Just weeks after announcing his presidential run, former Vice President Joe Biden led the Democratic pack in the key South Carolina race, attracting support from 46 percent of likely party primary voters in a state poll released Sunday.

Biden had more than triple the support of his nearest rival, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who attracted 15 percent of those surveyed, according to Charleston's Post and Courier newspaper, which conducted the poll with Change Research.

Almost 90 percent of respondents said Biden has the best shot to unseat President Donald Trump, the newspaper reported, highlighting an emphasis on beating Trump that has vaulted Biden to the front of his party's field of more than 20 presidential candidates. Trump has particularly attacked Biden on Twitter and in his public comments.