S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley’s economic record has come under fire lately – and with good reason. The Palmetto State’s labor participation rate is hovering near record lows – thanks in no small part to Haley’s inability to create private sector jobs. Meanwhile recent reports have revealed South Carolina as having a terrible business tax climate and zero upward mobility for its citizens – making it one of the hardest places in America to make a living.
Haley had hoped her 2014 campaign kickoff announcement – starring a trio of out-of-state governors – would help dispel some of that criticism. Unfortunately for her, the story of the event wound up being the sparse crowd it drew.
Haley staffers are already receiving criticism over their inability to motivate the governor’s “movement” to attend her reelection rally, but FITS has uncovered another major pooch screw.
What are we referring to?
Haley’s selection of venue …
For her big reelection rally, Haley’s team chose an outdoor plaza in front of the the Bi-Lo Center in downtown Greenville, S.C.
The only problem (well aside from the lack of a crowd)?
Bi-Lo, a grocery store chain that recently merged with Winn-Dixie, announced four months ago that it was moving its corporate headquarters from the Greenville area (specifically Mauldin, S.C.) to Jacksonville, Florida – costing South Carolina an estimated 130 jobs (at least).
Wait a minute … let’s make sure we’ve got this straight: Haley, who has been criticized for job creation record, held her reelection rally at a center named for a company that moved 130 high-paying jobs from South Carolina to Florida?
Yup …
Again … bravo, Team Haley. Seriously … Bravo.
32 comments
lol….that’s pretty funny.
Maybe her next pep rally will be outside a local brothel.
She can touts jobs there and first hand experience. (all the relevant puns intended)
Miley Cyrus may be enticed to play at a rally. Perhaps a half-time show at WB stadium…….
Oh that is SCARY
—- a duet with Nikki?
Did you mean “girl on girl”?
—- OOOPS!
What happened to all those Walmarts she promised?
Considering how Walmart kills better paying jobs are nearby local businesses, you should be thankful that those promised Walmarts have not happened.
She knew that she could draw a bigger crowd in Greenville than say..Columbia, Charleston, or Camden.
Merged with Winn-Dixie? I thought that chain died off.
Bi-Lo bought Winn-Dixie and all the Winn-Dixies will be changing their names to Bi-Lo.
Lone Star bought Bi-Lo from Royal Ahold NV in 2005, after which Bi-Lo (Mauldin, SC) went into bankruptcy.
Winn-Dixie then bought Bi-Lo because it was cheap and still struggling, having emerged from bankruptcy in 2010.
http://www.law360.com/articles/168195/restructured-bi-lo-moves-out-of-bankruptcy
Bi-Lo employs about 15,100 people in 207 supermarkets in SC, NC, GA, and TN.
It isn’t exactly the shining star, high-pay, high-growth company you want to use for a campaign background.
Bi-Lo represents crummy, minimum-pay, zero-benefits jobs.
But then again, that’s what SC is all about, right?
Hell, Bilo fell apart when George Outlaw got out.
I believe the high paying jobs being referred to were in fact the corporate jobs in greenville (i,e. CEO/COO/CMO) etc. Not the the bee hive hair woman at the cash register.
The Bi-Lo Center will change its name to the Sic Willie Center if you pony up the right amount of money. It does NOT belong to Bi-Lo.
Her and her team are truly the gift that keeps on giving. Kind of like herpes.
When I heard the announcement was being made at the Bi-Lo Center — I almost laughed out loud. . . . . the only time the Center has been full for something other than concerts was when Zig Zigler’s Motivational Speakers Bureau came to Greenville. Over the years, it featured people like Lou Holtz, Steve Spurrier, Colin Powell, Bill Cosby, Jim Valvano(God bless him – he was the best speaker and a nice guy) and/or former Presidents, Vice Presidents or successful Cabinet Members with ties to SC. But there had to be at least 4 or 5 headliners to get any decent response. No one wants to here all the BS that comes out of a group of politicians mouths when you can’t turn the channel to get away from them.
How many people did she think there would be on the Monday before the start of college football?
It’s not like any Clemson or USC fans who DO have jobs are going to leave work early off during college football season – unless it is Thursday or Friday before an out of town or weeknight football game.
Governor, didn’t your people check the schedules for football?
If she had a brain, she could have announced it at Downtown Alive last Thursday around 7:00 – she would have a captive audience — because they sell alcohol outside.
You want fries with that?
she’ll win re-election.
I agree 100 percent. South Carolinians are that stupid.
Hands down. And probably should.
Has Haley done anything other than SCREW and SCREW up?
Oh sorry, she is from lexington.
Has Haley done anything other than FUCK and FUCK up?
All these little idiots leaving comments about ‘she’s a fuck up’ and ‘in my book, she made a big mistake, hee hee’ are pathetic, like whatever jerkoff wrote this ‘article’. Ever try doing something except sit back and bitch and cry about successful people? You’re like little children. FORTUNATELY, your crap has Zero effect other than making yourself feel clever.
Trying to win a some kind of comedy contest, I would say. Wouldn’t you?
Someone calling himself ‘scooter’ with an amazing rebuttal. You prove my point. Pull up your pants, kid.
You idiots and Folks are completely infatuated with the woman. 90% of the articles on this site are about her. Now, STUPID,that is a good way to keep her name in front of the electorate. You couldn’t find your ass with both hands and a flashlight.
It gets worse…Vince Sheehen(D) for Governor?
A hunch says they chose Greenville because it was an easy drive for the GOP Stars from the Charlotte Airport?
Do you have a map? Have long have you lived in SC? From the Charlotte Airport to virtually anywhere in Columbia is about an hour and thirty minutes straight down I-77. Its a least 2 1/2 to 3 hours from the Charlotte Airport to Greenville.
White clouds sometime restrict visibility.
The catch,oh bright one, is there are no connecting flights into Columbia or Greenville and ticket prices are exorbinant to fly out of Columbia or Greenville.
First of all my comment had nothing to do with connecting flights to Columbia or Greenville. Your comment that she scheduled the conference in Greenville because it was convenient from the Charlotte airport makes no sense. Columbia is a much more convenient location from the Charlotte Airport. And no, you can’t get from the Charlotte Airport to this location in an hour and thirty-seven minutes, unless its in the middle of the night and there is no traffic. I 85 between Charlotte and Greenville sucks.
As for my education, I am certain its superior to yours
Since ,Winn-Dixie left SC ,nobody has a decent meat dept,except,Home Depot…