Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonButtigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice Senate GOP sees early Supreme Court vote as political booster shot Poll: 51 percent of voters want to abolish the electoral college MORE holds a commanding lead in the early voting state of South Carolina, according to the latest Winthrop University poll.

About seven in 10 Democratic primary voters in the state, 71 percent, said they are leaning toward supporting Clinton for the presidential nomination.

Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersButtigieg stands in as Pence for Harris's debate practice Bernie Sanders warns of 'nightmare scenario' if Trump refuses election results Harris joins women's voter mobilization event also featuring Pelosi, Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda MORE (I-Vt.), Clinton's chief rival in the Democratic race, is supported by 15 percent there, while former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley gets 2 percent.

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Winthrop Poll director Scott Huffmon noted South Carolina's importance as the first primary in the South and its high percentage of black voters, a major demographic for Democrats.

"African Americans can make up over 50 percent of the Democratic Presidential Primary vote in South Carolina, which is a much larger portion than you'll see in the Iowa Caucus or New Hampshire primary," Huffmon said in a statement on the poll, released early Wednesday.

The vast majority of Clinton supporters, 72 percent, said their support for the former secretary of State is solid, while 42 percent of Sanders supporters said the same of him.

Clinton is also viewed much more favorably among Democrats than Sanders in the Palmetto State, 79 to 47 percent. O'Malley is at 18 percent, with 54 percent unfamiliar with him.

The poll of 832 likely Democratic primary voters was conducted via telephones Oct. 24 through Nov. 1 with an overall margin of error of 3.4 points.