United States presidential election in South Carolina, 2012

United States presidential election in South Carolina, 2012

November 6, 2012

Nominee Mitt Romney Barack Obama Party Republican Democratic Home state Massachusetts Illinois Running mate Paul Ryan Joe Biden Electoral vote 9 0 Popular vote 1,071,645 865,941 Percentage 54.56% 44.09%

County Results   Romney—40-50%   Romney—50-60%   Romney—60-70%   Romney—70-80%   Obama—40-50%   Obama—50-60%   Obama—60-70%   Obama—70-80%

President before election Barack Obama Democratic Elected President Barack Obama Democratic

The 2012 United States presidential election in South Carolina took place on November 6, 2012 as part of the 2012 General Election in which all 50 states plus The District of Columbia participated. South Carolina voters chose 9 electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote pitting incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama and his running mate, Vice President Joe Biden, against Republican challenger and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and his running mate, Congressman Paul Ryan. Romney defeated Obama in the state by 54.56% to 44.09%, a margin of 10.47%.^[1]

Democratic primary

President Obama was unopposed in the Democratic primary and easily won with more than 99% of the vote. The Democratic election was held on January 28, 2012, one week after the Republican election.

Republican primary

South Carolina Republican presidential primary, 2012

January 21, 2012 (2012-01-21)

Candidate Newt Gingrich Mitt Romney Home state Georgia Massachusetts Delegate count 23 2 Popular vote 244,065 168,123 Percentage 40.42% 27.85%   Candidate Rick Santorum Ron Paul Home state Pennsylvania Texas Delegate count 0 0 Popular vote 102,475 78,360 Percentage 16.97% 12.98%

South Carolina results by county   Newt Gingrich   Mitt Romney

Elections in South Carolina
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2012 U.S. Presidential Election
Timeline General election debates Electors Polling nationwide statewide Parties
Democratic Party
Candidates Primaries Nominee Convention
Republican Party
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The Republican primary was held on January 21, 2012.

During the primary election campaign, the candidates ran on a platform of government reform in Washington. Domestic, foreign and economic policy emerged as the main themes in the election campaign following the onset of the 2008 economic crisis, as well as policies implemented by the Obama administration. This included the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, termed "Obamacare" by its opponents, as well as government spending as a whole.

The primary has become one of several key early state nominating contests in the process of choosing the nominee of the Republican Party for the election for President of the United States. It has historically been more important for the Republican Party than for the Democratic Party; from its inception in 1980, until the nomination of Mitt Romney in 2012, the winner of the Republican presidential primary had gone on to win the nomination.^[2] As of 2012, the primary has cemented its place as the "First in the South" primary for both parties.^[3] Newt Gingrich was declared the winner of the race as soon as polls closed, however, Mitt Romney went on to win the nomination.

Date of primary

The 2012 South Carolina Republican primary was tentatively scheduled to occur on February 28, 2012,^[4] much later than the date in 2008, which almost immediately followed the beginning of the year in January 2008.^[5] On September 29, 2011, the entire schedule of caucuses and primaries was disrupted, however, when it was announced that the Republican Party of Florida had decided to move up its primary to January 31, in an attempt to bring attention to its own primary contest, and attract the presidential candidates to visit the state.^[6] Because of the move, the Republican National Committee decided to strip Florida of half of its delegates.^[7] Also as a result, the South Carolina Republican Party, along with Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada then sought to move their primaries and caucuses back into early January.^[7] All but Nevada, who agreed to follow Florida,^[8] confirmed their caucus and primary dates to take place throughout January, with South Carolina deciding to hold their contest on January 21, 2012.^[7] It is an open primary.^[9]

Ballot

Nine candidates appeared on the presidential primary ballot.^[10] South Carolina had only 25 delegates up for grabs because it moved its primary to January 21. Eleven delegates were awarded for the statewide winner, Newt Gingrich, and two additional delegates were awarded to the winner of each of the seven congressional districts. Six districts were won by Gingrich, and one by Romney, giving Gingrich twelve additional delegates and Romney two delegates.^[11]

Polling

Results

Official results with 100% (2,117 of 2,117) precincts reporting.^[12]

There were 2,804,231 registered voters, for a turnout of 21.60%.^[12]

General Election

Results

Results breakdown

By county

See also

• South Carolina primary
• Republican Party presidential debates, 2012
• Republican Party presidential primaries, 2012
• Results of the 2012 Republican Party presidential primaries
• South Carolina Republican Party

References

External links

• South Carolina State Election Commission
• South Carolina's Secretary of State
• South Carolina Republican Party
• The Green Papers: for South Carolina
• The Green Papers: Major state elections in chronological order

State results of the United States presidential election, 2012
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