Poll: Lindsey Graham SC's 'least popular politician'

Sen. Lindsey Graham is "South Carolina's least popular politician," according to a poll released by Public Policy Polling on Thursday.

The title was bestowed upon Graham in a PPP press release discussing the agency's recent poll, which was commissioned by the S.C. Democratic Party. It assessed the favorability of Graham, Sen. Tim Scott, Gov. Nikki Haley and other statewide politicians, as well as the presidential candidates. Graham received a 30 percent approval rating, with 54 percent of poll respondents disapproving of his performance.

Republicans approve of Graham at a rate of 35 percent, Democrats at a rate of 26 percent and independents at a rate of 29 percent, the poll says.

Graham is seen as too moderate by some conservative voters and was challenged by six candidates in the 2014 Republican primary, which he won with 56 percent of the vote. His opposition to a border wall and past support of cap-and-trade legislation are among the positions that have differentiated him from his party's base, said Bob Oldendick, a political science professor at the University of South Carolina.

Read more: http://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2016/08/11/poll-lindsey-graham-scs-least-popular-politician/88570574/