Former President Donald Trump boasts a massive lead over former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in the Republican primary race, a Morning Consult survey released Monday found.
Trump continues to expand his lead and now has support from 80 percent of likely Republican primary voters, according to Morning Consult. Haley slipped 62 points behind with 18 percent support.
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Further, the survey found that Haley’s argument — that Trump, 77, is too old to be president — does not resonate with Republican voters.
Republican presidential candidate and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley delivers remarks at her primary-night rally at the Grappone Conference Center on January 23, 2024, in Concord, New Hampshire. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Morning Consult reported:
Haley’s age argument has a small audience: Roughly 1 in 4 Republican voters nationwide believe Trump is too old as he pursues the White House again, while roughly 4 in 5 each say he’s mentally fit or in good health. These figures from our weekly tracking survey show there’s little appetite among the party’s electorate for age-based attacks on Trump despite his repeated verbal flubs on the campaign trail.
Trump also has a much higher favorable rating than Haley as 79 percent view him favorably compared to 47 percent who view Haley in a favorable light. More than one-third, 36 percent, view Haley unfavorably, compared to 20 percent who said the same of Trump.
Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump points to supporters at the conclusion of a campaign rally on January 16, 2024, in Atkinson, New Hampshire. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
The survey was taken February 9-11, among 3,827 potential Republican primary voters and has a +/- 2 percent margin of error.
The Morning Consult survey coincides with state-level polls that tell a similar story of likely losses for Haley in upcoming primaries. The latest CBS News survey, for instance, showed Trump leading the former governor by 35 points in her home state of South Carolina:
📊 2024 South Carolina GOP Primary
— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) February 12, 2024
• Donald Trump — 65% (+35)
• Nikki Haley — 30%
CBS News | 1,004 LV | 2/5-10 | ±4.4%https://t.co/Bntig2cPi3 pic.twitter.com/eFE2fXCZKL
A recent Morning Consult poll analyzing Super Tuesday states also showed an uphill battle for Haley, as she appeared to be trailing by double digits in each of them.
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However, Haley remains confident and plans to stay in the race, even if the February 23 primary in her home state does not go her way.