Who ‘has the experience’? SC voters reveal their choices in 2024 presidential primaries

Local Democrats say they’re standing behind President Joe Biden’s accomplishments as the incumbent heads to an all-but-guaranteed victory in Saturday’s primary election.

Conservative voters are less united on whether former President Donald Trump or former SC Gov. Nikki Haley is the best choice for the Republican nomination.

The presidential primary for Democrats is Saturday. Alongside Biden, U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, a Minnesota Democrat, and author Marianne Williamson, will also appear on Democratic primary ballots. In the meantime, Trump and former S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley will continue their political fight to secure the Palmetto State’s electoral votes in the Republican primary.

No more icy Iowa or snowy New Hampshire. South Carolina, a more racially diverse state than earlier primary contests, is in the national political spotlight.

Who can vote?

Both presidential preference primaries are open to all registered voters in South Carolina, said Alan Helms, director of the York County Voter Registration and Election office. A person can vote in one primary or the other but not both.

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the Democratic primary Saturday, and the same hours for the Republican primary Feb. 24, Helms said.

Early voting continues through Friday at 6 p.m. for the Democratic presidential primary.

Early voting for the Republican primary is Feb. 12-22, Helms said.

For a list of early voting sites got to scvotes.gov or the York County Voter Registration and Elections website.

Democrats first up Saturday

For Melissa Rouse, an accountant who’s married with two kids, Biden’s achievements as president merit another term. She’s also second vice chair of the York County Democratic Party.

Rouse cited Biden administration policies that have helped working families such as student loan forgiveness, health care access, job creation and infrastructure and road improvements. Rouse said she’s seen the economy bounce back in Biden’s term in her work as an accountant.

She’s not concerned about the lack of strong competition for the Democratic nomination. Biden has proven himself, Rouse said.

“He has fulfilled promises he made and I am going to support him,” Rouse said.

York County Democratic Party county chair Nikita Jackson said local Democrats are encouraging people to vote, even though a Biden win seems like a foregone conclusion.

Jackson said the party doesn’t endorse primary candidates, but encourages voters to look at Biden’s record of accomplishments in his term. Jackson said the Democratic administration has a record of success on the economy and other issues that matter to families and communities.

Republicans: Trump versus Haley on Feb. 25

Kimberly Long finds herself in a different position than York County’s Democrats — planning to vote for a candidate who’s an underdog in her own state.

Long is an educator with two kids in the Fort Mill school district who considers herself a moderate Republican. In today’s world, political extremists are the loudest, and they show up to vote, Long said.

Long says she support Haley because, “she has the potential to appeal to moderates.” And polling by Gallup shows nearly 40% of Americans consider themselves moderates.

Long also cited Haley’s foreign policy knowledge as United Nations ambassador, and her service as governor in South Carolina. Haley has shown she can be successful in South Carolina, Long said.

“She has the experience,” Long said of Haley, who’s scheduled an event Friday night in Indian Land.

The Real Clear Politics average of polls, however, gives Trump a 30-point advantage over Haley in South Carolina. The website FiveThirtyEight gives Trump a similar 65.8% to 31.5% advantage over Haley in South Carolina. Trump also handily trounced opponents in York County and South Carolina in 2016 when he last had opposition in his own party.

‘The numbers tell the story’

When Trump came to York County before the 2016 primary, he packed the 6,100 seat Winthrop Coliseum. Thousands more were turned away. Now, Trump is splitting his time on the campaign trail with civil and criminal court cases, including still-ongoing fraud and and election interference cases.

Rocky Barrett, a longtime Rock Hill businessman and Republican voter, supported Trump in 2016 and still does. Haley’s making the case she’ll appeal better to general election voters than Trump — and stand a better chance at beating Biden. But she’ll have to win primary elections across the U.S. first.

“His supporters, they just love Trump,” Barrett said. “The numbers tell the story.”

Trump’s work on lowering taxes, border protection, and less government intrusion still attracts voters, Barrett said. Trump connects with people better than any other candidate, Barrett said.

“He gets people,” Barrett said. “He understands. He listens. America First really is what it is.”

Barrett said Haley aligns with Trump on many issues, and she is a strong candidate. But she likely won’t win against Trump, Barrett said.

“If it were against anybody but Trump, Nikki Haley would carry this state of South Carolina in the primary,” Barrett said.

Is it over?

Robin Peterson of Fort Mill, managing partner of the York County Conservative Club, said visits in 2023 from Republican candidates Vivek Ramaswamy and Ron Desantis that attracted large crowds showed there are a variety of voters in York County. Both Republicans have since suspended their campaigns and endorsed Trump.

Undecided voters or those previously supporting others now have to decide on Haley or Trump, Peterson said. And their choice will “matter to the outcome,” Peterson said.

“Primaries are often won on razor-thin margins,” Peterson said. “Here in York County, your vote can be the difference.”

Generally, conservatives vote Republican. Yet Peterson said that York County is a conservative-leaning area where Democrats can be conservative, too.

Larry Barnett, York County Republican Party chairman, said he expects a huge turnout among Republican voters on Feb. 24 who are opposed to Biden-era policies on the economy, national security and social issues.

“More people are feeling the country is at risk,” Barnett said. “More people are seeing we have more going wrong than right.”

Like Democrats, the Republican county party does not endorse primary candidates, Barnett said.

Where to vote

Not all of the almost 100 York County polling locations used in general elections will be used during the Democratic and Republican presidential primaries, said Helms, the York County elections director. To cut the costs of putting on the primaries, 35 locations were chosen that consolidated polling locations.

The York County elections office website has a full list of the consolidated polling locations.

Signs will be out on election day at the normal York County polling places that are not in use directing voters to the consolidated poll location, Helms said.

How to get more information

SCvotes.gov is a comprehensive South Carolina elections and voter website. Registered voters can go to the site and log in to see their polling place and get other information.

York County voters can visit the York County Voter Registration and Elections office at 6 South Congress St. in York; 803-684-1242; online www.yorkcountygov.com.

In Chester County the elections office is at 109 Ella Street, 803-385-2562.

In Lancaster County, the elections office is located at 101 N. Main St. Lancaster, 803-285-2969, www.mylancastersc.org.