Among potential South Carolina Republican primary voters, 58% expressed their support for Trump, while 32% indicated the same for Haley.
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley continues to lag significantly behind former President Donald Trump in her home state of South Carolina, in anticipation of the state’s GOP presidential primary later this month, as per a recent survey.
Trump, victorious in the Palmetto State during both the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, maintains a substantial 22-point advantage over Haley. The findings are based on a poll conducted by Monmouth University in collaboration with The Washington Post and were released on Thursday.
Among the surveyed potential Republican primary voters, 58% expressed their current support for Trump, while 32% indicated the same for Haley.
Since the presidential contest narrowed down to a two-person race, both Trump and Haley have experienced an increase in support. A previous Monmouth University poll in September had shown Trump with 46% support and Haley with 18% support among South Carolina Republicans.
The survey disclosed that across all age groups, Trump holds the majority of support over Haley, encompassing both men and women.
Survey respondents also expressed the belief that Trump has a higher likelihood of defeating President Biden in November. Forty-two percent stated they believe Trump could certainly beat Biden in the general election, while 29% indicated he probably could. In contrast, only 21% of South Carolina Republicans asserted that Haley could definitely defeat Biden, with an additional 42% stating she probably could.
Republicans in the state do not appear to be troubled by Trump’s legal challenges, as 60% expressed the belief that the Republican Party should maintain Trump on the ticket if he secures the nomination but faces conviction for a crime related to the 2020 election. Additionally, 62% indicated they would still vote for Trump in the general election under such circumstances, while only 17% said they would choose Biden.
“Concerns about Trump’s electability do exist among some primary voters. However, this particular group is not sizable enough to bring Haley close to the front-runner,” stated Patrick Murray, the director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute.
The poll indicated that Trump, securing the top spot in both the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire Republican primary elections, enjoys stronger support from South Carolina voters on various issues, including the economy and foreign policy.
Furthermore, Trump holds a slight edge, with 35% compared to Haley’s 26%, in terms of being trusted to handle abortion policy. Thirty-three percent expressed trust in both candidates equally on this issue.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Betsy Ankey, Haley’s campaign manager, presented the case for the former governor’s candidacy to a network of influential Republican donors known as the American Opportunity Alliance.
Susie Wiles, a key adviser from the Trump campaign, was also present at the event to attract donors. Trump, who has had a tumultuous relationship with certain members of the GOP donor class over the years, is actively working this election cycle to repair relationships and appeal to high-profile contributors.
“I believe they are conducting a much more sophisticated campaign this year than in the past,” remarked a significant GOP bundler, who preferred to stay anonymous, in recent comments to Fox News. “As part of that strategy, they are aiming to unite Republican support, both in terms of politics and finances.”
The South Carolina Republican presidential primary is scheduled to be held on February 24, 2024.