Obama's popularity increasing in South Carolina?

President Barack Obama may be struggling to keep support nationwide, but in the predominantly Republican state of South Carolina, he's not doing too badly.

Nearly 48 percent of adults who lived in the Palmetto State approve of Obama's performance as president, a Winthrop University poll found.

That result was a small improvement over the 45 percent of South Carolinians who voted for Obama in November 2008, when Republican U.S. Sen. John McCain carried the state with 54 percent of the tally.

As president, Obama has higher name recognition than Graham or DeMint, which partly contributes to his better showing, Huffmon said.

Nationwide, 51 percent of Americans support of Obama's performance as president and 43 percent disapprove, the Gallup daily tracking poll showed Wednesday.

First lady Michele Obama is much more popular than her husband in South Carolina, where she has family trees.