CQ Voting Studies are an annual analysis of a member's support or opposition to a given position. Interest Group Ratings are based on rankings from groups chosen to represent liberal, conservative, business and labor viewpoints.Voting Participation scores are based on the number of times a member voted "yea" or "nay" on roll call votes (not including quorum calls in the House). CQ Vote Studies Year Presidential Support Party Unity   S* O* S O 1998 18% 82% 95% 5% 1997 27 73 96 3 1996 35 65 95 4 1995 18 81 95 3 1994 53 46 87 11 1993 41 59 89 10 1992 76 24 82 17 1991 74 19 75 18 1990 62 36 75 24 S=Support; O=Oppose
Voting Participation Year % 1998 99 1997 99 1996 99 1995 98 1994 98 1993 98 1992 99 1991 91 1990 98	Interest Groups Year ADA AFL-CIO CCUS ACU 1998 5% n/a 78% 100 % 1997 0 0 90 88 1996 5 9 88 100 1995 0 0 96 92 1994 5 33 82 95 1993 5 17 82 96 1992 15 42 75 92 1991 10 25 80 95 1990 17 17 71 79
Note on Interest Groups: ADA=Americans for Democratic Action; AFL-CIO=American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations; CCUS=Chamber of Commerce of the United States; ACU=American Conservative Union

SOUTH CAROLINA 2 : Central and South - Columbia suburbs; Hilton Head

The oddly shaped 2nd winds from the state capital of Columbia down through the middle of the state to a sandy stretch along the coast. The two ends of the district encapsulate some of the state's wealthiest communities: the suburbs of Columbia (in Richland and Lexington counties) and Beaufort and Hilton Head Island on the state's southern tip.

In 1998, Columbia ranked among the fastest growing cities in the South, and its growth has spilled over into its southern suburbs. While state and local government are still the city's largest employers, its private sector is growing.

At the southern end of the 2nd, retirees and tourists are drawn to Hilton Head Island. Just up the shore from the swanky resorts, recruits sweat at the Parris Island Marine Corps camp.

The areas between Columbia and Hilton Head are considerably poorer. More than a fourth of Allendale, Hampton and Jasper counties residents live below the poverty line, relying on tenant farming and sharecropping. While this area votes heavily Democratic, overall, the wealth of white-collar professionals in the north and south pushes the 2nd firmly into the Republican column. Even in the less well-off suburbs, the blue-collar working class retains socially conservative roots.

Major Industry
Tourism, government, military, agriculture

Military Bases
Fort Jackson (Army), 4,340 military, 3,883 civilian (1998); Marine Corps Recruitment Depot Activity, 7,780 military, 450 civilian (1995); Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station, 3,462 military, 692 civilian (1998)

Population
580,636 (1990)

Cities
Columbia (pt.), 53,117; St. Andrews (unincorporated), 25,692 (1990); Hilton Head Island, 29,088 (1996)

People
43% urban; 10% age 65+ (ranks fifth of six in state; bottom third nationally); 59% married couples, 28% married couples with children; 24% college educated (ranks first of six in state; top third nationally); 62% white collar (ranks first of six in state; top third nationally), 24% blue collar (ranks sixth of six in state; middle third nationally) (1990)

Race
73% white, 25% black, 1% Asian; 1% Hispanic origin (1990)

Median Household Income
$30,693 (ranks first of six in state; middle third nationally) (1990)

Unusual Features
Renaissance Weekend on Hilton Head Island, an invitation-only New Year's retreat frequented by President Clinton.

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