Nikki’s Moves

For a Midlands or Lowcountry candidate seeking statewide office, speaking engagements in the Upstate are a lot like the first flutters of a weathervane …

You may not immediately know the direction, but you know the wind’s about to start blowing.

Two such flutters occurred in Greenville recently, but the breeze was felt across the state as speculation intensified concerning the future ambitions of State Rep. Nikki Haley, who is very possibly running for State Treasurer but remains on the watch list for a possible 2010 gubernatorial run – despite her protestations that she’s not seeking that job.

Needless to say, the Palmetto political parlor game is churning in earnest after Haley joined S.C. Policy Council President Ashley Landess in G-Vegas two weeks ago to address the Greenville County Republican Women’s Club.

From the local Times-Examiner:

A key issue this year is spending, said Rep. Haley. “Lawmakers are spending your money. We must commit to limited government and the only way we can achieve that is to reform government.” She said lawmakers need a lot of political courage to stand up to all the pressure they face, however, “you have some people in the legislature willing to stand up for you” and they need to be encouraged and supported, Rep. Haley said.

Wait … Nikki Haley’s talking about something other than government transparency, you say? And a potent pocketbook issue at that?

Hmmm …

Of course it would be easy to dismiss Haley’s trip with Landess as nothing more than an extension of the transparency debate that has positioned the two of them as rising stars on the S.C. political scene.

Except that Haley followed that trip up with a keynote speech on Monday to the Greenville First Monday Club, an event that we received no fewer than a dozen messages on – before Haley had even finished her speech.

Much like S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford – whose extensive national travel schedule has many speculating about his future ambitions – where a potential candidate is spending his or her time geographically can be telling.

So what will Haley run for? Treasurer? Governor? Lt. Governor?

Or will she stay put?

We’ve got our suspicions, but the poll and comments section awaits below …

 Loading ...