Trump tops Haley by 29 points in South Carolina poll

Former President Trump holds a large lead over former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) in her home state, according to a new Emerson College poll released Friday.

The poll finds Trump ahead of Haley by 29 points in South Carolina, just eight weeks before the state's primary on Feb. 24.

The poll found Trump with 54 percent support to Haley’s 25 percent, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) placing a distant third with 7 percent.

The former president’s support is strongest among those who are most likely to vote in the primary, the poll found, with Trump holding a 23-point lead over Haley with those “most likely” to vote. That shrinks to just four points among those “somewhat likely” to vote next month.

Haley’s strength, meanwhile, is with independent voters. Among that group, she trails Trump by just four points. But among self-identified Republicans, Trump’s lead stands at a massive 41 points.

“The current state of the race in South Carolina finds Trump as the frontrunner with Haley as his main opponent. DeSantis has seen a decline in support, and similar to our New Hampshire poll has faded into the pack with single-digit support” said Spencer Kimball, Emerson College polling director. 

“A key question arising from this poll is whether Haley can mobilize ample support in her home state before the primary, in the case the race becomes more competitive after New Hampshire,” he added.

The Friday poll falls in line with other polling in the Palmetto State. Overall, Trump holds a 53-23 percent lead over Haley, according to The Hill/Decision Desk HQ average of state polls.

Haley has focused much of her campaign efforts on New Hampshire, with the hopes that a Granite State win could catapult her support in other states. There, her support has rapidly increased in recent weeks, rising to 30 percent support, according to The Hill/DDHQ average. But she still trails Trump in New Hampshire, who has about 42 percent support in The Hill/DDHQ average.