Clinton holds huge lead over Sanders in South Carolina

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has a massive lead over rival Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in the early-voting state of South Carolina, according to a new poll.

{mosads}A Monmouth University survey released Tuesday found Clinton taking 69 percent support, followed by Sanders at 21 percent. Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley takes 1 percent in the poll.

Polling in South Carolina has been sparse, but Monmouth’s results are in line with other surveys of the state, where Clinton leads by 47 points, according to the RealClearPolitics (RCP) average of polls.

The former secretary of State’s lead in South Carolina is bolstered because voters say she’d do a better job addressing the concerns of African-Americans. 

About 75 percent of voters overall say Clinton is in tune with the concerns of black voters, compared to only about half who say the same of Sanders. About 75 percent of black voters say they trust Clinton on issues important to them, compared to only 40 percent who said the same of Sanders.

“Sanders has been trying to make inroads with core Democratic constituencies, including black voters,” said Monmouth pollster Patrick Murray. “South Carolina will be the first test of his appeal with that bloc. He is not faring well.”

Clinton easily has the best favorability rating in South Carolina, with 81 percent having a positive view of her, compared to 7 percent negative. Fifty-eight percent view Sanders favorably, compared to 13 percent who view him unfavorably.

South Carolina’s primary is the third contest after Iowa and New Hampshire. 

Clinton leads by 24 percentage points over Sanders in Iowa, according to the RealClearPolitics average. Sanders is edging Clinton in New Hampshire by 1 point in the RCP average.

The Monmouth University poll of 400 likely Democratic primary voters in South Carolina was conducted between Nov. 5 and Nov. 8 and has a 4.9 percentage point margin of error.