In the world of American politics, it seems that former President Donald Trump continues to dominate the Republican Party. Recent polling data from The Washington Post-Monmouth University reveals that South Carolina Republican voters overwhelmingly favor Trump over his rivals.[0] Trump received a staggering 46 percent of the vote, compared to former Governor Nikki Haley’s 18 percent and Senator Tim Scott’s 10 percent. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis came in fourth with just 9 percent support.[1]
This poll paints a clear picture of Trump’s enduring popularity among Republican voters. Despite being out of office for several years, he remains the frontrunner in the race for the GOP presidential nomination. In South Carolina, a key early primary state, Trump’s support is more than double that of his closest competitor, Nikki Haley.[2] This is a significant shift from national polls following last month’s GOP debate, where Haley received just 6 percent support. It seems that her performance on the debate stage has not translated into increased support among South Carolina Republicans.
Meanwhile, DeSantis, who was once considered a chief rival to Trump, has struggled to gain traction in the GOP primary. He has dropped 13 points since the last UNH survey in July and now stands at just 10 percent support.[3] This puts him on par with rising candidates like tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and Nikki Haley herself.[3] Senator Tim Scott trails behind with 6 percent support, while former Vice President Mike Pence holds just 2 percent.[3]
The fall in support for DeSantis is also evident in the crucial early primary state of New Hampshire.[4] A CNN survey showed that he has fallen behind two Indian-American candidates in the latest GOP polls.[5] DeSantis, who was once seen as a major threat to Trump’s dominance, now finds himself in fifth place in New Hampshire.[6] This is a significant blow to his campaign and raises questions about his ability to appeal to a wider range of Republican voters.
The Monmouth University-Washington Post Poll, conducted from September 6 to 11, 2023, sheds light on the preferences and opinions of South Carolina Republican voters. The poll surveyed a probability-based sample of 705 voters who have participated in past Republican primary elections or have newly registered since the 2020 election. The results are based on a subset of 506 voters who indicated a 50-50 chance or better of voting in the 2024 Republican presidential primary.[7]
Interestingly, the poll also reveals that a majority of Republican primary voters believe Trump is the strongest candidate to beat President Joe Biden in the general election. 54 percent of those surveyed view Trump as the most likely to defeat Biden, while 42 percent think another candidate would be stronger. This suggests that electability is an important factor for Republican voters, with many seeing Trump as the party’s best chance to reclaim the White House in 2024.[7]
The poll also highlights the top concerns of Republican primary voters.[6] Economic issues are the most important for 49 percent of voters, followed by immigration issues at 15 percent and foreign policy/defense issues at 12 percent.[8] This suggests that voters are primarily focused on issues that directly impact their wallets and the overall state of the economy.
Looking back at the 2020 election, the poll reveals that a significant portion of Republican primary voters still believe that Biden only won due to voter fraud.[7] 87 percent of Trump supporters hold this view, compared to just 31 percent of supporters of other candidates.[4] This highlights the continued influence of false claims about voter fraud within the Republican Party.
In conclusion, the recent polling data from The Washington Post-Monmouth University provides valuable insights into the preferences and opinions of South Carolina Republican voters. It confirms Trump’s continued dominance within the party, with overwhelming support in the state. It also highlights the struggles of other candidates, such as Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis, to gain traction in the GOP primary. As the 2024 presidential election approaches, these poll results will undoubtedly shape the strategies and campaigns of the Republican candidates vying for the nomination.[9]
0. “9/14 NEWSBREAK: Trump ahead in S.C. in new poll; to campaign in Summerville” Charleston City Paper, 14 Sep. 2023, https://charlestoncitypaper.com/2023/09/14/9-14-newsbreak-trump-ahead-in-s-c-in-new-poll-to-campaign-in-summerville/
1. “Nikki Haley Surges In South Carolina” FITSNews, 16 Sep. 2023, https://www.fitsnews.com/2023/09/16/nikki-haley-surges-in-south-carolina
2. “Trump leads in new SC poll, but this contender has a solid hold on second place” The State, 14 Sep. 2023, https://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/article279323999.html
3. “CNN Poll: Trump leads in New Hampshire while Ramaswamy, Haley, Christie and DeSantis battle for second” CNN, 20 Sep. 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/20/politics/cnn-poll-new-hampshire/index.html
4. “Haley trails Trump by 28 points in her home state” The American Bazaar, 14 Sep. 2023, https://www.americanbazaaronline.com/2023/09/14/haley-trails-trump-by-28-points-in-her-home-state-454967/
5. “Poll shows Haley ahead of DeSantis but far behind Trump in her home state” Social News XYZ, 16 Sep. 2023, https://www.socialnews.xyz/2023/09/15/poll-shows-haley-ahead-of-desantis-but-far-behind-trump-in-her-home-state
6. “Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis falls to 5th place in first-in-nation primary poll by UNH” WMUR Manchester, 21 Sep. 2023, https://www.wmur.com/article/desantis-falls-5th-place-primary-poll-unh-92023/45233813
7. “Trump has large lead over Haley, other Republicans in South Carolina, poll finds” The Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/2023/09/14/poll-south-carolina-trump-haley/
8. “September 2023 National Poll: A Trump Bump In GOP Primary” Emerson Polling, 20 Sep. 2023, https://emersoncollegepolling.com/september-2023-national-poll-a-trump-bump-in-gop-primary
9. “Joe Biden, Donald Trump lead respective presidential primary polling averages and PredictIt markets – Ballotpedia News” Ballotpedia News, 13 Sep. 2023, https://news.ballotpedia.org/2023/09/13/joe-biden-donald-trump-lead-respective-presidential-primary-polling-averages-and-predictit-markets/
