In two new polls out of South Carolina, Democrat Vincent Sheheen is running close behind Republican Nikki Haley in the race to replace disgraced Gov. Mark Sanford (R).
One Hamilton Campaigns (D) poll of likely voters shows Haley leading Sheheen 49%-44%. Another by pollster Crantford & Associates’ puts Haley ahead by only four points.
Haley had a number of apparent problems early in her campaign, including allegations that she had affairs, but she bounced back with what seemed to be little trouble to trounce her Republican opponents in a primary packed with big (for South Carolina) names. Until recently most polls of the general election have still shown her enjoying a double digit lead against Sheheen — though nearly all of those polls were from Rasmussen.
The last time South Carolina elected a Democratic governor was 12 years ago, when Jim Hodges won in an upset. Before that, South Carolina hasn’t elected a Democratic executive since 1982 — when incumbent Dem Richard Riley was reelected.
And while the TPM Poll Average still shows Haley leading 48.0%-40.1%, the gap has been closing.
Check out the trendlines:
