By FITSNews || Support for S.C. Rep. Nikki Haley has jumped by five percentage points within the last week according to internal polling conducted by the campaign of S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster, the current front-runner for the GOP gubernatorial nomination.
Meanwhile, support for McMaster, S.C. Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer and U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett has remained flat over the last two weeks, which would seem to indicate that undecided GOP primary voters are breaking Haley’s way.
No matter how you slice it, with less than a month to go the race is still wide open.
First, here are the McMaster campaign’s “tracking” numbers from a week ago (May 3-4):
McMaster – 28 percent
Bauer – 19 percent
Barrett – 19 percent
Haley – 10 percent
Undecided/ Refused – 24 percent
And here are the “tracking” numbers from earlier this week (May 10-11):
McMaster – 29 percent
Bauer – 19 percent
Barrett – 18 percent
Haley – 15 percent
Undecided/ Refused -19 percent
Notice that Haley has absorbed virtually all undecided voters from the previous week, while Barrett – who is at the height of his TV spending spree – is actually losing ground.
In fact, FITS has received details of internal polling conducted this week by the Barrett campaign – polling which reportedly shows Haley jumping ahead of Barrett into sole possession of third place. If that trend continues, she could challenge Bauer for a spot in a GOP gubernatorial runoff against McMaster.
Obviously, the first McMaster poll was conducted prior to a major ad buy (estimated at $400,000) on Haley’s behalf that commenced this week by the group Reform SC, which has ties to supporters of Gov. Mark Sanford.
Both polls also come prior to the news that former GOP vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin has decided to endorse Haley’s candidacy.
UPDATE: A source close to Barrett’s campaign disputes the contention that internal polling shows their candidate in fourth place. They say the latest internal Barrett polling (taken May 10-11) has McMaster at 29 percent, Barrett at 20 percent, Bauer at 17 percent and Haley at 15 percent.
By Billy May 14, 2010 at 2:52 pm
If those numbers are rising then, she is still going to lose. Sanfraud in a dress folks!!
By Just a good ole boy May 14, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Guess she must have decided to start showing up at events as promised. It’s not going to matter though, she has blown off way to many county chairs and there are certain smaller counties you can not win without…
By Skidmarks May 14, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Palin is always good for doofus moments. It depends on how egregiously dumbass Palin is as far as helping or hurting Nikki.
By @PerezHilton Says May 14, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Barrett is toast, Bauer is so Gay… Butt seriously how can you have that much money and produce such atrocious TV? Kudos to ReformSC…
By Jeffy01 May 14, 2010 at 3:09 pm
shes in last place….right?
By mike May 14, 2010 at 3:13 pm
A well we a movin on up. Movin on up. To the east side. In a dee lux apartment in the skyyyyiiiiiiy!
By Go Cocks! May 14, 2010 at 3:43 pm
I’m going to jump tracks and vote for Haley. Why the hell not? It will be a lot more entertaining to see her and the statehouse RINOs at each other’s throats than having any of the other elephants in the governor’s office. On the legislative margin, I am not sure it will make all that much difference anyways.
By CNSYD May 14, 2010 at 4:10 pm
Nothing but spin. Still losing but not losing as much. Sort of like Gamecock football’s record in the SEC.
By Charlie Speight May 14, 2010 at 4:35 pm
5 points in one week is huge. Barrett and Bauer will now be on the defensive and McMaster will go “the high road,” playing the front runner. Haley’s name recognition will skyrocket. The timing is perfect for Haley. And who wouldn’t want to see a one-on-one debate between Henry and Nikki? Foghorn Leghorn against Chloe O’Brian.
By Fairfied Fella May 14, 2010 at 4:37 pm
speaking of wasting taxpayers dollars, let’s use the state house to have a campaign annoumcement. Extra security and barricades etc. I’m sure the Haley campaign is paying for this…….NOT
By HMMM May 14, 2010 at 4:50 pm
Go Nikki! Sheheen or Rex in November!
By Jdaddy May 14, 2010 at 5:06 pm
All until her affair is exposed!!
By Ynotfirst May 14, 2010 at 5:25 pm
Haley’s tv commercial is horrendous
By Gen. Longstreet May 14, 2010 at 5:43 pm
I’m betting on the filly.
By CNSYD May 14, 2010 at 5:50 pm
Per The G’ville News, a grand total of 20 people attended the joint appearance of Haley and Ms. Sanford in Charleston where Ms. Sanford announced her endorsement. WOW! Haley is really “rising”.
By State House Insider May 14, 2010 at 5:53 pm
The Legislative Leadership wants Barrett. He is one of them and they can work together. He will be the one in the runoff and eventual winner. The Legislature always wins!
By Pam May 14, 2010 at 6:16 pm
Go Nicky Go..You have the big mo…go Nicky go.
Now is when you want to be moving up…June 8th is the time to peak…not May 8th.
By Max The Dog May 14, 2010 at 7:05 pm
All until her affair is exposed!!* Jdaddy
Good Grief Man! Are you saying she had a affair with McMaster and Sanford at the same time while a foreigh affairs student at Clemson?
By Skidmarks May 14, 2010 at 7:46 pm
Palin didn’t hurt, didn’t help. Palin obviously had no idea who in the hell Haley is.
By CNSYD May 14, 2010 at 10:04 pm
Per the P&C the turnout was so poor in Charleston, Haley and Ms. Sanfraud were moved from a room to the lobby. Next stop, a broom closet or perhaps a restroom stall.
By Jackie Black May 14, 2010 at 10:17 pm
Sorry about the mispelled word in my post…it should have been deeper, not dipper.
By WorkingTommyC May 14, 2010 at 11:22 pm
How can Barrett’s poll numbers be so low? Hasn’t he mentioned Jesus more than all the other candidates combined???
NOT that there’s anything wrong with mentioning Jesus, mind you. It’s just that Barrett makes pandering comments as if he’s making three-point goals in basketball with each reference. Unfortunately for him, the scores are not adding up the way he thinks they should.
By Sam Kinason May 15, 2010 at 9:30 am
SCGOP Gubernatorial Polling: Haley Rising, yes just like shit in the toilet bowl she is rising all right all right.
By Bane Windlow May 15, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Scott Brown was trailing by 30 points a month before he was elected a United States Senator.
By Legal Eagle May 15, 2010 at 4:37 pm
Bane,
Scott Brown also was running against someone the D party really wasn’t thrilled about and she was a lazy campaigner. Scott Brown’s name has died down since election, I guess because the Tea Party folks realized that he was just a MA independent, and not a lock in step idealogue.
By JT in G-Vegas May 15, 2010 at 6:02 pm
Wow, I am pretty jaded on politics and politicians in general…and it will take a long time to straighten things out…but I hope that if we get some real conservatives and not RINO’s elected maybe we can see some progress. I am going with Haley… Frankly just sick of the Good Old Boys and the get nothing done sessions in Columbia…or I should say that nothing gets done that furthers the cause of our liberties and freedoms…and RESTRAINING government.
By Michael Bay May 15, 2010 at 7:14 pm
A vote for Haley is a vote for more Sanfraud, Vincent Sheheen is South Carolina’s only hope of moving our state forward.
http://www.vincentsheheen.com/
By Alex May 15, 2010 at 7:42 pm
Nikki Haley is a walking hypocrisy. She talks about how she loathes Washington, but she voted TWICE to take Obama stimulus $$$ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOSyd1vt0C8
Hypocritical Haley can’t have it both ways
By mike May 15, 2010 at 7:46 pm
Haley getting Drudge love today. FU RINOS your done. Dont let the door hit you on the ass. Go back to the Democrat party and take Harrell, McConnell and old balls Leatherman with you.
The Barbarians are at the gates and we are taking this state away from the good ole boys. Hurry and get your fat state contracts now.
It’s over Johnny. OVER!!
By Step to the Right May 15, 2010 at 9:52 pm
Michael Bay – Is ‘Mr. Move SC Ahead Sheheen’ going to use those tried and true Obama Socialist Democrat tactics AND promise to keep his pants zipped up? Wow, I can already feel the power of the public unions helping SC solve all its problems in just four short years and all because we get a new Democrat governor!
By gina May 15, 2010 at 10:04 pm
You rock, Michael Bay!
RINOs take note.
By Sanford May 15, 2010 at 10:14 pm
She is my fav Republican a moderade RINO she will win trust me she goes along to get along and that’s what we need more of.
By Skeeter Wilson May 16, 2010 at 1:31 am
The only thing rising is Haley’s imagination that she has a remote chance of winning.
By Reverend Right May 16, 2010 at 7:51 am
How could anybody be against “Bailout” Barrett, our SC hero who saved the U.S. economy with his ’08 ‘YES’ vote for TARP?
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0510/37228_Page2.html
By Roger May 16, 2010 at 10:24 am
Just curious: did Palin support TARP?
By Truth Prevails May 16, 2010 at 6:09 pm
Well whatever….maybe now she’ll sit her butt in her seat at the state house and actually vote – seriously, check her roll call voting record. She’s AWOL!~
By Toyota Kawaski May 17, 2010 at 8:54 am
Only place she is rising is in her own mind and with these Yankee ass RINOS in aiken
By proudof sc May 17, 2010 at 9:35 am
Haley is a FAKE- dishonest and yes, whoever said it-more SANFRUAD.
By proudof sc May 17, 2010 at 9:36 am
oops-SANFRAUD.