A recent poll conducted in South Carolina revealed that nearly two-thirds of likely Republican primary voters in the state prefer former President Donald Trump as the presidential nominee over former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, despite Haley’s ties to the state.
Poll Results
The survey, conducted between February 15-18 by Suffolk University in partnership with USA Today, found that 63% of respondents support Trump’s bid for reelection, while only 35% expressed support for Haley, a Clemson University graduate and former governor of South Carolina.
National Trends
These poll results reflect the broader state of the race for the Republican Party’s nomination, where Trump holds a significant advantage. National polling averages from FiveThirtyEight show Trump with a lead of around 61 percentage points over Haley.
Recent Events
South Carolina’s primary is scheduled for Saturday, coming shortly after Haley’s loss in the Nevada Republican primary to “None of These Candidates.” Trump secured all of Nevada’s delegates via the GOP caucus. Prior to Nevada, Haley trailed Trump by 11 percentage points in New Hampshire and lagged behind significantly in Iowa.
Haley’s Campaign
Despite recent setbacks, Haley remains committed to her campaign. She is set to deliver a “state of the race” speech at her alma mater four days before the South Carolina primary. Haley has indicated her intention to continue campaigning at least through Super Tuesday.
Key Issues
The poll also highlighted immigration and security as the most pressing issue for respondents, with over 42% selecting it as the most important issue facing the country. This comes as a bipartisan Senate group unveiled a bill addressing foreign aid and immigration reform, which was rejected by congressional Republicans under Trump’s influence.
Clara Cardoso
