GSA Daily Staff Report
Published June 18, 2010

According to a recent survey, uninformed voters led to Alvin Greene’s victory in the South Carolina Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.

A virtual unknown who spent very little money on his campaign, Greene is receiving national attention. Last night South Carolina Democrats upheld Greene’s primary victory despite a protest by opponent Vic Rawl. Greene will now face Republican and incumbent U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint in November.

In this week’s GSA Daily Watercooler Question of the Week, 75.9% of readers blame uninformed voters for Greene’s nomination. Another 11% held Republicans and independents voting in the Democratic primary responsible.

Only 6.9% agree with U.S. Rep. James Clyburn that hackers must be responsible. Another 3.4% blamed unreliable voting machines.

Of the 157 responses to this week’s survey, three people said Greene is the best person for the job. One person said Greene had a well-run, very cost effective campaign that led to his victory.

Here is a selection of comments from this week’s survey:

“I truly believe more people voted for him because his name came first on the ballot, and neither candidate was well known in the Greenville area.”

“General distrust of lawyers, legislators and incumbents.”

“People simply didn't know either candidate that well and voted for the first one, simple as that. Don't make it more complicated.”

“The best answer is ‘none of the above.’ I believe voters are so fed up with the current administration that anyone with its support and backing are destined to lose.”

“The local press did very little to cover the senatorial primary races, which were crowded out by notoriety about the governor's race, particularly the Republican candidates thanks to accusations against Nikki Haley. I think many voters just didn't know much or anything about Greene or Rawl and simply picked the first name on the list of Democratic senatorial candidates.”

“A vote for Alvin was a vote against the other candidate.”

“People of the country are tired of the established politicians not listening to them.”

“I think that the Republican Party realizes that people are tired of their do-nothing and say no mentality. So republicans tried to negatively influence the Democratic primary.”

GSA Daily Watercooler Question of the Week is published each Tuesday. Results appear on Friday.