These numbers look pretty solid:
The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Voters shows Haley picking up 55% of the vote over Democratic State Senator Vincent Sheheen, who earns 34% support. Five percent (5%) would choose some other candidate and six percent (6%) are undecided.
Congressman Gresham Barrett earns 46% support over Sheheen’s 38%. However, 10% of voters would vote for some other candidate in this match-up and six percent (6%) are not sure.
…and I would like to note that Barrett’s support since the December 2009 poll has apparently not increased. Couple that with the way that people are significantly more willing to vote against Rep. Barrett… look, I honestly don’t want to force him out of this race; he’s earned the right to participate in the run-off. But is this really best for all concerned?
Moe Lane
Late news tonight is word from Henry McMasters’ people that he will endorse Haley Tuesday.
If that doesn’t make it a lock, I don’t know what would (well, Sanford, DeMint, and Graham might, but they don’t endorse in in-state primaries).
Shaheen’s big primary theme was that he “stood up to Mark Sanford to get us the stimulus money we needed.” Yeah, so did most Republicans in the legislature, sonny – but we know why Sanford resisted it: because so much of it came with strings attached, committing the state to higher levels of spending going forward without federal money to pay for it.