Nikki Haley leads S.C. GOP field in new poll

A new poll taken before accusations of an extramarital affair surfaced shows South Carolina gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley well ahead in the race for the GOP nod.

A Public Policy Polling survey of 638 likely Republican primary voters conducted last Saturday and Sunday found Haley at 39 percent support, while Republican rivals state Attorney General Henry McMaster and Rep. Gresham Barrett were at 18 and 16 percent, respectively.

A release from PPP noted, "she'll have to see an incredible drop in her support not to get one of the two runoff spots when South Carolina voters go to the polls two weeks from today."

Haley, who has been endorsed by Sarah Palin, had a 47-13 favorable/unfavorable rating — the best among the GOP field.

This week conservative blogger Will Folks claimed he had an affair with Haley, who has been married for 13 years. She vehemently denied his claim.