Poll Watch: American Research Group South Carolina 2012 Republican Primary Survey

ARG South Carolina 2012 GOP Primary Poll

• Newt Gingrich 33% {25%} [24%] (33%) {8%} [3%] (9%)
• Mitt Romney 32% {29%} [31%] (22%) {25%} [25%] (18%)
• Ron Paul 19% {20%} [9%] (8%) {7%} [2%] (1%)
• Rick Santorum 9% {7%} [24%] (1%) {1%} [2%] (1%) 
• Rick Perry 4% {9%} [2%] (8%) {15%} [6%] 
• Undecided 3% {7%} [7%] (12%) {12%} [15%] (11%)

Among Tea Party Supporters

• Newt Gingrich 43% {28%} [33%]
• Mitt Romney 22% {24%} [30%]
• Ron Paul 17% {20%} [9%]
• Rick Santorum 13% {11%} [19%]
  
• Rick Perry 2% {9%} [0%]
• Other 1% {2%}
• Undecided 2% {6%} [8%]

Among Non-Tea Party GOP Primary Voters

• Mitt Romney 39% {33%} [32%]
• Newt Gingrich 24% {23%} [17%] 
• Ron Paul 20% {21%} [10%]
• Rick Perry 7% {8%} [4%]
• Rick Santorum 5% {3%} [27%]
• Other 0% {2%}
• Undecided 5% {7%} [6%]

Survey of 600 likely Republican primary voters (476 Republicans, 118 independents, and 6 Democrats) was conducted January 17-18, 2012. The margin of error is ± 4 percentage points. Party ID breakdown: Republican: 79% {79%} [84%] (74%) {81%} [79%] (76%); Independent: 21% {21%} [16%] (26%) {19%} [21%] (24%). Tea Party supporter: 45% {47%} [46%] (46%) {47%} [51%] (52%); Not a Tea Party supporter/Undecided: 55% {53%} [54%] (54%) {53%} [49%] (48%).  Results from the poll conducted January 11-12, 2012 are in curly brackets.  Results from the poll conducted January 4-5, 2012 are in square brackets.  Results from the poll conducted November 25-28, 2011 are in Results from the poll conducted October 5-10, 2011 are in curly brackets.  Results from the poll conducted July 12-17, 2011 are in square brackets.  Results from the poll conducted April 18-23, 2011 are in parentheses.