I would expect some RR support for Paul, too. In 2008, we had a family visit our church, and set up a Ron Paul pamphlet booth outside of our outdoor potluck church social thing.
The RR is steering away from Paul on account of his "liberal" views on abortion, prostitution, and drugs. Please folks, don't concern "liberal" with libertarian, or states' rights.
I live in Greenville Co., the most populous of the two "key" counties in the Upstate (and the rest of state for that matter)
Here's the breakdown. Frankly I thought Santorum would poll higher. Mitt's numbers I am not surprised at, as he is seen as a typical smooth talking weaselly yankee interloper who has been picked by the yankee lawyers in *spit* parts north.
I may be overstating that a bit though. I don't know entirely what the voting demographic is like in Greenville. There are a large number of conservative-minded immigrants who have moved here from all over the country on account of our growing economy.
I like Paul. Hell I'd have voted for Paul if I thought he could win, even accounting for his foreign policy, parts of which I substantially disagree with. I hope whoever wins sticks him somewhere in the Cabinet where he can do the most damage to the bureacracy. I truly think that if the rest of the country knew just how completely *boned* we are financially he would be a shoo-in. Slash and burn fiscal policy is the ONLY way out of the horrible, horrible mess we are in.
I went with Gingrich. I do like him. I don't especially trust him. He is the insider's insider. I'd have been happier with Cain, inexperienced though he was. But Gingrich has flair. He has polish. He has ideas even if he has not had private sector experience (something I respect about Romney, even if he has his finger in the wind more often than not).
But most importantly Newt has killer instinct. Newt has an uncanny way of deciphering the crux of the issue, breaking it down, and going for the throat--that last part is something I have never seen Romney do as well. (And, by the way, this is something I liked about Newt even when his campaign was falling apart last year. Remember that?)
We need a fighter to go after Obama. Not a moderate. I know Gingrich is polling really poorly among women on account of his at-times regrettable personal life, and generally against Obama. I expect that second item is partly because his message has not reached far outside the Republican party as of yet. That is a risk, and an opportunity, worth taking in my opinion. Anyways I have pontificated long enough.
The numbers for my county.
President
1 Seat to Fill
Michele Bachmann . . . . . . . . 49 .06
Herman Cain. . . . . . . . . . 789 1.03
Newt Gingrich . . . . . . . . . 30,520 39.68
Jon Huntsman . . . . . . . . . 135 .18
Gary Johnson . . . . . . . . . 36 .05
Ron Paul. . . . . . . . . . . 12,062 15.68
Rick Perry . . . . . . . . . . 245 .32
Mitt Romney. . . . . . . . . . 19,570 25.44
Rick Santorum . . . . . . . . . 13,509 17.56