WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - In the first poll conducted since the primary season got underway, real estate tycoon Donald Trump continues to lead in the South Carolina Republican primary.
Results of the Opinion Savvy poll released on Friday showed that Trump is the first choice of 36 percent of likely South Carolina primary voters.
Senator Ted Cruz, R-Tex., comes in a distant second at 20 percent, followed by Senator Marco Rubio, R-Fla., at 15 percent.
Behind them are former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush at 11 percent, Ohio Gov. John Kasich at 9 percent, and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson at 5 percent.
The results are similar to a NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll conducted last month, although Kasich has seen an apparent jump in support since coming in second in the New Hampshire primary.
Polling in South Carolina has been relatively limited compared to Iowa and New Hampshire, although Trump has still held a commanding lead in all the recent polls.
CBS News is scheduled to hold a Republican debate in Greenville, South Carolina, on Saturday, the last debate before the primary on February 20th.
The Opinion Savvy poll was sponsored by the Augusta Chronicle, Morris News Service, and Fox 5 Atlanta.
The survey of 779 likely South Carolina Republican Primary voters was conducted February 10th and 11th and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.
(Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore)
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