Blue Palmetto: SC Democrats Want Excited, Confident Obama

President Barack Obama needs to show "excitement" and "confidence" at this week's Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, according to a new Blue Palmetto survey from Patch.

Of the 58 members of the Blue Palmetto survey, 28 South Carolina Democrats responded to a survey Monday and Tuesday about the convention. Questions included how theywill be following the convention, whom they are looking forward to hearing, what platform points should be emphasized and what they would like from Obama.

Nearly 90 percent of those surveyed said they did not see the convention as "make or break" for Obama.

When asked for "one word or phrase to describe what you'd like to see" from Obama, a number of respondents mentioned "excitement" and "confidence." Several also mentioned "progress" or "moving forward." One person said they wanted the President to "Fight Back!"

When asked what speaker they thought would become a household name following the convention, the most-common answers were Newark (N.J.) Mayor Cory Booker and San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro. Both take the stage on Tuesday, the opening night. 

Other Tuesday night speakers mentioned included U.S. Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez of New York and Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley.

When asked what "issue do you wish would receive more attention on your party's platform," survey respondents were split. The most-common answers were education, jobs and the economy. Several people said they had no problems with the current platform. Other responses included healthcare and the environment.

The one thing nearly every person who took the survey agreed upon was the speaker they were most-looking forward to: President Obama. While Elizabeth Warren, Michelle Obama and former President Bill Clinton were mentioned, Obama's Thursday night keynote is clearly the most anticipated event of the week.

ABOUT THE BLUE PALMETTO SURVEY: The Blue Palmetto Surveys are not a scientific random sample of any larger population but rather an effort to listen to a swath of influential local Democratic activists, party leaders and elected officials in South Carolina.

All of these individuals have agreed to participate in the surveys, although not all responded to this week's questions. Surveys were conducted between Sept. 3 and Sept. 4, 2012.

Patch will be conducting Red Palmetto and Blue Palmetto surveys throughout 2012 in hopes of determining the true sentiment of conservatives and liberals on the ground in South Carolina.

If you are an activist, party leader or elected official and would like to take part in a weekly survey that can be completed in just a few minutes, please email Regional Editor Chris Winston at chris.winston@patch.com.

Blue Palmetto Roster: Tyler Jones (Democratic consultant), Carole Benson (Charleston County Democratic officer), Richard Hricik (Charleston County Democratic Party Chair), Rose Grant-Davis (Charleston Democratic Party officer), Catherine Walsh (Charleston County Democratic Precinct officer), John Brisini (Charleston County Democratic Precinct officer), Jimmy Tobias (candidate, U.S. House of Representatives, SC District 4), Eric Graben (chair, Greenville County Democratic Party), Dexter Reaves (candidate, Greenville County Sheriff), Lachlan McIntosh (campaign consultant), Melissa Watson (Berkley County party chair), Barbara McGowin (former S.C. Senate candidate), Walid Hakim (SC House 88 candidate), Will Urquhart (campaign manager for Walid Hakim), Joe McEachern (House member, D-77), Chris Sullivan (former candidate, D-77 House), Gwen Kennedy (Richland County Council), Torrey Rush (Richland County Council, candidate D-7), John Painter (former Pickens County Democratic Party Chairman ), Denise Painter (Democrat), Michael Whack (Democratic consultant), Charlie Hale (Democratic consultant), Kitt Grach (Democratic party member), Andrea de Santis (Democratic party member), George Hopkins (Democratic party member), John Polk (Democratic party member), Mimi Dias (Democratic party member), J.A. Moore (Democratic party officer), Rob Groce (marketing consultant), Masihur Rahman (Dorchester County Democratic Party assistant treasurer), John Kauth (Dorchester County party member), Bobbie Rose (Democratic candidate for 1st Congressional District), Dianne Urig (Dorchester County party member), George Tempel (former chair for the Charleston Democratic Party), Joan Mazulewicz (Dorchester County party member), Marilyn Schultz (Dorchester County party member), Richard Hayes (Dorchester County Democratic Party chair), Miriam Birdsong (county council candidate), Jane Pulling (Dorchester County party member), Joel Jones (Dorchester County party member), Audrey Clark-Pounder (Dorchester County party member), Andrew Preston (Dorchester County party member), Clayton Seufer (Dorchester County party member), Debbie Lodge (Dorchester County Democrat), Mathew Profit (Dorchester County Democrat), Sarah Watson (executive director, The Auntie Karen Foundation), Antjuan Seawright (president/CEO of Sunrise Communications), Boyd Brown (Former SC House Representative), Doug Dent (Democratic consultant), Jeff Dishner (State Senate 8 Candidate), Sam Johnson (Third Vice Chair for Richland County Democrats), Joyce Dickerson (Richland County councilwoman), Paulette Ledbetter (Richland County Democrats member and executive committee person for St. Andrews Middle precinct), M.R.M. Parrott (Founder of Lexington Blues), Listervelt Middleton (Richland County Democrats, chair), and Bob Aubin (St Andrews 20 Precinct President and Democratic consultant).