GREENVILLE, S.C. — Donald Trump’s potty mouth could be a problem here.

The real estate mogul has risen to political prominence with a blunt speaking style that's set him apart from the field — to put it mildly — and that many of his fans find deeply refreshing. But there are signs Trump’s foul mouth isn’t sitting as well in this conservative, deeply religious state, which, according to one (albeit unscientific) study a few years back, has been ranked the nation's most polite.


“I think it bothers people, I really do. It bothers me. I think maybe not so much your younger voters but your middle-age and older ones,” said Angela Elrod, an independent from nearby Piedmont.

Her advice to Trump? “Tone it down.”

During a rally in Clemson this week, Trump uttered “what the hell” no fewer than three times — in fact, it was one of the first things he said when he walked into a dirt-floor “livestock” rodeo arena: “What the hell kind of building is this?”

That was downright civilized after the X-rated zinger Trump uncorked against chief rival Ted Cruz in New Hampshire earlier this week: repeating an audience member’s putdown of the Texas senator as a “pussy” for opposing torture.

Trump said at a rally in Louisiana on Thursday night that he’s swearing off swear words. “I won't use foul language, I’m just not going to do it,”' he said.

But it might be too late to create a new impression in South Carolina, where 65 percent of the voters self-identify as evangelical, and other Southern states. Voters are taking notice of Trump’s New York edge.

Republican Dave Withe, who’s undecided ahead of next Saturday’s primary, sounded like he wanted to let loose with some profanity himself when he was asked about Trump’s rhetoric. But Withe held back, he said, “because we’re in the South.”

“It’s totally inappropriate,” he said. “It offends a lot of people.”

Operatives on the ground here weren’t ready predict that Trump’s lewd language could be his undoing in the Palmetto State, after the countless predictions that he has already proved wrong. But no one’s suggested it’s helping him broaden his appeal, either.

And it’s safe to say Cruz sees opportunity in Trump’s obscenity. At one rally here this week, the Texan warned hundreds of people to “send your kids out of the room” when Trump comes on TV. A fundraising email to Cruz supporters called out Trump’s “vulgar profanities.” And even as Cruz dishes out attacks on the real estate baron — calling him a squish on gay marriage and abortion, and mocking his knowledge of the Bible — he has made sure to keep his own rhetoric G-rated.

“The voters are assessing who is prepared to be commander in chief. And I will say I’m not sure a lot of voters are excited about having a president, who when he gets rattled, when he gets upset, begins cursing and yelling vulgarities,” Cruz said during a media gaggle in Fort Mill. “Donald can choose to communicate however he likes. I’m not going to respond in kind.”

Marco Rubio also seized on Trump’s mouth this week, telling reporters he had to make something up when his kids kept asking him the other word for cat that Trump used. "I think you can be a straight talker, but yet do it in a way that doesn’t offend,” Rubio said.

And Jeb Bush said after a campaign rally in Columbia that he was giving up profanity for Lent “to set an example for other candidates in the race” — a clear dig at Trump. The former Florida governor, though, was reminded by a reporter that he had recently used the word “dammit.”

“There’s a judge somewhere that’s going to tell me whether or not that’s profanity,” Bush responded. “It certainly doesn’t match the profanity from the front-running candidate who openly says things I’m appalled by.”

Mainstream Republicans say Trump’s promise to cut the cuss words is well-advised.

“They’re clearly worried about showing a kinder and gentler Donald Trump,” said Chip Felkel, a longtime Republican strategist here. “He’s got to tone it down. I would be surprised — and I don’t know that he listens to anybody — if his advisers weren’t suggesting that to him.”

Yet, just like elsewhere, many voters here have flocked to Trump because he’s willing to say stuff others wouldn’t dare, even if it sets off bleeps on broadcast TV. Hillary Clinton, Trump infamously claimed, got “schlonged” in the 2008 election. He’s said to big applause that he will “kick the shit” out of the Islamic State. And in New Hampshire, Trump warned that companies that don’t like his tax plan can go “f--- themselves.”

Trump, of course, went on to crush the field in New Hampshire.

Some people who are wary of Trump said their concerns with him go beyond offending their Southern sensibilities.

“I’m looking for specifics from Trump,” said Nick Riccio of Pawleys Island. “Trump has got that strong appeal, but he’s got to be specific. He can’t just say we’re going make America great again.”

And Sharon Riccio, Nick’s wife, said she actually finds Cruz’s demeanor more off-putting.

“It’s very important that whoever we nominate is electable … he has a way of having an arrogant attitude,” Sharon said of the senator. “He may not be electable.”

The latest poll on Thursday indicated Trump is still the front-runner in South Carolina by a wide margin. So perhaps the key for Trump is simply not turning off any of his current supporters by keeping a lid on the language for a few more days.

“We would all agree that those comments don’t help him pick up new support. But I don’t think he has to pick up new support,” said Tony Denny, a former state GOP executive director who is supporting Jeb Bush. “If he’s at 35 percent, he’s clearly the favorite to win the primary.”

-- Austin Wright contributed to this report