Poll: Huckabee leads GOP presidential field in South Carolina

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) leads the field of potential Republican presidential candidates in early-voting South Carolina, according to a new poll from Gravis Marketing.

Huckabee, who finished a strong second place in South Carolina’s 2008 primary, polls at 18 percent in the survey. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) comes in second place with 17 percent, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) is in third with 14 percent of the vote and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) pulls 13 percent. No other candidate reaches double digits.

{mosads}Huckabee hasn’t ruled out a 2016 presidential bid, though he’s done little to indicate interest in a bid. he spent months toying with a 2012 run before deciding against doing so. This is the latest poll that shows he retains solid standing with some conservatives — a number of polls of Iowa, which he won in 2008, have found him to be a strong potential candidate there as well.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) appears to be in strong position for reelection. He pulls 54 percent of the GOP primary vote against a field of four little-known challengers. Graham needs 50 percent of the vote to avoid a runoff against one of his opponents.

The automated poll of 601 likely voters was conducted from Nov. 30 through Dec. 2 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent.