South Carolina: Red Since Reagan

The citizens of South Carolina have been red since they elected Ronald Reagan to office in 1980, and they seem to be holding true to that tradition in the 2012 general election.  Four-fifths of the people we interviewed at our local polling precinct, the Daniel Island School, declared their vote for the Romney/Ryan ticket.

When asked who he voted for Michael Baker shrugged and replied, “I voted for Romney and Ryan because I am a fiscal conservative.”

A majority of the voters in South Carolina seem to be taking the same approach to this year’s election, not overly enthusiastic but strongly conservative.

Despite the fact that South Carolina is a largely conservative state, there were a few Democratic voters that showed up, including Daniel Quick.  Quick wants to give Obama another four years based on his efforts toward environmental conservation, trying to find alternate energy sources, and his healthcare policies.

Most people we asked at the polls were fed up with the negative campaigning of the two parties.

“I feel that they should focus more on politics and less on being negative towards each other,” said Jenna Coleman when questioned on how she felt about this year’s campaign season.

Aside from all the hype about the four presidential and vice presidential debates, none of the debates seemed to impact the decisions of the voters we interviewed. If our polling precinct is any indication it appears that once again South Carolina will be a red state, voting for the Romney/Ryan ticket.

[Editor's note: South Carolina was won by Mitt Romney. Stay tuned to scholastic.com/election for the final vote totals.]

—Kid Reporters Faith and Zach Dalzell