South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford (R) now leads State Senator Tommy
Moore (D) 51% to 38% (see crosstabs).

Governor Sanford thus once again rises above 50% support. The gauge of his support has been fluttering around 50% for much of the year, but dipped to 47% in late July.

In a Republican-leaning state, Sanford is doing about as well with Republicans and unaffiliated voters as he was last month. But Rasmussen Reports finds that he is now doing twice as well with Democrats, grabbing 24% of their support, as he did in July. In some previous months he had also appealed to a fifth or more of Democrats.

Thus, despite higher-than-average unemployment in the state and controversy over school reform and other issues, the Democratic challenger is still having trouble establishing himself as a strong alternative.

Almost twice as many voters see Governor Sanford "very favorably" (29%) as see Moore that way (15%), and the Governor has higher overall favorables. As well, voters rate Sanford's job performance almost as enthusiastically as they rate him personally.

Moore's unfavorable numbers are a bit better than Sanford's. But 22% still can't give an opinion of him.
Fifty-two percent (52%) approve of the job George W. Bush is doing as President, higher than the national average. President Bush is viewed as conservative by 58%.

Fifty-two percent (52%) of all voters, most Republicans, and a plurality of Democrats see Sanford as conservative. About a third of each group see him as moderate.

Moore is viewed as moderate by a 35% plurality of all voters, as liberal by 27%. Republicans are more likely to see him as liberal, Democrats as moderate.

Crosstabs available for Premium Members only.