CBS News: South Carolina primary exit polls: 2/3 say debates mattered

[flpoljunkie]

South Carolina primary exit polls: 2/3rds say debates mattered
By Brian Montopoli Topics Campaign 2012


(Credit: AP Photo/David Goldman)

Nearly two out of three South Carolina Republican primary voters say the recent Republican presidential debates played an important factor in their decision, according to early CBS News exit polls - a good sign for Newt Gingrich, who was widely seen as outshining rival Mitt Romney in both debates there this week.

Sixty-four percent said the debates were an important factor for them; just 34 percent said they were not. Gingrich won standing ovations in both debates while Romney often struggled - and at one point received a smattering of boos for equivocating over how many years of his tax returns he would release.

Gingrich, who polls suggest overtook Romney in the final days before today's primary, is hoping for a victory that would keep Romney from locking up the nomination before the end of the month. A majority of voters - 53 percent - said they made up their mind about who to back within the last few days.

The exit poll data showed that South Carolina voters overwhelmingly cited the economy as the most important issue, with 61 percent citing it. (The economy was the top issue in Iowa and New Hampshire as well.) It was followed by the federal budget deficit (23 percent), abortion (8 percent) and health care (4 percent). Seventy-eight percent of voters in South Carolina, where the unemployment rate is 9.9 percent, said they are "very" worried about the nation's economy.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57363377-503544/south-carolina-primary-exit-polls-2-3rds-say-debates-mattered/

[underpants]

1. So the Newt plants in the audience giving him a standing ovation worked?

well imagine that - a crowd attracts a crowd.

[alp227]

2. NY Times: Exit Poll Tells Story Behind Gingrich Win

Concerns about the economy, the desire to defeat President Obama and Newt Gingrich’s performance in the recent debates helped voters in the South Carolina Republican primary make their decisions.

The contest was fluid until the bitter end — more than half chose their candidate within the last few days, according to a survey of voters.

Mr. Gingrich was supported by men and women alike, evangelical Christians and Roman Catholics, those who support the Tea Party and those who are neutral about it.

Mitt Romney, who until earlier last week was considered the front-runner in South Carolina, did best among moderates, the very affluent and those who oppose the Tea Party.

full: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/us/politics/exit-poll-tells-story-behind-gingrich-win.html