Entrance Polls Show Conservatives Dominating Nevada GOP Caucuses
- Posted on February 4, 2012 at 7:29pm by
Christopher Santarelli
- Print »
- Email »
(AP) — Conservatives accounted for around 4 in 5 voters Saturday as Nevada Republicans chose their presidential candidates, a poll of people entering the caucuses showed, tying Iowa as the most conservative group of GOP voters so far this year.
Around 3 in 4 Nevada voters said they were tea party supporters, according to preliminary results of the survey. That was the highest proportion of the five states that have now held their GOP presidential contests.
One in 4 voters Saturday was Mormon, the religion of one of the contenders, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. That was about the same proportion as in the state’s 2008 contest.
Just over half said the economy was the dominant issue as they decided which candidate to support. Surprisingly, that was a bit below the proportion who named the economy in the most recent states to vote – New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida – even though Nevada‘s near 13 percent jobless rate in December was the nation’s highest.
Even so, the economy has been voters’ top issue in every state so far, even as data continues to show it is slowly regaining some strength. The No. 2 issue in Nevada was the federal budget deficit, cited by 1 in 3.
Given a choice of four qualities they were seeking in a candidate, more than 4 in 10 said they wanted someone who could defeat President Barack Obama in this fall’s elections. That has been the leading characteristic cited in every state.
One in five said they wanted a candidate with strong moral character, while slightly less were seeking a real conservative or someone with the proper experience.
About 4 in 10 said campaign advertising played an important role in deciding which candidate to back. Romney spent around $371,000 for television commercials in Nevada, followed closely by Texas Rep. Ron Paul.
Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum spent around $12,000 while former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who has been Romney’s chief competitor nationally, did not advertise at all, reflecting his sparse operation in the state.
About 1 in 4 voters were evangelical or born-again Christians.
The survey was conducted for AP and the television networks by Edison Research as voters arrived at 25 randomly selected caucus sites in Nevada. The survey involved interviews with 1,553 caucus-goers and had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
Comments (66)
Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 688 Comments
‘Jumah at the DNC’ Speaker: ‘Muslims Visited America Prior to Columbus’ & ‘It Was a Muslim’ Who Guided Him to the ‘New World’ 536 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 455 Comments
Obama: RNC Like Watching ‘Black-and-White TV’ Because Romney ‘Did Not Offer a Single New Idea’ 374 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 333 Comments
Faith
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 299 Comments- Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More
- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 311 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 206 Comments- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 148 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 301 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 299 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
C. Schwehr
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 9:52amLet me get this straight….The Blaze claims entrance polls showed high numbers of CONSERVATIVES were voting in Nevada’s primary…But yet, a PROGRESSIVE is the winner???? Somebody wanna try and explain that one????
Report Post »waspanglosaxon
Posted on February 5, 2012 at 3:29amInsofar as electability is concerned, I think Ron Paul is the only candidate who can appeal to people just as much outside of the Republican crowds as inside of it. He has appeal to Democrats, Independents and people from most other groups as well. And, let’s face the equally obvious fact that Gingrich is absolutely, without a doubt, 100% not electable. A guy with his scandalous past shouldn’t even have gotten into the race. If the American people won‘t go for ’gay marriage’, they sure won‘t accept ’open marriage’ either.
Report Post »ModerationIsBest
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 10:28pmI know many people here hate people like Maddow, but even she goes after the President for the NDAA. Don’t vote for anybody that supports the NDAA, sadly that includes guys like Allen West!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNvtKKM902w&feature=related
Find any politician that voted for or supports the NDAA and vote them out!
Report Post »Drugstore Patriot
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 10:21pmSo let me get this straight, you guys are voting for Romney because, wait for it, wait for it, MOST ELECTABLE. Usually you vote for a person because you like their message and you like how they are going to govern. Exactly what is Mitt‘s message and how he’s going to govern. Usually when you think somebody is most ELECTABLE, you LOSE. I’m sorry to break it to you Romniacs, but he will have to reach out to conservatives and Tea Party members!
Report Post »Drugstore Patriot
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 9:58pm@Disenlightened You are talking like a liberal. I am disabled and am on SS disability. Of course I am not talking about throwing the disabled and the elderly out on the street because I am one of them. I am talking about the folks who are not technically disabled and are not old and can work. We need a trampoline for those folks.Governor Romney said also he was not concerned with the well off. He said he was concerned with the middle class. That is what I call class warfare, pandering to the folks who don’t pay much in taxes. That’s what Obama says.Our president should be concerned with all Americans. Remember the tide that lifts ALL boats! Real conservatives don’t single out one particular class.
Report Post »John 3:16
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 9:33pmWake up people…Romney is a RINO with Obamaitis. Go Santorum!!!
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 9:03pm{sigh} so I really should stock up on “stuff” this year? {sigh}
Report Post »A Doctors Labor Is Not My Right
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 9:52pmRomney is not a Conservative – he’s a statist!
Not only does he believe government should be involved in the economy, he also would consider a national sales tax, and he believes that inflation is normal and that we should raise the Minimum Wage!
He’s a Keynesian like Santorum, folks!
See here.
Mitt Romney Open To Value Added Tax (VAT) !
http ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsMIa6E_KUk
And here.
Romney supports automatic hikes in minimum wage
http ://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_ROMNEY_MINIMUM_WAGE
And here.
No, Rick Santorum, We Don’t Need a Little Inflation
Report Post »http ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6a10UuQFOM
Spyder
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 9:01pmGood Reasons for you to NOT vote for Ron Paul:
1) You want your children to be sent to endless, undeclared wars.
2) You want the Government to tell you what is best for you.
3) You want the value of your currency to continually decrease while prices continually increase.
4) You want to sacrifice your freedoms for the illusion of safety.
5) You want the government to continue spending itself further and further into debt.
6) You don’t really care about the Bill of Rights or the Constitution.
If this is you, then Ron Paul is not a good choice for you. Just vote for Mittens, Grinchy or Santa. They will be sure to deliver these points for you.
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:47pmThis is not suprising. Not many want to take a chance on a more conservative candidate than Romney after what happened with Sharron Angle getting defeated by Harry Reid for Senate last election. For the most part, conservative means moderate in Nevada anyway. So that fits Romney to a tee. That and the fact that Nv. has the highest unemployment rate, most houses under water bad mortgages and new houses standing empty. Lots of business closures, especially in construction. All that put together has even changed some union members minds about Obama, since they have been out of work a long time too. But they still don’t want to vote for a real conservative.
Report Post »There is a reason why a couple of candidates have already conceded defeat in the Silver State.
sooner12
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:46pmWhich way did Nevada vote in 2008? They’ll probably vote that way in 2012.
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:49pmThey went from red to blue in 2008. Many blamed the influx of Ca. refuges that had moved there in the last 10yrs.
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:55pmWell,The unions also control the Voting Machines.
Report Post »fridaysgirl
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:44pmGo Rick!!!!!
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:50pmMy favorite too. But he has already conceded in Nv.
Report Post »GoodStuff
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:42pmWhat people need to realize is that we got stuck with 2nd tier candidates this time around. None of them are very good, but we’re stuck with them.
So it’s time to pick the candidate that best matches up with Obama, and that is Romey. Then we need to put the pressure on Romney to select a conservative pitbull for VP (Allen West?).
Lastly, work hard to get more conservatives in the House and Senate, to force a Pres. Romney to not stray off course into big government land.
Obama MUST be beat…and Newt or Santorum can’t do that! Please folks, use some common sense here. Beat Obama!
Report Post »cykonas
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 9:07pmSo it’s time to pick the candidate that best matches up with Obama, and that is Romney.
Same tired rhetoric which will only yield the same result. More of the same, just a different party in power. Wake up folks!
Report Post »Grey Eagle
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 9:16pmAgree with you. I am a big supporter of Col. Allen West. Romney could not make a better choice for BP. Col. West does not take any crap from anyone and he is a true patriot.
Report Post »ModerationIsBest
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 10:16pmDidn’t West vote for NDAA?
Report Post »Drugstore Patriot
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 10:42pmYou know, that’s what they said about Ronald Reagan, that he was unelectable by looking at polls!
Report Post »TheObamanation
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:38pm8newsnow.com has an interactive google map with twitter results under campaign 2012 …
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:31pmCome on Rick!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »GoodStuff
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:43pmRomney/West 2012. Unbeatable. Economic experience, plus 22-year career military man. Let Romney talk about the economy. Let West go out and destroy Obama as only he can.
Report Post »disenlightened
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:46pmLadies and Gentleman, Deacon Rick has left the building.
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:58pmAnd back in the day they wrote off R.R. too. Just an actor after all………………
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:26pmABBYGIRL, Your comment might be true, but……He is the one with enough arrogance and inflated ego that would do ANYTHING to be in our history books as the presidsent that saved our country from the progressives. Newt would more than likely do anything to gain that regognition even if it meant that he would have to become a true conservative to do it. He is gutsy and cocky and would not back down. He wants to win his page in history, heck he wants to make history.
Report Post »nosharia
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:21pmI hope Newt takes the West by storm. Warts and all, that guy is the conservative.
Report Post »bullcrapbuster
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:26pmNo he ain’t
Report Post »GoodStuff
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:35pmPeople still support Newt?
Romney/West 2012
Report Post »Weiners Wiener
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:52pmYeah, Newt’s a conservative alright. He helped Jimmy Carter create and implement the Department of Education. While Romney was pushing for a statewide mandate in Massachusetts, Newt was still suggestion we have a FEDERAL mandate. Newt voted for debt limit increases 4 times. He supported cap and trade. He wrote a book called, ‘Contract With The Earth’, then sat on the couch with Pelosi. He debated John Kerry, but when they got to the subject of global warming, Newt agreed with him on everything. He called Reagan a ‘failure’ in his dealings with the Soviets, and proclaimed that thanks to Reagan, the Soviets were already a stronger nation. If that’s a conservative, then I guess I’m not one of them. People, please. Wake up. Just because a guy gives you the promise of the emotionally satisfying Obama beatdown in a debate, that doesn‘t mean he’ll actually GOVERN the way you want him to. Newt supporters are like 2008′s Obama supporters. All hysteria, and no grasp on history or facts. Do your research.
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:56pmGun Grabbing,Wilsonian,Wife Swapping,Al Gore’s Religion Loving Conservative…….Sure he is not a Democrat?
Report Post »OlefromMN
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:20pmThe media reports that “Entrance polls show a higher number of conservatives…“ And people fall all over themselves thinking the result of the caucus will show what ”conservatives” feel? It is no more than a bunch of Americans showing up to the Nevada Caucus and making their choice based on their personal beliefs.
Many more states to go. See you on Wed. after MY state holds it’s caucus.
Report Post »Scrap-Diversity
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:12pmSo Sorry !!! http://youtu.be/4X35cb4a7gg
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:24pmwhats your point ?????
slavery has nothing to do with me or my family, or anyone else living today in the U.S. if you can show me a living slave owner and a living slave then you get back to me
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:45pm@Scrap – Correct! You are sorry. Ba-bye.
Report Post »Scrap-Diversity
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 9:01pm@Psychosis.. You miss the whole point but given your handle it’s not hard to see why…
Report Post »Amazing, that this video doesn’t bother you or anyone else in the least, with the moronic liberals saying sorry for something that they nor the blacks in the video ever realized..
Whatever, I was appalled at the video being a Caucasian ..Something seems wrong with the whole thing , no ? White guilt propaganda is all it is and there are children being brain washed right there, it’s there , you can see the kids crying.
Just pointing out what is really going on in the world today while the blaze reports on how high an airplane can “ really ” fly or that Steven Tyler Really wanted to sing the anthem that certain way.. If you’re white you should be worried, specially if you have kids because by 2045 YOU will be the minority and do you really think you will be afforded the same attributes afforded to the minority of today ? Nope, it will be payback time, trust me..There will be no affirmative action for you, bank on that.. In fact your childrens children will probably be in chains.. But I see all the comments of everyone stating they aren’t racist and ,blah ,blah ,blah well you might want to rethink your positions because this country is headed in a different direction then the blaze is reporting… J M thoughts, take it or leave it..
Scrap-Diversity
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 9:02pm@82dAirborne.. Whats the matter scared little punk ? Thought so..
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 10:34pmYou have no idea. What say you tell me that face to face? No/ Of course not. The keyboard makes you a big man. I’ve been here on The Blaze for a long time. Your kind comes and, more importantly, go like clockwork. Sooner or later you will have to walk up the stairs of your Mom’s house to get more cheetos or soda……..
Report Post »CatB
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:00pmSo if Santorum wins Nevada LIKE HE DID Iowa will they first give it to Mitt .. and then correct it quietly after? The R establishment doesn’t like these “conservatives” you know!
Santourm 2012
Report Post »Scrap-Diversity
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:12pmSo Sorry … http://youtu.be/4X35cb4a7gg
Report Post »disenlightened
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:30pmI really don‘t think you’ll have to worry about Deacon Rick winning Nevada . . . or any other state. Not even his home PA.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 10:07pmSantorum has ALREADY won a state … Iowa .. get it ?
Report Post »disenlightened
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 10:36pmHe was given Iowa after they lost the outcomes to 8 precincts, but that was then and this is now. How’s President Huckabee doing these days?
Report Post »Drugstore Patriot
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 7:59pmYou Romniacs obviously don’t know what a conservative believes in. A conservative does not say if there is a problem with the saftey net, he would fix it and pander to the middle class. That’s class warfare. That’s what Obama preaches. A conservative does not say we need to increase the minimum wage with the cost of living. A conservative does enact a top down government health care system with a mandate that you must purchase health care or you will be fined/taxed. WAKE UP PEOPLE. Romney is McCain 2.0!!!!!
Report Post »phillipwgirard
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:03pmAny of them are better than 0bama,at least they won’t destroy us any further,,,
Report Post »GoodStuff
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:36pmRomney is the only one who can beat Obama…look at the polls. Please snap out of it. Newt loses by 15 to Obama.
Report Post »disenlightened
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:40pm@ DRUGSTORE COWBOY
Report Post »A safety net is essential to any humane society. Are you arguing we should throw the elderly and handicapped out in the streets? Saying if it‘s not working right I’ll fix it is not class warfare, it’s right. Now, I’m talking about a safety net, narrowly defined, and not the welfare system that’s being abused, and I‘m pretty sure that’s what Romney was referring to.
RepubliCorp
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 9:00pmGOODSTUFF they said that Reagan couldn’t win….. and you know how that worked out
Report Post »disenlightened
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 10:39pm@ REPUBLICORP
Report Post »And they said Fred Thompson couldn’t win either and, by gum, he didn’t.
mcgrawactor1
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 7:42pmDespite what the media and even the establishment repubs would have us believe, folks are THIRSTING for conservatism and a return to sanity in this country. The pendulum is swinging and it is swiniging hard to the right. If the people who are clinging to conventional wisdom, hold too tightly to it, they will get knocked on their behind when it swings into them. Conservatives will take back America in this election, and I personally, predict Obama will lose BIGTIME, not by an imperceptible margin, which is what the “polls” are showing as of today. He’s going to get his butt kicked!!
Report Post »Stuck_in_CA
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:01pmSantorum Fails to Qualify for the Indiana Ballot
Although he needed only 500 verified signatures to be included, Rick Santorum failed to qualify for Indiana’s Republican presidential ballot.
The Republican Party of Indiana announced Friday that just three of the four remaining Republican presidential candidates had filed enough signatures to qualify for a place on the state’s primary ballot. Forty-three delegates will be up for grabs in Indiana at the state’s primary on May 8.
Mitt Romney will officially be on the ballot. Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul both submitted enough signatures but must get those signatures certified by the state’s secretary of state by February 10. The state party deemed however that Rick Santorum’s submission had fallen short.
Following the party’s announcement, the Santorum campaign quickly pushed back. After an event at William Woods University Friday afternoon, Santorum told reporters that his campaign had fallen 24 signatures short of the number required to be placed on the ballot. The reason his campaign had fallen short, he said, was that the party changed their rules in the middle of the game…
Report Post »http://reddogreport.com/2012/02/santorum-fails-to-qualify-for-the-indiana-ballot/
disenlightened
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:49pmI hear there’s a county commissioner seat open in Allegheny County, PA, that’s got Rick Santorum written all over it.
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 7:42pmStrong moral character.. wow that leaves Newt out… Go Mitt 2012!
Report Post »Mutiny
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:18pmLOL conservative should leave Mitt, Newt, and Rick out.
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:37pmSorry Abby Mittens is a progressive just like Newt and preacher Rick.
Report Post »TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 9:09pmPROGRESSIVE. Ron Paul is almost identical to that of President Obama in many key areas. A new report card by the American Civil Liberties Union, Liberty Watch 2012, ranks Paul higher than Obama on a host of progressive and anti-war issues. Progressives can see other progressive a mile away right SLAYER?
The area where President Obama and Ron Paul are the most alike is on foreign policy. Both seem to share the conviction that the United States is to blame for many of the world’s problems. Obama said in 2009 that “America has shown arrogance.” In many other statements, he has made clear his belief that the U.S. does not have the moral authority to lead the world. Ron Paul has made similar statements.
Hurry up and get out to Nevada, or Minnesota.. or wherever Paul is hanging out today… he needs some of your special PROGRESSIVE SLAYIN’.
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 10:38pmTime2 Admit it you’re a closet Paul supporter,you have a blow up doll of Paul in your closet, tell the truth YEP.
Report Post »phillipwgirard
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 7:41pmWhat’s the What in Nevada,,,
Report Post »qpwillie
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 7:40pmI thought they said Romney was leading in that caucus. So what are all those conservatives doing there?
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 7:44pmThe only non conservative of the four is Newt Gingrich.. he is healthcare, he is global warming and the one who lacks morals!
Report Post »qpwillie
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 7:51pm@abbygirl1994
Report Post »I guess you haven’t heard about Romneycare.
Babeuf
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:00pmAbby,
If I seem to recall, it’s called ROMNEYCARE not NEWTCARE – you know the model for which Obama got his OBAMACARE.
Report Post »hmmmm do you know anything about Mitt Romney at all? Does anyone for that matter?
In June 2011, Romney said he believed “the world is getting warmer” and that “humans contribute to that.” In October 2011, Romney said that “we don’t know what’s causing climate change on this planet.”
CatB
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:02pmPerhaps as in IOWA they are there for SANTORUM!
OMG 2012!
Report Post »circleDwagons
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:04pmQp. Loves some Paul
Report Post »qpwillie
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:12pm@circleDwagons
Report Post »LOL! I think you know better than that.
Weiners Wiener
Posted on February 4, 2012 at 8:28pm@BABEUF — I see you haven’t exactly done your own homework. Newt Gingrich supported healthcare mandates from 1994 to 2008. Only When Obama got in and started pushing his own plan did Newt read the reaction of the people and decide he was against mandates. That is a FACT. Here’s another fact for you to stew over: Newt supported cap and trade, sat on the couch with Pelosi, and wrote his own exo0terror book, “Contract With The Earth”, becaue HE believes in the global warming hoax, too. Now, before you go putting words in my mouth, I am NOT a big fan of Mitt Romney. Personally, I prefer Santorum. But what I really prefer most of all is TRUTH and FACT. And you need to learn both before you try lecturing anyone else on the internet.
Report Post »