As South Carolina Republicans prepare for a run-off election in two weeks, 81% of GOP Primary voters say they are likely to vote for Nikki Haley if she is the party's nominee in September. A Rasmussen Reports election night survey found that 70% say they are likely to vote for Congressman Gresham Barrett if he is the Republican nominee.

The two candidates will meet again after yesterday's primary in which Haley, a state representative, picked up 49% of the vote, while Barrett finished second to qualify for a run-off with 22%. The winner will initially be favored in a general election match-up against Democrat nominee, State Senator Vincent Sheheen.
 
Sixty-four percent (64%) of Haley's supporters say they'd be likely to vote for Barrett. Sixty-nine percent (69%) of Barrett's supporters say they'd cast a ballot for Haley. Haley has run her campaign as a challenge to politics as usual and
began the run-off campaign by declaring "It's us versus the Establishment."
 
During intense primary battles, supporters of one candidate often say they won't vote for the party nominee in November. That was the case in 2008 as a large number of Hillary Clinton's supporters said they were not likely to support Barack Obama in the general election campaign. However, by Election Day, most Clinton supporters came home and voted for their party's nominee.
 
Thirty-nine percent (39%) of voters in the South Carolina Republican Primary say they're affiliated with the Tea Party movement. Tea Party voters favored Haley over Barrett by a 59% to 19% margin.

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The survey of 829 Republican Primary Voters in South Carolina was conducted on June 8, 2010 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Haley was in fourth place among Republican hopefuls a month ago. Then, Sarah Palin came to town with support and an endorsement. Haley immediately shot to frontrunner status. Rasmussen Reports released the first poll to show
 Haley in the lead. 
 
South Carolina does not have party registration, so people from any party can take part in the primary. Barrett was more competitive with Haley among Republicans than among unaffiliated voters. Among the GOP voters, Haley won 45% to 26%. Among those not affiliated with either major party, Haley's margin was 58% to 16%.
 
Haley earned 49% of the vote from both men and women. There were only minor differences based upon age, income or investor status. Haley, who has been accused of marital infidelity in recent weeks, a charge she strongly denies, picked up 51% of the vote from married voters and 43% from those who are not married.
 
Among politically conservative voters who dominate Republican primaries, Haley bested Barrett by a 47% to 25% margin.

Eighty-seven percent (87%) of those who voted in the Republican Primary favor repeal of the recently passed health care law. Nationally, among all voters, support for repeal is just under 60%.

Eighty-five percent (85%) favor an immigration law like Arizona's for their state.
 
Seventy-four percent (74%) have a favorable opinion of the Tea Party movement.
 
Just 12% approve of the way that Barack Obama is handling his role as president. Nationally, among all voters, Obama's job approval ratings have been steady in the mid-40s for months.
 
Sixty-three percent (63%) offer their approval for the way Mark Sanford is handling his role as governor.

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