With her national ambitions on hold, her less-than-ambitious agenda stalled, her Tea Party base in revolt, her poll numbers tanking and the state and national economies both moving in the wrong direction, it’s not surprising that S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley is rethinking her approach to the job she assumed just five months ago.
The only real good news for the first-term GOP governor (aside from the taxpayer-funded vacation that she and two government employees took to Paris this month)? The fact that the Republican gubernatorial primary – in which she will likely face State Treasurer Curtis Loftis (or another well-funded GOP challenger) – is at least two years away from heating up. Of course with every scandalous update about her shady pre-gubernatorial business dealings, concerns mount that Haley may not make it that long.
Not surprisingly, Haley’s disastrous start has resulted in a rumored political reorientation – specifically an effort to shift her away from insider deal-making and back to her Tea Party roots.
But has this rumored ideological shift also resulted in a shift of influence within Haley’s inner circle?
For years, former S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford’s political organization had what aides referred to as the “Iron Triangle,” a core decision-making group that consisted of the governor, First Lady Jenny Sanford and top strategist Jon Lerner. Only on rare occasions (like Sanford’s 2002 decision not to run negative ads against Bob Peeler) did a two-thirds majority of that group not end up making command decisions.
For Haley, the “Iron Triangle” has always consisted of her, Lerner and chief of staff Tim Pearson.
Until now, that is.
Sources close to Haley tell FITS that there’s a new “wartime consigliere” in Haley’s inner circle, a strategist who is boasting that he is “the only person Haley completely trusts” to right her sinking ship.
Who are these sources referring to? Robert Cahaly.
If that name sounds familiar, it should. Less than a year ago Cahaly – whose client roster includes RINOs like S.C. Speaker Bobby Harrell and Lt. Gov. Ken Ard – was arrested on charges that he made illegal political “robo-calls.” Not only that, at the time of Cahaly’s arrest, several of the Speaker’s allies hinted that SLED may have arrested him as a result of political pressure applied by Haley, then Gov.-elect.
While SLED officials denied those rumors – it was clear that there was no love lost between the consultant and the incoming chief executive, whose bitter 2008 feud with Harrell resulted in her being demoted from a powerful House committee.
(For complete coverage of “Cahaly-gate,” click here and here. For more on the allegedly illegal phone calls that led to his arrest, click here and here).
Haley and Harrell have since mended fences – and she has also formed unlikely alliances with Senate Finance Chairman Hugh Leatherman and other leaders of the state’s “Republican in Name Only” establishment.
That detente with the status quo also apparently extends to Cahaly, who we’re told has assumed considerable influence over the governor in a very short period of time. In fact, our sources say that Cahaly has been doing extensive polling for Haley in recent months – and that she trusts his numbers more than the data she’s receiving from Lerner.
Obviously Lerner isn’t completely out of the Haley loop. He did a highly-publicized – albeit inaccurate – poll for Haley last month, and several sources tell FITS that he was working the phones earlier this month on behalf of Haley’s failed effort to haul lawmakers into an emergency legislative session. He’s also still getting paid by Haley, according to her most recent campaign finance disclosure.
But it’s clear that his influence is on the wane – while the influence of Cahaly is on the rise.
Now … will Haley disclose her work with Cahaly? Or will he – like the governor’s “administrative guru” – be compensated via some other, less transparent arrangement? Also, how exactly does the rapid elevation of a status quo loyalist fit in with Haley’s rumored shift to the right?
We’ll have to wait and see …
Stay tuned to FITS as we continue to follow this shake-up at the top of the Haley power structure.
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By Alabaster II June 23, 2011 at 2:55 pm
Even tho Jenny and Mark Sanford endorsed Nikki for the governship, have they completely left her on her own? That is, aren’t one of them still keeping an eye on her and giving her advice when she asks for it?
By joseph reynolds June 23, 2011 at 2:57 pm
What is it with political consultants in the state of SC.
Why do all of them look like they live in their mothers basement and live off cheetos and mountain dew.
By andymilonakis June 23, 2011 at 3:08 pm
the dude looks like a cross between andy milonakis and the paige from 30 rock.
By Big T June 23, 2011 at 3:21 pm
If you have no core, or no defined goal, you are wide open to falling apart. Especially true for a political candidate.
Sanford always had Total promotion of Mark Sanford at his center. No matter that he never accomplished much, it kept him intent on the message that gave him power.
Haley is like FITS can be, it is all over the road. That is hard to rely on to hold a ship together.
Co-haley will be a waste of time if she does not develop some principles, other than keeping the office.
By Dixie June 23, 2011 at 3:22 pm
Just looking at him, if I had young children I wouldn’t let that guy near them. He needs to buy his shirts wilh a bigger neck size.
He reminds me of John Ray Gacy – he was into politics too.
By Bubba Joe June 23, 2011 at 3:40 pm
When I loaded this page, my monitor cracked.
Why do all of these SC political wannabe’s look like a used douchebag with a bad haircut and bowtie?
By jimlewisowb June 23, 2011 at 3:44 pm
Have to disagree with you jr !
It looks like he is still living in his mother’s womb and living off cheetos and mountain dew.
If Don Corleone was in the room and you introduced this lying sack of sheep shit as “consigliere”, there would be two dead fuckers needing a final resting place.
By wilson June 23, 2011 at 3:46 pm
I hear that Haley that is cozy with Richard Quinn and Associates and is about to come out for Gov. Jon Huntsman
By Brenda June 23, 2011 at 3:47 pm
Crooks of a feather are jailed together. Robert and Nikki…cell mates forever.
But I ought to add that I think both of them would be happy with the late night activities in cell block 11.
By City Politics June 23, 2011 at 3:48 pm
That bow tie and fat, pasty white face could make Cahaly the prototype for every Republican political operative in South Carolina. At least, Wes Donohue has the decency to be in shape.
By James Island June 23, 2011 at 3:48 pm
Wilson, why would Haley come out for Huntsman in the first place? I thought she was trying to get away from the moderate middle of the road.
By That Boz Guy @ The Beach June 23, 2011 at 3:59 pm
Yet another nerdish, arrogant-looking bow-tied buffoon, and this one a criminal tied to the criminal Lt. Goobernor and the Chambergators.
Yeah, sounds like JUST what she needs now.
By Huh? June 23, 2011 at 4:10 pm
Everybody in China wants Huntsman to win, why would Haley want him to win?
By MajorC June 23, 2011 at 4:10 pm
Isn’t this the same guy who ran Leighton Lord’s campaign for Attorney General? Al of these dudes want to look like Fred Barnes and/or George Will. (and that includes Brad Warthen, too!)
Many people, in the know, hold this guy personally responsible for Lord’s disastrous defeat. He looks good on paper, but he doesn’t know shinola from sh*t. I had a chance to shake his hand at the Silver Elephant Banquet and if one is to judge a man by his grip — well he ain’t no man!
By James Island June 23, 2011 at 4:13 pm
our local hero Charlie Condon just came out to co-chair the SC effort for Tim Pawlenty with Rep. Joe Wilson!
By MARIO ANDRETTI June 23, 2011 at 4:15 pm
SOMBITCH MUST DINE AT BURGER KING BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER, WITH SNACKING IN BETWEEN. SEEMS LIKE GOVERNOR CANNOT DRIVE WITH 8-GEAR STICK SHIFT NECESSARY IN THE BREAKNECK RAPID FIRE POLITICAL LEMANS-TYPE RACES. SHE’S GONNA GET RUN OVER, RUN AROUND AND SPUN AROUND DURING THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
By Gillon June 23, 2011 at 4:18 pm
He’s got more chins than a Chinese phone directory.
By Palmettopatriot June 23, 2011 at 4:21 pm
Fits, it wrong that the first thing that came to mind when your said that “In fact, our sources say that Cahaly has been doing extensive polling for Haley in recent months” is that Nikki has gone hogging with the bow-tied rotundity pictured above?
By Ima June 23, 2011 at 4:25 pm
Maybe it’s just me, but isn’t there’s a bit of irony in that the first book listed on his Facebook profile is All the King’s Men? King or Queen, you pick it.
By Brad Warthen Sucks June 23, 2011 at 4:27 pm
He really has a Chris Farleyesque aura about him. Love to see my jiz dribbling down that set of chins he’s packing.
By Ima June 23, 2011 at 4:45 pm
@Brad Warthen Sucks – So, you’re a bit of a chaser?
By Mrs. Ethel Krabitz June 23, 2011 at 5:07 pm
Sweet Jesus this chap looks like Chester the Molester
By Big T June 23, 2011 at 5:19 pm
Wilson: I will be watching VERY CLOSELY to see if what you say is true…
That RQ&A connection would explain A LOT of what I’ve seen so far…
Who does Loftis’ consultant work???…anybody know???
By BradWarthenSucks June 23, 2011 at 5:48 pm
Who the FUCK is using my name as their own?
There are no spaces in my name unlike gay douchebag Brad Warthen Sucks.
By Piegon in the Dome June 23, 2011 at 6:01 pm
“For years, former S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford’s political organization had what aides referred to as the “Iron Triangle,” a core decision-making group that consisted of the governor, First Lady Jenny Sanford and top strategist Jon Lerner. Only on rare occasions (like Sanford’s 2002 decision not to run negative ads against Bob Peeler) did a two-thirds majority of that group not end up making command decisions.’
There was no need to run negative ads against Bob Peeler, he was imploding and al la John Edwards was involved in an affair with a campaign worker.
By Big T June 23, 2011 at 6:27 pm
You are correct Piegon. Thanks for pointing that out.
Didn’t Peeler’s consutant, Walter Whetsel, Waste $1 million in 2 weeks (June 2002) in a very poor (and obviously impossible) attempt to reverse the tide on Sanford in the run-off.
The commercial where they mimmicked Sanford stripping the Army Uniform of its patches, that was past Ignorant, and backfied bigtime on them. What a Freakin’ Genius….
Peeler had to fund-raise for 2 years to pay for that 2-wk stupid assed strategy.
By Frank Wilson June 23, 2011 at 6:32 pm
Scary looking boy.
By Step to the Right June 23, 2011 at 6:34 pm
Who cares who the Governor is in this state. The General Assembly is where ALL the problems can be found and without huge changes and lots of new ‘names and brains’ then SC will just keep making bizarre and embarrassing headlines.
Funny how the ‘SC Stupid’ disease has been passed along to so many other states and their elected officials as well. Maybe SC Stupid has gone viral!
By Lin June 23, 2011 at 6:36 pm
He is a crook, spending most of his time fleecing his clients with half-baked ideas. Haley, half-baked herself, is desperate. Despite being the worlds cheesiest cheerleader she knows her numbers are awful and her friends are running from her as fast as they can.
Thing’s are not looking good for Haley.
By trojan June 23, 2011 at 7:57 pm
Haley is imploding faster than a cheap condom on a hoover.
By Brad Warthen Sucks June 23, 2011 at 8:45 pm
Hey BWS no space pussy – blow me and spread your sphincter, you repulsive juvenile toad. You have met your match and he is me is you.
There’s plenty of space in my life. i love variety – even reptilian warts like you.
By Lewis June 23, 2011 at 9:39 pm
Inez is coming home. Inez is coming home. Inez is coming home. How many others of you got a pollster call?
By don't tread on me June 23, 2011 at 9:46 pm
@BT,
I remember the soldier add, it was pathetic. Didn’t Peeler whine like a spoiled brat after loosing and getting caught in the affair with his wife’s best friend?
He went totally negative on all the other candidates, like the prick he is. Can’t remember Whetsell.
Can we not do better than Peeler, Sanford, Hodges, Haley for goodness sakes…adulterers, idiots, psychopaths.
Remember the rumors on Beasley?
Hodges and Peeler gave ugly a bad name.
Sanford and peeler got caught with their pants down and Haley is pending!
These consultants make easy money making fools of these amoral turds!
By That Boz Guy @ The Beach June 23, 2011 at 9:50 pm
He looks like that turd cousin of Harry Potter’s.
By Cancerman June 23, 2011 at 10:49 pm
This kid looks like a fucking serial killer who keeps old ladies eyeballs in his fridge.
By Huhhh??? June 23, 2011 at 10:52 pm
One of Tennessee Williams’ “no neck monsters” all grown up?
By Shlomo June 24, 2011 at 12:47 am
Even Nikki wouldn’t sit on that fish belly face.
By Andy June 24, 2011 at 4:49 am
That is one unattractive woman.
By WTF June 24, 2011 at 8:26 am
FITS: why do all the Southern political muckety mucks feel compelled to wear gay looking bow ties (not that there is such a thing as a non-gay looking bow tie)?
By G Gordan June 24, 2011 at 8:48 am
What the HELL is wrong here! Reading these posts, we elected Sanford a lying cheating, corrupt, amoral adulterer. He ran against Peeler, If we had elected Peeler, we would have elected a lying, cheating, corrupt, amoral adulterer. So we elected Haley a lying, cheating, (alleged until proven) corrupt adulterer.
Gives question, as to who we are ourselves, doesn’t it!
By Alabaster II June 24, 2011 at 9:34 am
G Gordan-that’s some post! Makes us wonder about the SC politcians and voters.
By harrrold June 24, 2011 at 9:47 am
Looks like a younger, more youthful Barney Frank …
By Tom Riddle June 24, 2011 at 10:27 am
So tell me Wil, is Cahaly currently in or out of the closet?
By Ima June 24, 2011 at 11:11 am
G Gordon, you can get away with almost anything in SC if you claim to have deep personal relationship with Jeebus… and are Republican.
By Ima June 24, 2011 at 11:12 am
@Tom Riddle – If it’s in the closet, then that would be a huge walk-in affair.
By Thus Spake Zarathustra June 24, 2011 at 11:40 am
Caption:
“Look, Ma . . . I’m androgynous!”
By truth be told June 24, 2011 at 11:56 am
So, no matter who we have to choose from, we are gonna get screwed?
I look at the Wilson Political Dynasty, the Governors as far back, as I have resided here, the Lt Governors, etc. It is the same old, same old. The names may sometimes change; but, usually they go from one office to the next and the voters here and it appears Nationally continue to elect, reelect and promote the same old incompetent, lying, cheating, immoral, thieving, self centered, egocentric, meglamaniacs over and over and time after time.
G Gordon is right. What does that say about us as an eloctorate?
Are we brain dead Zombies? Do we look at party over character?
They create crisis, act like it fell from the sky, then expect the taxpayers to pay for their folly.
They start WARS and expect us to surrender our children to die for their big Industry campaign contributors, oil companies and the puppet governments, they install. They throw billions at these puppet governments and expect us to continue to pay for them.
They rob from OUR trust funds and replinish their own pension systems, with our money, pay for their health care with the same while robbing ours and expect us to live like paupers.
People, what is wrong with this picture? Why do we allow it to continue?
I’m adressing this to all Democrat, Republican, Independent, Libratarian. I am perplexed.
By Big T June 24, 2011 at 1:19 pm
G. Gordan: You will find that most posters on this website are Leftists, or at best, moderates.
FITS is fairly left of center, after rising on the idea that it is fiscally Conservative. The commentray by the readers is much like you will see at The State newspaper, but you can cuss here.
FITS has pretty much relegated itself to Haley Bashing, w/ an occasional offering (column) by a Conservative. But more of the commentary (I-73, Mande Wilkes) espouses leftwing ideology.
By Frappy June 24, 2011 at 2:11 pm
Gobble Boy!!!
By Prince Poppycock June 24, 2011 at 4:49 pm
Darlings…….oh so simple….. The neck bulge results from deep throat-ing exceptionally gifted politicians who whip slap the face with leather riding gloves for a heaving affect. Quite popular and extremely expensive.
By Wesley's Dick June 24, 2011 at 4:51 pm
Don’t look at me…..I didn’t cause that bulge.
By Thad's Dick June 24, 2011 at 4:58 pm
It’s all about being thick. The pink cheeks are a precursor to stretch marks.
By Slinky June 24, 2011 at 10:33 pm
How old is he anyway? 15? I think this might be called soliciting a minor.
By Red Army June 26, 2011 at 10:38 am
Is it really true that Cahaly is the only person she “trusts”? If that’s true then I set the bar way too high for her (it was only up to her ankles). He is the sleaziest of them all.