4
7.1
0.4
White Women
45.6
36.8
4.8
6.6
5.5
0.7
White Women
47.8
34.5
7.3
6
3.4
0.9
Working Class Whites
61.7
22.8
4.3
6.8
4.3
0
Working Class Whites
45.5
39.9
2.8
3.9
7.3
0.6
Working Class Whites
50
32.8
5.2
6.7
4.5
0.7
For further information on the Winthrop Poll, please contact Dr. Scott Huffmon at 803/323-4669.
The Winthrop Poll Findings
Shares your values.
South Carolina
McCain
Obama
Applies to Both Equally
Applies to Neither
Not Sure
Refused
North Carolina
McCain
Obama
Applies to Both Equally
Applies to Neither
Not Sure
Refused
Virginia
McCain
Obama
Applies to Both Equally
Applies to Neither
Not Sure
Refused
All
53.5
34.9
2.5
5.8
2.6
0.7
All
42.2
44
5.3
5.3
2.6
0.5
All
41
42.7
6.1
6.9
2.3
1.1
White Women
64.4
22.7
3.6
4
4.4
0.9
White Women
47.1
39.3
4
4.8
4.4
0.4
White Women
44
41.4
6.5
5.2
2.2
0.9
Working Class Whites
64.2
22.8
2.5
7.4
2.5
0.6
Working Class Whites
47.2
39.3
3.9
4.5
5.1
0
Working Class Whites
42.5
38.1
4.5
11.9
2.2
0.7
Has a clear plan for solving the country’s problems.
South Carolina
McCain
Obama
Applies to Both Equally
Applies to Neither
Not Sure
Refused
North Carolina
McCain
Obama
Applies to Both Equally
Applies to Neither
Not Sure
Refused
All
32.9
27.1
2.1
28.9
8.4
0.5
All
25.4
35
5.1
29.6
4.2
0.7
White Women
40.4
17.3
2.7
30.2
8.4
0.9
White Women
27.6
29.4
5.1
32
5.1
0.7
Working Class Whites
42.6
19.1
1.2
30.2
6.2
0.6
Working Class Whites
29.8
27
7.3
28.7
6.7
0.6
For further information on the Winthrop Poll, please contact Dr. Scott Huffmon at 803/323-4669.
The Winthrop Poll Findings
Virginia
McCain
Obama
Applies to Both Equally
Applies to Neither
Not Sure
Refused
All
22.5
36.3
3.4
32
4.6
1.2
White Women
26.4
32
4.8
32.9
3
0.9
Working Class Whites
30.1
30.1
5.3
27.1
6.8
0.8
White Women
56.4
17.8
12
8
4.9
0.9
White Women
41.5
29
12.9
12.1
3.7
0.7
White Women
37.9
31
15.9
10.8
3.4
0.9
Working Class Whites
58
20.4
9.3
8.6
3.1
0.6
Working Class Whites
45.5
27.5
11.2
10.1
5.1
0.6
Working Class Whites
41.8
26.9
12.7
11.2
6.7
0.7
Is honest and trustworthy.
South Carolina
McCain
Obama
Applies to Both Equally
Applies to Neither
Not Sure
Refused
North Carolina
McCain
Obama
Applies to Both Equally
Applies to Neither
Not Sure
Refused
Virginia
McCain
Obama
Applies to Both Equally
Applies to Neither
Not Sure
Refused
All
47.6
28.6
9.6
8.9
4.8
0.5
All
38.8
35.9
11.3
10.2
3
0.7
All
36.4
33.9
14.7
9.5
4.1
1.4
For further information on the Winthrop Poll, please contact Dr. Scott Huffmon at 803/323-4669.