Some new polls out on South Carolina primary voters are illustrating two vastly different results. The CNN/Time/ORC has former Masschusetts Governor Mitt Romney with a commanding double digit lead over former Senator Rick Santorum. However, a new Rasmussen poll shows Romney leading Santorum in South Carolina by only three points.
Santorum spokesman Hogan Gidley, a native of South Carolina, spoke to me on Friday night about the latest polls coming out of his home state.
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“(Romney) had all the endorsements in the state. He tried to show himself as a conservative, and I don’t think he got more than 4th or 5th (in 2008). South Carolina is a conservative state. They don’t like flip floppers and they sure don’t like moderates,” said Gidley.
“Mitt Romney was a tough sell in 2008 and he’ll probably be a tough sell again. He’s got the organization like he’s always had. He got 30 more votes in Iowa this time than he did last time, so if he does just the way he did the last time in South Carolina, he’s going to be in 4th place.”
Senator Santorum has been a frequent visitor to the first in the south primary state and is counting on the conservative nature of South Carolinians to help catapult his candidacy to Florida. Governor Romney has already received the endorsement of the popular newly elected Republican governor Nikki Haley.
“There’s no question that Rick’s going to play well in South Carolina. He’s been there way more than anybody else—139 events, 26 trips, 169 county captains, 3 offices. We’ve been there a lot. We’ve got a pretty good base there in South Carolina,” Gidley remarked.
“We got a good surge in Iowa. They’re waiting for us to come down there. They’re chomping at the bit. I can’ tell you how many calls I’m getting from my friends in South Carolina waiting for us to come. We’re going to get there on Sunday and come back here and take care of New Hampshire and then be on to South Carolina.”
