In South Carolina, the latest Rasmussen Reports survey shows President Bush with 53% of the vote and Senator Kerry with 36%. In Election 2000, Bush won South Carolina by sixteen percentage points, beating Al Gore 57% to 41%.

This reflects a bigger lead for the President than our last month's South Carolina poll. At that time, Bush had a ten-point advantage over Kerry 49% to 39%. South Carolina remains solidly in the Bush category for our Electoral College projections.

In South Carolina, Republicans and Democrats overwhelmingly prefer the candidate from their own party. Unaffiliated voters favor Bush over Kerry 42% to 35%.

Fifty-eight percent (58%) of all South Carolina voters Approve of the way President Bush is performing his job. That's up 6 points from a month ago and well above his national Job Approval rating.

Data for South Carolina will be updated again early next month.

Rasmussen Reports is an independent public opinion research firm that provides daily updates on the Presidential election and the nation's economic confidence.

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