In the latest presidential snapshot of South Carolina voters, the Winthrop Poll released today found Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker leads at 13.6 percent, followed by former Fla. Gov. Jeb Bush at 12.7 percent, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, 8.1 percent and favorite son Sen. Lindsey Graham in fourth at 7.6 percent.
Graham said Sunday on “Fox News Sunday” there was a 91 percent chance he would run for president (riffing off of businesswoman Carly Fiorina saying there was a 90 percent chance she would run.) The poll finds he is a popular figure in the Palmetto State, with 58.2 percent approval of him in his job and 34.6 percent disapproval.
In the Fox interview Graham was confident he would win South Carolina, which is one of the early voting states.
The poll asked voters about the prospects of 14 potential candidates. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky scored 6.2 percent and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida earned 4 percent - both have already announced they are running for president.
The poll also found that former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and Bush “show the most potential support in a series of questions that asked respondents whether they would consider voting for each candidate.”
Bush, said poll director Scott Huffmon, “appears to have converted more of his potential support into active support.”
Huckabee, who is scheduled to announce May 5, led all potential candidates with 51.6 percent of those surveyed saying they would consider voting for him. The former Arkansas governor also leads among those who identify as evangelicals, with 59.7 percent support, followed by Cruz at 51.2 percent, Bush at 48 percent and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry 47.3 percent.
However, more than 6 in 10 evangelicals cannot see themselves supporting Graham.
Those who approve of the Tea Party favor Cruz more than any other candidate with 61.8 percent, although Walker, Huckabee, Perry and Rubio and Paul all scored above 50 percent.
Overall, if the election were held today, Perry only enjoyed support of 1.9 percent, tying him with New York billionaire Donald Trump.
The Winthrop Poll, conducted by Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., surveyed 956 residents in the state by landline and cell phones between April 4-12. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.2%