Donald Trump is leading in South Carolina, with a wide lead over White House candidate Nikki Haley in the local state primary, according to an internal poll conducted by a super PAC supporting the former president.
A memo handed out Friday by polling firm Fabrizio Lee & Associates to some of the 77-year-old former president's donors and supporters said: “President Trump gives Nikki Haley a harsh rebuke of South Carolina. “I intend to do so,” it says. Get it at Axios.
The memo includes polling showing Trump leading Haley by 39 points in the Palmetto State, where she was born and raised and where she was governor for six years.
When asked to choose between Trump, Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, 64% of South Carolina Republican voters supported Trump. 25% supported Haley. Only 8% supported DeSantis, according to the poll.
“What's even worse for Haley is that her supporters appear to be far less committed than Trump supporters,” the pollster notes.
A majority of Trump supporters (58%) said they would “definitely” vote for the former president in the South Carolina primary, while just 18% of Haley supporters said the same.
Even with DeSantis removed, Trump still has a lead over Haley, with a head-to-head lead over the former governor 68% to 28%, according to the poll.
Trump further solidified his position with South Carolinians on Friday with the endorsement of his former rival in the 2024 race, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), dealing a blow to Haley. .
Mr. Trump already has half of South Carolina's Republican congressional delegation (Representatives Russell Frey, William Timmons, and Joe Wilson), as well as Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and South Carolina's Republican governor. He has also been endorsed by Henry McMaster.
South Carolina's Republican primary election will be held on February 24th.
