South Carolina, where she was# raised and served as governor.

The state was also key to President# Biden's victory in the 2020 primary## and now could serve as a signal on his# standing with black voters nationwide.

To discuss what to watch in the Palmetto State,## I'm joined now by South Carolina# Public Rad Thelisha, it's great to see you.

Let's start with the Rep She's a former governor.

Will Republican primary# voters choose her over former President Trump?

THELISHA EADDY, South Carolina Public Radio: Amna,## I -- whe So we have this native daughter,# we have this former governor who## was in position and made the call# to remove the Confederate Flag from## the statehouse dome.

It was a really big# deal.

A lot of peopl trying to get that done.

Seems like# checks all the way dow But one consistent thing that kind of overshadows# those things is, when I sides of the political spectrum, is the# criticism that they have on Nikki Haley## about her is that they don't know who she# is.

That's what we're hearing from people.

Just this morning spoke with a mom, entrepreneur# mom of three.

She says she is lean towards voting for Trump, and that's because he is# firm in who he says he is and what he believes and## his record.

When I asked her about her opinions on# the former governor, she uses the term chameleon.## And she says she feels as though that the former# governor is just becoming a better politician.

So, even though this is Nikki's home state, and# I know that Haley is looking to have home state## advantage, for the Republicans here, it almost# seems as though that this is Donald Trump's home## state.

He's made lots of campaign visits and# rallies here before.

And just this past week,## we saw him flanked on stage with many members# of our leadership here in South Carolina.

So it's a strange situation.

It# seems like a strange situation,## but I think that's what our former governor will# have to contend with as we lead up to our AMNA NAWAZ: Meanwhile, as you# know on the Democratic side,## South Carolina holds real significan in particular back in 2020 really# saved and resurrected his campaign.

Four years later, are they willing to show up## and motivated enough to show up# and support him in the same wa THELISHA EADDY: You know, a few weeks# ago, when talking with a Democratic## member who's working deeply in the# party, the same messaging was there.

They're celebrating the fact that they have# this loyal bloc of African-American voters,## and particularly female African-American voters,## and they're very loyal, that they will get# out and get the But also in the conversation and also what# they're pushing is that there is work to do.

So we have younger voters in -- who's now# in the party.

And they're trying to stress,## as they get out the vote, they're trying to stress## that we understand that you may or that your vote may not always count or you# -- that you're not always at the forefront.

But the term that this individual used was,# we need you to have muscle memory.

We need## you to remember what party works for you.

And# so there are campaign events and rally events## happening this weekend.

And that's the messaging.# They're trying to target their younger voters## and they're trying to remind people that# we are the party that's working for you.

This person actually called today survival vote# for African-Americans.

So many of the issues that plague so many of the African-American communities# here in South Carolina, the party wants those## voters to remember that, we're in for the hard# work.

It's going to take hard work.

It's not## going to happen overnight.

But have that muscle# memory, remember who we are and stick with us.

That's what I'm hearing from them.

AMNA NAWAZ: Thelisha, the South# Caro very different to the electorate we# saw in New Hamps Who makes the difference in South# Carolina and what are the issues## that are on the tops of their minds right now?

THELISHA EADDY: You know, the# mom that I spoke to this morning,## when I asked her why she's leaning# towards former P and she said she's really pleased with his record,# I asked her in particular, what about his record And top of her mind, immigration.

And she said,# that's a really key issue for her.

What you're## hearing, what I'm hearing a lot from people# on the Republican side, what matters to them,## the tie that binds them, faith, value and# being able to determine where a person stands.

And so she used the term, I like it when people# -- their message lines up with my faith values,## what I read in the Scripture.# On the Democrats' side a lot,## what I'm hearing about is that survival vote.# African-Americans are issues in different parts of our state, and# so they want to make sure that they are heard.

And so again, that large, loyal voting bloc# for Democrats, the African-Americans and## women who are really taking the lead and# pushing the party forward, I think those## two groups are the ones that would need to be# watched during this time, during this cycle.

AMNA NAWAZ: That is South Carolina Public# Radio's Thelisha Eaddy joining us tonight.

Thelisha, thank you so much.

Great to see you.

THELISHA EADDY: Thank you.