Reported by Joanne Lu, SCRN

A recent survey taken by Rasmussen Reports indicates that Republican incumbent Sen. Jim DeMint has a comfortable lead five months ahead of the November General Election. DeMint, who is seeking a second six-year term, received support from 58 percent of what they classify as “Likely Voters in South Carolina.”  Meanwhile, controversy-fraught Democratic candidate, Alvin Greene, has still garnered 21 percent. Nine percent support another candidate, and 13 percent remain undecided.

The report also indicates that while 90 percent of Republican voters back DeMint, Greene is supported by only 50 percent of his own party. Sixty-eight percent of voters not affiliated with either party prefer the incumbent.

Greene, an African-American, captures 51 percent of the black vote. Seventy-four percent of white voters favor DeMint.

The poll was conducted on June 10 by Rasmussen Reports from a sampling of 500 likely voters in South Carolina, with a +/- 4.5 percent margin of error and 95 percent level of confidence. So far, Rasmussen predictions have provided an accurate gauge for actual election results.

South Carolina politics for the past year have left national media scratching their heads. Michael Brown reports on how the latest political controversy is another late night TV topic.

AUDIO: Full report, MP3 1:20

Vic Rawl

Democrat Vic Rawl, who lost the U.S. Senate Democratic primary to Alvin Greene, filed Monday to protest the election results. A hearing will be conducted Thursday by the state’s Democratic Executive Committee.

Greene surprised party officials when he won the primary without raising campaign funds.

Rawl says his campaign heard from voters who had problems with the voting machines, which were purchased from Louisiana after that state outlawed them. He says there are irregularities in the election returns and says poll workers have stories of unusual incidents occuring election day.

Rawl says he does not believe that Greene’s votes were cast by Republicans who decided to give up their Republican vote in order to vote against him.

AUDIO: Rawl on his protest (1:17)

According to Rawl, some voters said they repeatedly pressed the voting machine screen to vote for him, but Greene’s name appeared instead. He says some poll workers had to change program cards multiple times. He says a voter in the Republican primary found the Democratic U.S. Senate race on her ballot.

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