York County Republican voters: Trump, Cruz, Rubio strong

Feb. 21--FORT MILL -- Donald Trump seemed to be a clear favorite Saturday morning in heavily conservative northern York County as voters started the day-long Republican primary to select a presidential nominee.

Yet Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio had several supporters, and even the candidates trailing in the polls had people on their side.

Polls closed at 7 p.m. after a day of smooth voting in York County and statewide. Turnout was heavy turnout in some parts of the state.

Party leaders predicted turnout would be bigger than the just more than 600,000 voters who cast ballots in the 2012 GOP primary.

The race was too close to call when the polls closed, but a survey conducted for AP and the television networks by Edison Research showed about four in 10 S.C. Republican primary voters said an important quality in a candidate is that they "shares my values."

A poll conducted by voters in Saturday's primary showed that being an instrument of change and electability in November are also important qualities. The survey was based on voters leaving 35 randomly selected precincts throughout South Carolina.

The voters surveyed were split on whether the next president should be an outsider or a member of the political establishment. Nearly half said they prefer someone who has experience in politics and about the same numbers would rather see someone from outside the political establishment.

Four in 10 voters see the campaign of Donald Trump as most unfair, and a third said that of Texas Sen. Cruz's campaign. Less than 10 percent selected Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio or John Kasich.

For South Carolina Republican primary voters, terrorism is the top issue that mattered -- selected by about a third.

The economy and government spending were each picked by nearly three in 10. Even so, three-quarters of the voters said they were very worried about the direction of the nation's economy, and more than 4 in 10 said billionaire Donald Trump would be best at handling the economy.

However, Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz are both seen as candidates who would best handle an international crisis by about a quarter of voters.

Only about 10 percent selected immigration as the most important issue. Asked specifically what should be done with illegal immigrants working in the United States, the voters were evenly divided. Republican voters were far less divided on the issue of allowing Muslims into the country. About three-quarters support a temporary ban on Muslims who are not American citizens from entering the United States.

Outside the Stateline precinct, near the North Carolina border, Fort Mill Precinct Number 5 at Flint Hill Fire Department and the Baxter precinct at Philadelphia United Methodist Church, voters told The Herald the country needed change -- but the voters had different ideas of who should lead the charge. However, Trump was mentioned as the candidate who was voted for by several people. With the exception of one 18-year-old voting in his first election, voters all said they had voted many times over the years.

York County officially had 2,200 absentee ballots cast before polls opened Saturday, almost double the number of absentees in the 2012 Republican primary, when former House speaker Newt Gingrich scored an early upset over eventual nominee Mitt Romney.

County elections director Wanda Hemphill said precincts had reported few technical problems by midday. Minor problems with the state's electronic voting machines were quickly corrected, Hemphill said, and wait times have mostly been short.

Here's what voters had to say about each candidate:

Trump

Longtime voters had different reasons for voting for Trump who leads in all polls. All agreed that the present direction in the country is failing.

Karen Correll, 57, an office manager and longtime voter, the first voter at Stateline who was there 10 minutes before the polls opened at 7 a.m., said Trump "will put our country back on track -- back to its foundation."

Don Fereday, 65, in the insurance business who said he votes in primaries and elections every election, said Trump is the only solution.

"We need a change in this country," Fereday said. "The Republicans in office are not doing the job. We need someone not in the establishment."

Bob Griffin, 51, a Trump voter, said plainly: "It is time for a change, it is time to make America great."

Griffin said he is "tired of the indecisiveness" of current politicians and that only Trump can alter the course.

Sherry Wood, 67, a hair stylist, said Trump has, "honesty and is straightforward."

Trump "tells what needs to be done, what other people think but don't do it," Wood said.

Patricia Munson, 43, a travel agent, called Trump "very strong" who shares her values.

"I am sure he can take the country to the next level, a great level, and fix things."

Gloria Nicoll, 71, said Trump is the anti-politiican who is not like the rest of the candidates.

"He's going to get in there and change things around," Nicoll said. "No more politicians."

Frank Soccorsi, 59, retired, said the country is in "desperate shape" and needs "dramatic change," and that only Trump can deliver.

"He's an outsider and he will shake things up," Soccorsi said.

His wife, Diana even used Trump's slogan: "He's going to make America great again."

Sharon Petersheim, 51, in real estate, is so much behind Trump that she didn't just vote for him, she was going to volunteer and call others asking that they do, too.

"He is not a politician," Petersheim said of Trump. "He speaks the words of the American people...He will turn this country around."

Cruz

Many religious voters said Saturday after voting that Cruz, running second in most polls, was their choice and shares deep conservative values.

John Neill, 18, a senior at Nation Ford High School and first-time voter, said that he voted for Ted Cruz. "He has strong family values," Neill said.

John Bobo, 64, in insurance, and his wife, Joan, both voted for Cruz.

"He aligns closely with me," John Bobo said.

"That's my seed I place into the government and I think that's God's man," Joan Bobo said.

Kelley Hughey, 46, an administrator, said Cruz has the right stance against illegal immigration and also mentioned the one name that most Republican love to bash.

"He has the best chance if Democratic Hillary (Clinton) gets in there," Hughey said.

Married couple Shawn Davis and Betsy Davis also both voted for Cruz, talking of his intelligence and education.

"I'm an evangelical and I like his Christian representation..." said Shawn Davis, 47, and engineer. "He represents the direction this country needs to head. I want to focus on security. I like the fact that he is a Constitutional conservative."

Rubio

Mary Ann Hord, 48, in real estate, said she likes what Marco Rubio stands for. She said she took an extensive online poll and found that she and Rubio agree on many issues.

Joe Rayano, 48, who works in transportation, said that he voted for Rubio for many reasons, including the endorsement of South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, whom Rayano believes has done an outstanding job. Rayano said that Trump was not a serious choice without substance. Trump is "all smoke and mirrors," Rayano said.

"If he is good enough for the governor he is good enough for me," Rayano said. "Of all the Republican candidates, he's the best one I have seen."

Toby Crisley, 40, employed in packaging sales,said that Haley's endorsement was important, but more, said Rubio is "a real conservative" who can help South Carolina. Rubio is "a fresh change" who can best help the entire country move forward, Crisley said.

Carson

Linda Wentz, a teacher at a Christina school, said Ben Carson who is running has the heart and more, that she cast her vote after prayer.

"I prayed about it," Wentz said.

Wendy Crisley, 40, a business person whose husband chose Rubio, opted for Carson.

"I know that that man (Carson) stands for the same values that I do and I do believe that he respects our Constitution," Wendy Crisley said. "That's the man that he is. I don't know that our country is smart enough to vote for him yet, but I did vote my conscience."

Bush

John Neill, whose son -- also named John -- voted for Cruz, opted for Jeb Bush. An engineer originally from Florida, Neill said that he saw Bush turn Florida education around. The older Neill said he believes Bush has the right temperament and values for the job. "I trust his heart."

Kasich

Laura McCoy, 47, who works in entertainment, said that John Kasich's experience made him the best choice. "He's a good leader," McCoy said.

Andrew Dys: 803-329-4065

The Associated Press contributed to this story

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