South Carolina: McMaster Lead Confirmed

Target Insyght ran a South Carolina gubernatorial poll (4/3-5; 800 SC likely primary voters; 400 likely Republican primary voters; 400 likely Democratic primary voters) and finds Gov. Henry McMaster (R) in strong shape for his first election in his own right, but whether he can avoid a run-off is still open to question.  Other recently published polls have come to the same conclusion.
 
According to the results, Gov. McMaster has 46% preference in the Republican primary opposite 22% for former state cabinet official Catherine Templeton.  Lt. Gov. Kevin Bryant trails with 6%, while former Democratic Lt. Gov. Yancey McGill, who has switched parties, registers only 4 percent.  If no candidate receives a majority vote in the June 12th primary, the top two will run-off two weeks later.
 
For the Democrats, state Rep. James Smith (D-Columbia) and non-profit group founder Phil Noble are tied with 27% apiece.  Anti-trust attorney Marguerite Willis closely trails with 21%.  This data suggests that the Democrats are almost assuredly headed for a secondary election.
 
Gov. McMaster, who ascended to the state’s top position when incumbent Nikki Haley (R) resigned to become US Ambassador to the United Nations, is favored for the Republican nomination, and to win the general election in November.

--Jim Ellis