Former President Donald Trump has received more support from South Carolina Republican voters than former Gov. Nikki Haley and Sen. Tim Scott in their home state, according to a Winthrop University poll released Wednesday.
Trump was the clear favourite of 41% of those polled. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has not to declare his candidature but is largely expected to do so, came in second with 20%, while Haley came in third with 18%.
Scott would receive a presidential nomination from 7% of those polled. The South Carolina senator has not declared his candidature for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, but he did officially begin his presidential exploratory committee on Wednesday.
The poll comes as Trump becomes the first former president to face criminal charges for his alleged role in the payment of hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels. Nonetheless, according to pre-indictment poll results, Republicans believe Trump is being unfairly targeted.
Five percent of respondents back former Vice President Mike Pence, two percent back former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and one percent back New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu for the Republican presidential candidature in 2024.
Winthrop University polled 1,657 persons in South Carolina, including 485 registered Republicans. The poll’s margin of error was plus or minus 2.41 percentage points among Democratic voters and plus or minus 4.45 percentage points among Republican voters.