DI Presidential Election Survey reveals deep divide: WHO WILL GET YOUR VOTE?

Editor’s note: As of Monday morning, a total of 291 responded to our presidential election survey. A summary of their answers appears in today’s issue. Please note that this survey is not scientific in nature, that is, residents were not selected at random. Instead, this survey reflects the views of those who chose to respond to the survey. Responding to a presidential election survey, mirrored the deep divide within the United States over our two lead presidential candidates. Hillary Clinton is the preferred candidate for those who answered the survey (outpolling Donald Trump 53 percent to 31 percent), but of equal note was the level of vitriol in comments about each candidate. Some highlights from the survey: · More than 96 percent of survey respondents said they plan to vote, and more than 71 percent watched all three debates. · Respondents, by and large, were evenly split on the liberal-conservative scale, with a slight edge toward the conservative side. · On the issue of candidate likability, the numbers were striking (see chart) – more than 40 percent said they strongly dislike Clinton, nearly 60 percent said the same for Trump. · One impressive statistic: the 291 respondents hail from 34 states and half a dozen countries. In our presidential election survey, The Daniel Island News listed four candidates for president. In all, there will be 7 on the ballot next month. They are: • Hillary Clinton/Tim Kaine (Democratic) • Darrell Castle/Scott Bradley (Constitution) • Evan McMullin/Nathan Johnson (Independence) • Jill Stein/Ajamu Baraka (Green) • Donald Trump/Mike Pence (Republican) • Peter Skewes/Michael Lacy (American) • Gary Johnson/Bill Weld (Libertarian) Still Deciding Selected comments from those who are still deciding who to vote for. • “This is the first election since I began voting that I am undecided within weeks of election day.” • “I have voted in every election since I was 18, and I am not about to give that up now. Neither am I going to put my seal of approval on either of the two major party candidates. Hillary and Trump fill a ‘basket of deplorables’ to overflowing all by themselves. I am leaning toward writing in Nikki Haley, who has exemplified strong cool-headed leadership in our state.” • “With Trump, what you see is what you get, like him or not. With Hillary, it’s a continuation of the failed policies of Obama, the status quo. The Clintons are corrupt and will bring that back to the White House. This election has been such a dilemma for me, and I believe for so many other Republicans. Out of 17 candidates, this is our choice? Pray for guidance.” • “None of them are worth it, so we’re pretty much screwed. I can’t wait for it to be over with, I’m tired of all the whining, lies, etc. No politician in office has ever done what they said they were going to do during campaign time. Politics is politics, it’s who you know, who has the most money, and who is doing favors for who. They do not actually work for their constituents, it’s purely a power and ego trip. The entire political system is broken, along with most of the governmental systems in this country.”