SC Palmetto Poll - Clinton -7%; Obama +1%; Edwards +2%; Undec. +14%

[Adelante]

November (August)

Clinton 19% (26%)
Obama 17% (16%)
Edwards 12% (10%)
Biden 2% (3%)
Richardson 1% (2%)
Undecided 49% (35%)

As the South Carolina presidential primary draws near, voters across the state are still unsure of whom they will support in the Republican primary on January 19th, and the Democratic primary on January 26th. The third Clemson University Palmetto Poll finds both contests close with most voters paying attention, but unsure of who will capture their allegiance in January.

The number of undecided voters went up from the last poll in August to November, with some 28 percent of the Republicans and 49 percent of the Democrats saying that they had not made up their mind. Importantly, the Palmetto Poll asked respondents if they were likely to stay with the person they choose of “change their mind: between now and January. About 65 percent of the Republicans and 51 percent of the Democrats said they were likely to change their mind before the election in January.

In the Republican contest, Mitt Romney (17 percent) and Fred Thompson (15 percent) are within the margin of error of the poll. The poll has a plus of minus 4.62 percent error in each party subgroup, and was of 450 likely Republican and 450 likely Democratic voters. The surprising third place candidate was the fast-closing Mike Huckabee (13 percent) with John McCain next at 11 percent. Huckabee is the most improved candidate in the GOP field since the last Palmetto Poll in August of 2007, rising to “top tier” status in South Carolina. The candidate who has lost the most momentum is Rudy Giuliani (9 percent) who has dropped from being a leader in August to a trailing fifth now.

Among the Democrats the top two candidates are all within the margin of error, with Hillary Clinton (19 percent) barely ahead of Barack Obama (17 percent), and John Edwards (12 percent) improving in the only primary state he won in 2004. In the two months since the last Palmetto Poll, Senator Clinton has watched her lead shrink by seven points and has dropped back to the rest of the field.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/docs/newNovember_Palmetto_Poll-3.html

[parkerll]

1. Red State

South Carolina, where even the "liberals" are conservative.

I may be the only person in South Carolina to do so but I'm writing in Kucinich. I've had enough pandering.

[BeyondGeography]

2. Up fer grabs...like everything else

[jefferson_dem]

3. Another state where Hillary is trending downward.

Come on, Hillaryphiles. Tell us all how she hasn't lost momentum...

[DemocratSinceBirth]

4. She's Lost A Bit Of A Momentum In The Early States

We will see how she does on 2/5 when the race will probably be decided...

And that's an odd poll with 49% undecided... They should have at least asked folks how they lean...

[Armstead]

5. Who's this Undecided candidate?

Whoever it is, they sound like a real comer.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

6. If You Are Going To Spend The $$$ On A Poll At Least Ask Folks How They Lean

DSB

[surfermaw]

7. Go Bobby

[rinsd]

8. Wow big jump in undedideds (nt)

[FredScuttle]

9. Looks like the good Pastor Donnie McClosetCase did his job well

n/t