Actually, it has the potential to hurt a conservative coming out of Iowa and New Hampshire. For some reason, he keeps getting elected in South Carolina.
He keeps getting elected because he has the Senate incumbent propaganda machine. He avoids town hall meetings in SC, and the "town hall" conference calls are carefully scripted and controlled as to who is permitted to ask questions. Also, there were no NAME RECOGNITION opposition candidates with appeal to the masses.
I don’t think he generates much support in S.C. as a Presidential candidate.