Sanford’s Nikki Haley Lovefest Continues
Since there’s no question who S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford is backing for governor 2010, the only real suspense left is this: at what point does First Lady Jenny Sanford start getting jealous?
Seriously, Sanford’s abiding affection for third-term Lexington Representative Nikki Haley continues to manifest itself, as the governor blasted out an e-mail to several thousand of his closest friends this morning telling them Haley was “worth getting to know.”
“Nikki Haley has worked very closely with us in our efforts toward reform here in Columbia,” Sanford writes. “I’ve been impressed that Nikki’s walk indeed matches her talk when it comes to advocating fiscal responsibility at the state level.”
Here’s the e-mail:
Since Sanford has been tripping over himself to praise her since she announced for governor last month, we’re gonna go out on a limb here and guess that Nikki wear the pants in this relationship.
Anyway, Sanford’s email links his supporters to an article on Red State.com that profiles Haley, portraying her as a strong fiscal conservative – which she is.
Haley’s enemies, in the meantime, are looking to portray her in other ways.
More on that later …
Comments
By Grumpy on June 17th, 2009 at 10:29 am
I was orginally pleased to see that Nikki Haley was going to go for the Republician ticket in 2010. Now that Gov Sanford thinks she is such a great person to have in office and is supporting her to the degree that he is I am now wondering who else will be running on any ticket. If she is going to be like another Sanford we need to running in another direction.
By CNSYD on June 17th, 2009 at 10:38 am
Are you sure that Mark is really working for her and not against? His approval is the kiss of death.
By SC Native on June 17th, 2009 at 11:45 am
Who cares if Sanford endorses her? I bet Haley has more brains and more character than all three of the other candidates combined. I can’t wait to campaign for her, and I hope the state I was born and raised in is intelligent enough to elect her.
PS: No carpetbagger here. Native South Carolinian, several generations deep. (Also, for what it’s worth, a white male who loves to hunt, fish, and drink beer)
By James on June 17th, 2009 at 11:46 am
I don’t agree that Sanford’s approval is the “kiss of death”. In a six-way Republican primary with lots of energized conservatives voting, his approval could be invaluable to Nikki Haley.
My question is about the Dorchester straw poll over the weekend: Nikki Haley was the only candidate who did not attend. I am told she had a prior commitment involving a daughter’s performance. So Haley only got a handful of votes down in Summerville. So I assume that in straw poll situations like that, the activists really only cast their ballots among those candidates who show up to speak and “compete” in the straw poll?
By Mike on June 17th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Sanford’s endorsement would only be the “kiss of death” with the clowns inside the Statehouse. His external numbers are still holding.
By CNSYD on June 17th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
If Sanford’s endorsement says she will continue his policies, then it is the kiss of death as if she wins the same stone wall will exist. However, I assume Mrs. Haley being in the legislature is smarter than that. S C Native, agree with you. And Mrs. Haley is not a carpetbagger either. Also SC public higher education was good enough for her.
By fitsnews on June 17th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Mike-
To say nothing of Sanford’s numbers with the GOP base.
Look, Mark is a mixed bag internally (and a mixed nut actually), but among GOP primary voters at the statewide level he and DeMint are solid gold real estate.
Plus, we’re hearing he’s placing all of his eggs in the Nikki basket, so to speak.
-FITS
By Vic Nettles on June 17th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
She would be the hottest Governor ever
By Mincing Words on June 17th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Unless the bloggers and/or MSM are somehow able to dig up some “Nikki dirt” to compare with the boatloads of dirt related to McMaster, Bauer, and other GOP primary potentials, I am having a real hard time believing that Nikki doesn’t have a cake walk straight to the governorship. FITS, Mike, you are, of course, correct. SC Republicans are a far cry from their elected officials because you can’t elect ‘em if they don’t run. And only the RINOs run. And from a policy perspective, I don’t know a true Republican that has a problem with Sanford. His policies are spot-on; it’s his methods that are questionable.
By Toyota Kawaski on June 18th, 2009 at 9:02 am
WONT MAKE IT OUT THE PRIMARY.Ask that louooooooser scottie singer and the Senator from Isle of palms what a Sanfraud endorsement will get yea
By scooter on June 19th, 2009 at 8:56 am
Yikes! I am pleased to see the Gov. so much in support of her. That helps me to absolutely know NOT to vote for her. How can this state have another term of a Sanford-like person. Good grief! I know who I am voting for, and who is the best person to run the state, and it is not her. By the way, why is Sanford still here? Can’t he just pack up and leave already.
By THE Conservative on June 20th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Republican’s often dislike Sanford. State employee’s hate him.
Conservatives LOVE HIM.
If you count yourself a conservative and don’t like the Gov. you need to spend some time asking yourself why and where your competing allegiances are!
The Gov. endorsement will be huge for Nikki because it will bring in external Republican money. Remember, Sanford is loved outside of SC.
By Freddie Guy on June 25th, 2009 at 11:46 am
Will:
You may want to go back and retitle this thread. This could hurt Nikki in an election!
Fred
By Ernie on October 12th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
I’m not criticizing… only observing… the STRIKING resemblance of Nikki Haley to Sanford’s “soul mate” in Argentina…. Easy to understand an “abiding affection”!!!!!