Columbia Voters Share Their Views in GOP Presidential Primary
Voters had different motivations. But most agreed Biden must go
Voters – more than 700,000 of them – turned out for South Carolina’s Republican primary Saturday. Many echoed one common goal: to vote President Joe Biden out of office come November. But there was disagreement over whether former president Donald Trump or former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley would be best suited for the task.
Major Policy Concerns
Multiple voters cited the economy and inflation as major policy issues. “If you want to buy a house, today, your mortgage is gonna be like $3,000,” said Glenn Miller, who voted early for Trump despite previously supporting Haley for governor. “It was a whole lot less under Trump. Look at how much food costs today, if you want to feed a family.”
Others expressed concerns about immigration – a frequent talking point for the Trump campaign. Jackie Richards, 60, who voted for Haley, said more needs to be done to secure the border. “I’m a social worker, and I work with refugees, but I don’t support the border and just being that everybody can flood over,” Richards said.
Trump’s Demeanor
Many Haley supporters referenced the former president’s personality and rhetoric as points of contention. Laurence Boyd, 59, voted for Haley and said, “I like Trump’s policies overall but he’s really divisive. I think she’s more of a uniter than a divider.”
Trump’s Legal Issues
Much of the former president’s campaign has been mired in controversy over his 91 felony charges, with allegations of conspiracy in the Jan. 6 insurrection, election interference in Georgia, mishandling of classified documents and allegations of falsifying business records. Multiple Trump supporters were skeptical of his criminal charges.
The Age Old Question
Haley has repeatedly raised questions about her opponents’ age and mental acuity. Many Republican voters agreed with Haley about Biden but did not share her concerns about Trump, despite just a three-year age gap.
Establishment v. Trump
Multiple Trump supporters criticized Haley for being an establishment candidate. “He fights for the American people. She seems to fight for big corporations,” said Scott Hydrick, 63, of Richland County.
Looking Forward
Despite opposing preferences, most voters said they would support either candidate in the general election. “I think you have to vote for the platform over the person,” said Elanor Boyd of Richland County.
The next GOP primary will be held in Michigan on Feb. 27.
