Clinton leading in new poll but support shrinking

Hillary Clinton remains entrenched in the lead in the S.C. Democratic presidential primary, according to a new poll released Sunday.

However, her support has dwindled in recent months, the poll says.

The former secretary of state leads U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont by 59 percent to 40 percent in the new poll from CBS News/YouGov. However, the poll’s margin of error is high — plus or minus 9 percentage points.

Clinton’s support in South Carolina has dropped in CBS polls from 72 percent since November. Sanders’ numbers in CBS polls have risen from 25 percent in the same time period.

Sanders nearly beat Clinton in Iowa and defeated her handily in New Hampshire.

But Clinton leads in South Carolina with a large advantage among African Americans, who make up a a majority of Democratic voters in the state. She has support from 73 percent of black S.C. voters in the new poll.

Sanders has a majority of backing from men and independents as well as those under age 44.

A poll released Saturday showed Clinton leading Sanders by 38 percentage points in South Carolina, which holds its Democratic primary on Feb. 27.

Democrats vote next in Nevada on Feb. 20.

This story was originally published February 14, 2016 at 1:03 PM.