Trump Commands Overwhelming Lead in South Carolina Primary Poll

In the forthcoming South Carolina Republican primary, former President Donald Trump maintains a substantial lead over contender Nikki Haley, surpassing her by a margin exceeding 2-to-1, according to internal polling released by the super PAC aligned with Trump.

The poll, conducted by Fabrizio, Lee, and Associates, reveals that despite Haley’s recent barrage of negative ads aimed at her opponent, Trump, 77, maintains a formidable advantage in the Palmetto State.

Born and raised in South Carolina and governor for six years, Haley, 52, faces an uphill battle as the survey indicates a 35-point lead for Trump, with 66% of respondents favoring the former president compared to 31% for Haley.

A memo accompanying the survey findings dismisses Haley’s attempts to salvage her campaign, stating, “Nikki Haley and her D.C. establishment allies are spending millions of dollars to try and salvage a failed campaign that is unable to articulate a path to victory in South Carolina – or any other state for that matter.”

The survey, conducted between Jan. 28-29 with 600 South Carolina voters, underscores Trump’s significant lead among his supporters. 59% of Trump supporters express a definitive intention to vote for him in the upcoming primary, while only 24% of Haley supporters convey the same level of commitment.

Even among those who acknowledge Haley’s positive track record as South Carolina governor, where 69% approve of her performance, Trump maintains a commanding lead, securing 56% compared to Haley’s 40%.

Negative attack ads targeting Trump in South Carolina appear to have done little to sway voter sentiment. Among the 59% of South Carolinians exposed to such ads, Trump maintains a lead of 64% to Haley’s 33%.

Additionally, former Rep. Liz Cheney’s endorsement of Haley has failed to garner support. The poll indicates that only 17% of respondents view Cheney favorably, while 58% hold an unfavorable opinion. Consequently, Trump’s support remains unshaken at 66%, whereas Haley experiences a drop to 29% when voters are made aware of Cheney’s backing.

With the South Carolina GOP primary scheduled for Feb. 24, the polling memo concludes, “Despite her positive job approval and millions in attack ads against President Trump, Republican Primary voters in South Carolina remain unswayed by Haley’s weak attempts to change their minds. South Carolina solidly remains Trump country.”

The margin of error was not available.