FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 10, 2012 INTERVIEWS: Tom Jensen 919-744-6312 IF YOU HAVE BASIC METHODOLOGICAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE E-MAIL [email protected], OR CONSULT THE FINAL PARAGRAPH OF THE PRESS RELEASE Colbert tops SC voters’ Senate appointment wish list Raleigh, N.C. – Nikki Haley is one of the most unpopular Governors in the country. Only 42% of voters approve of the job she's doing to 49% who disapprove. Out of 43 sitting Governors PPP has polled on, that ranks her 35th in popularity. Haley has pretty solid numbers within her own party. 70% of Republicans approve of the job she's doing to 22% who disapprove. But with Democrats (15/78 approval) and independents (28/57) her numbers are pretty woeful. There is a path back to popularity for Haley though: appointing Stephen Colbert to replace Jim DeMint in the Senate. Colbert tops the wish list of who South Carolina voters would like to see join that body at 20%, followed by Tim Scott at 15%, Trey Gowdy at 14%, Jenny Sanford at 11%, Henry McMaster and Mark Sanford at 8%, Jeff Duncan and Joe Wilson at 5%, and Mick Mulvaney at 4%. It's Democrats and independents- those voters Haley most needs to improve her standing with- who are pining for a Colbert appointment. Among Democrats 32% say they'd like Colbert to be picked with Jenny Sanford at 19% and no one else in double digits. With crucial independent voters Colbert has a 15 point lead for the appointment, getting 28% to 13% for Tim Scott, 12% for Jenny Sanford, and 10% for Trey Gowdy with no one else in double digits. If Colbert's lacking knowledge of the state beverage keeps him from Haley's consideration, voters say their top choice is Jenny Sanford at 17%, followed by Tim Scott at 16%, Henry McMaster at 13%, and Trey Gowdy at 12%. If you further filter the field and take the Sanfords out of the potential appointment list three men really stand out from the field: Tim Scott at 19%, Henry McMaster at 17%, and Trey Gowdy at 15%. The other three Congressmen we tested end up well back- Joe Wilson at 8%, Mick Mulvaney at 7%, and Jeff Duncan at 6%. “Nikki Haley could score some points with the Democrats and independent voters she’s struggling with by appointing Stephen Colbert to the US Senate,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling. “But if she goes down a more traditional path voters’ top choice is Tim Scott.” PPP surveyed 520 South Carolina voters from December 7th to 9th. The margin of error for the survey is +/-4.3%. This poll was not paid for or authorized by any campaign or political organization. Public Policy Polling Phone: 888 621-6988 3020 Highwoods Blvd. Web: www.publicpolicypolling.com Raleigh, NC 27604 Email: [email protected] South Carolina Survey Results Q1 Do you approve or disapprove of Senator Jim Q7 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion DeMint's job performance? of Henry McMaster? Approve .................. 49% Not sure .................. 11% Favorable........................................................ 32% Disapprove.............. 40% Unfavorable .................................................... 25% Q2 Do you think Jim DeMint’s decision to resign Not sure .......................................................... 43% his Senate seat in the middle of his term is Q8 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion appropriate or inappropriate? of Mick Mulvaney? Appropriate ............. 43% Not sure .................. 14% Favorable........................................................ 17% Inappropriate........... 43% Unfavorable .................................................... 25% Q3 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Stephen Colbert? Not sure .......................................................... 58% Q9 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion Favorable........................................................ 30% of Jenny Sanford? Unfavorable .................................................... 32% Favorable........................................................ 44% Not sure .......................................................... 38% Unfavorable .................................................... 25% Q4 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Tom Davis? Not sure .......................................................... 31% Q10 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion Favorable........................................................ 11% of Mark Sanford? Unfavorable .................................................... 23% Favorable........................................................ 30% Not sure .......................................................... 66% Unfavorable .................................................... 53% Q5 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Jeff Duncan? Not sure .......................................................... 17% Q11 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion Favorable........................................................ 15% of Tim Scott? Unfavorable .................................................... 19% Favorable........................................................ 33% Not sure .......................................................... 66% Unfavorable .................................................... 24% Q6 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of Trey Gowdy? Not sure .......................................................... 43% Q12 Do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion Favorable........................................................ 26% of Joe Wilson? Unfavorable .................................................... 20% Favorable........................................................ 33% Not sure .......................................................... 54% Unfavorable .................................................... 35% Not sure .......................................................... 32% December 7-9, 2012 3020 Highwoods Blvd. Survey of 520 South Carolina voters Raleigh, NC 27604 [email protected] / 888 621-6988 Q13 Given the choices of Stephen Colbert, Jeff Q15 If Mark and Jenny Sanford also were not Duncan, Trey Gowdy, Henry McMaster, Mick options for the vacant Senate seat, who would Mulvaney, Jenny Sanford, Mark Sanford, Tim you support out of the remaining options? Scott, and Joe Wilson, who would you most 6% like to see Nikki Haley appoint to replace Jim Jeff Duncan..................................................... DeMint? Trey Gowdy..................................................... 15% Stephen Colbert.............................................. 20% Henry McMaster ............................................. 17% Jeff Duncan..................................................... 5% Mick Mulvaney ................................................ 7% Trey Gowdy..................................................... 14% Tim Scott......................................................... 19% Henry McMaster ............................................. 8% Joe Wilson ...................................................... 8% Mick Mulvaney ................................................ 4% Someone else/Not sure .................................. 28% Jenny Sanford................................................. 11% Q16 Do you approve or disapprove of Governor Nikki Haley's job performance? Mark Sanford .................................................. 8% Approve .................. 42% Not sure .................. 10% Tim Scott......................................................... 15% Disapprove.............. 49% Joe Wilson ...................................................... 5% Q17 In the last presidential election, did you vote for Someone else/Not sure .................................. 11% Barack Obama or Mitt Romney? Q14 If Stephen Colbert was not an option for the Barack Obama................................................ 40% vacant Senate seat, who would you support, given the choices of Jeff Duncan, Trey Gowdy, Mitt Romney.................................................... 52% Henry McMaster, Mick Mulvaney, Jenny Someone else/Don't remember ...................... 7% Sanford, Mark Sanford, Tim Scott, and Joe Would you describe yourself as very liberal, Wilson? Q18 somewhat liberal, moderate, somewhat Jeff Duncan..................................................... 6% conservative, or very conservative? Trey Gowdy..................................................... 12% Very liberal...................................................... 9% Henry McMaster ............................................. 13% Somewhat liberal ............................................ 13% Mick Mulvaney ................................................ 5% Moderate......................................................... 24% Jenny Sanford................................................. 17% Somewhat conservative.................................. 28% Mark Sanford .................................................. 9% Very conservative ........................................... 26% Tim Scott......................................................... 16% Q19 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2. Joe Wilson ...................................................... 7% Woman ........................................................... 53% Someone else/Not sure .................................. 14% Man................................................................. 47% December 7-9, 2012 3020 Highwoods Blvd. Survey of 520 South Carolina voters Raleigh, NC 27604 [email protected]