Yet another South Carolina poll shows Donald Trump doubling Ron DeSantis’ GOP support, even as the Governor readies to appear in the Palmetto State.
In a survey just released by National Public Affairs, Trump took 43% support, with DeSantis’ 21% good for a distant second. Close behind is former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who commands 19% support. In fourth place, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina takes 7%.
The polling memo notes that DeSantis’ support is soft and may have a ceiling: “Trump’s support is notably more intense — 40% say they almost certainly would consider voting for him. In contrast, only 20% say they would almost certainly consider voting for DeSantis.”
The newest poll sampled 538 likely 2024 GOP Primary voters in South Carolina from April 11-14. The margin of error is +/- 4.2%.
This is the second recent survey showing Trump with more than twice the support DeSantis has. A survey from Winthrop University shows Trump is the choice of 41% of poll respondents, doubling up both DeSantis (20%) and Haley (18%).
Haley is gaining at DeSantis’ expense in recent polls compared to those before she got in the race.
A February survey from Neighborhood Research and Media shows Trump with 35%, with DeSantis and Haley farther back with 22% and 16%, respectively.
A January Moore Information Group/Conservative Policy Research Network poll of 450 likely GOP Primary voters shows Trump with 41%, DeSantis with 31%, and Haley with 12% support.
A previous poll from the South Carolina Policy Council, conducted by Spry Strategies, shows DeSantis with 52%. But that increasingly looks like an outlier, given Haley’s determined campaign and the former President’s recent polling surge.
Haley’s campaign seems to see DeSantis as vulnerable.
A memo from her campaign contends that the Florida Governor has proven he’s “not ready for prime time,” with her Campaign Manager saying DeSantis “launched his presidential campaign with a national book tour during this period and made one misstep after another.”
The memo cites as specific example DeSantis’ framing of “Russia’s brutal, unprovoked, and illegal invasion of Ukraine (as) a mere ‘territorial dispute.’”
Haley has said that the “weak in the knees” Florida Governor is floundering in the face of the existential threat posed by Vladimir Putin.
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