Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley is trailing former President Donald Trump by a significant margin in her home state of South Carolina ahead of the state's GOP presidential primary later this month, according to a new survey conducted by Monmouth University and The Washington Post.

The poll, released on Thursday, reveals that Trump maintains a commanding 26-point lead over Haley. Of the potential Republican primary voters who were surveyed, 58% expressed their support for Trump, while 32% stated the same for Haley. This disparity highlights the challenge Haley faces in gaining ground against the former president, who won South Carolina's first-in-the-South 2016 Republican primary and carried the state in both the 2016 and 2020 general elections.

The survey also indicates that Trump enjoys majority support from both men and women in all age groups, further solidifying his lead over Haley. Additionally, respondents believe Trump has a greater chance of defeating President Biden in the upcoming general election. Forty-two percent of participants said they firmly believe Trump could beat Biden, with another 29% stating he probably could. In contrast, only 21% of South Carolina Republicans expressed confidence in Haley's ability to defeat Biden, while 42% said she probably could.

Interestingly, Trump's legal troubles do not appear to concern Republican voters in the state. The poll reveals that 60% believe the Republican Party should maintain Trump on the ticket even if he is convicted of a crime related to the 2020 election. Similarly, 62% stated they would still vote for Trump in a general election, even under those circumstances. In comparison, a mere 17% said they would vote for Biden.

Haley has consistently emphasized the chaos surrounding Trump and his legal issues, positioning herself as a stronger general election candidate to challenge Biden. However, Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute, noted that concerns about Trump's electability among primary voters are not substantial enough to bridge the gap between him and Haley.

The survey also highlighted Trump's broader support on key issues in South Carolina. On matters such as the economy and foreign policy, Trump holds a significant advantage over Haley. He also slightly surpasses her, 35% to 26%, when it comes to being trusted to handle abortion policy. Thirty-three percent of respondents expressed equal trust in both candidates regarding this issue.

The recent poll, conducted from January 26 to 30, is the first public opinion survey on South Carolina's GOP primary in almost a month. Two private polls conducted over the past week have also indicated Trump's formidable double-digit lead. Haley, however, has asserted that winning her home state's primary is not essential, highlighting her focus on improving upon her 43% showing in the New Hampshire primary.

Haley's campaign has seen an increase in fundraising from both small-dollar and big donors following the New Hampshire primary. Betsy Ankey, Haley's campaign manager, made a case for her candidacy to Republican mega-donors known as the American Opportunity Alliance. Trump's campaign, which has been actively seeking support from top-dollar contributors, has been perceived as running a more sophisticated campaign this year.

The South Carolina Republican presidential primary election is scheduled to take place on February 24, and Haley faces an uphill battle to turn the tide in favor of her campaign against Trump's overwhelming lead.

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