In the final weeks of South Carolina's gubernatorial campaign, Republican Governor Mark Sanford leads Democratic State Senator Tommy Moore 57% to 34% (see crosstabs). Governor Sanford attracts 83% of GOP voters as well as 27% of Democrats.

Only once in 2006 has Moore pulled within double digits of the incumbent. In late July, Sanford led the Democrat 47% to 38%. But Moore has been unable to trim the gap further.

The two met in a combative televised debate October 25, a few days after Rasmussen Reports conducted the current survey.

Cigarette taxes, jobs, school choice, and race are among the campaign issues. Sanford addressed the last two during a recent meeting of the NAACP in Georgia. The group is boycotting South Carolina in protest of a Confederate flag that had flown from the State House dome. Several years ago a political compromise removed the flag from the dome but not from the State House grounds altogether. The Governor contends that the NAACP should pursue the issue by means other than an economic boycott of the state.

Moore skipped the meeting, saying he doesn't believe that South Carolina's Governor should honor the boycott by agreeing to speak in Georgia.

Governor Sanford is viewed favorably by 66% of all voters, Moore by 43%. Sixty-seven percent (67%) approve of the Governor's job performance.

Fifty-four percent (54%) approve the job George W. Bush is doing as President. South Carolina is one of the few states in which more voters "strongly approve" of the President's performance (37%) than strongly disapprove (33%).

Voters here are also relatively optimistic about the War on Terror. Forty-six percent (46%) says the U.S. and its allies are winning that war, while only 24% say the terrorist are winning.

GOP voters are the most optimistic, with 73% saying the West is winning. Only 22% of Democrats agree.

Crosstabs available for Premium Members only.