On Politics

Tue Feb 20 2024

Sudiksha Kochi | Congress, Campaigns and Democracy Reporter

@KochiSudiksha

Hey OnPolitics readers! Former President Donald Trump is poised to trounce former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in her home state's primary on Saturday, an exclusive Suffolk University/USA TODAY poll found.

Though Haley has hoped for a strong showing in the Palmetto State, Trump leads Haley by close to 2-1, 63%-35% among those very likely to vote in the state's Republican primary , USA TODAY's Susan Page reported. Trump's lead is larger than his 19-point win in 2016 over Sen. Marco Rubio in his home state, Florida.

Here are some other takeaways from the poll:

👪Military families still back Trump: Trump sparked backlash earlier this month after he mocked Haley's husband, Michael Haley, a National Guardsman now on a yearlong deployment to Africa. Even so, Trump leads Haley among voters in military families 65%-33%. That's a bit wider than his standing among those who don't have a member of the military in their family.

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

🗳️South Carolina's Republicans like Trump more than Haley: Though both Trump and Haley have net favorable ratings among primary voters, the former president is more popular (64%-25%) than the former governor (47%-36%). Ninety percent of those with a positive view of him plan to cast their ballot for the former president. In comparison, 65% of those with a favorable opinion of Haley plan to vote for her.

🔴 Some SC voters are still supporting Haley: Haley does hold a wide lead among those who identify themselves as liberals or moderates (59%-38%) and a narrow one among those who are voting in the GOP primary for the first time (51%-49%). Her biggest advantage over Trump, 63%-37%, is among those who say the most important issue is the future of democracy.

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Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

Nikki Haley vows to keep fighting Donald Trump in 2024 presidential race

Republican presidential candidate and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley delivers a speech to press and supporters in Greenville, S.C., on Feb. 20, 2024. Haley said she would not be dropping out of the presidential race ahead of the South Carolina primary.

In a teary and defiant speech, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley vowed to stay in the GOP race. Polls show she faces long odds against rival Donald Trump.

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