SC

Nikki Haley Could Face Primary Fight

S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley – who moved quickly from Tea Partier to establishment Republican after winning the governor’s office in 2010 – has been moving even further to the left in recent months. Look no further than her anemic budget vetoes – which preserved funding for U.S. President Barack Obama’s…

S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley – who moved quickly from Tea Partier to establishment Republican after winning the governor’s office in 2010 – has been moving even further to the left in recent months. Look no further than her anemic budget vetoes – which preserved funding for U.S. President Barack Obama’s signature education initiative, expanded government-run early childhood programs.

Haley has also been ballooning the state’s Medicaid rolls … part of her administration’s curious love-hate relationship with Obama.

What’s behind this shift? Haley’s plan has been to continue moving to what she believes is the state’s “ideological center” – secure in the knowledge that she will not be challenged for the Republican party’s gubernatorial nomination.

Not so fast, Nikki …

Sources tell FITS that a pair of credible fiscal conservatives – one in the Upstate and one in the Lowcountry – are seriously considering challenging Haley for the GOP nod next June. One of these challengers is also seriously eying a third party bid in lieu of a primary challenge – which is where Haley is most vulnerable.

Both would-be Haley opponents have reportedly been “emboldened” by Haley’s less-than-impressive campaign launch – and her recent decision to support the GOP establishment position on defunding Obamacare.

And while Haley’s GOP approval ratings are much higher than her overall numbers, Republican and Democratic pollsters fell FITS the incumbent’s support is “soft.”

Pic: Travis Bell Photography

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41 comments

Raymond September 13, 2013 at 9:35 am

“Sources tell FITS that a pair of credible fiscal conservatives…”

As much as I empathize with Tea Party sentiments, a newbie TP candidate won’t win. Someone with some heft on his or her resume’, not necessarily in politics, capable of raising money, and who is not crazy or ethically challenged could win. What I fear is that it will be another unknown who thinks an “Anyone-But-Haley” campaign will work (it won’t) and who hasn’t thought any deeper than “I’m a True Conservative”. If you see that, go back to sleep. Haley will win again in a walk.

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Smirks September 13, 2013 at 9:48 am

Haley is most vulnerable in the GOP primary, but you’re going to need a powerhouse candidate to beat her. It’s the same with Graham, no Democrat will beat him, but I honestly can’t tell if any Republican hopeful can either. Don’t underestimate the average primary voter.

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Beep September 13, 2013 at 12:26 pm

The average SC primary voter does very little thinking, doesn’t follow the issues, and votes for the incumbent. She’s got it made in the shade.

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RightStep September 15, 2013 at 12:41 pm

We have NO leadership in either party – The lack of credible candidates in either party is testimony to the continuing decline of politics / politicians into the gutter-

The MSM goes after people with such vengeance that any ‘decent’ or ‘sane’ person avoids politics completely. Honest, ethical,
hard-working & responsible adults no longer seek public office or view those in public office with any respect.
What we have in both parties are ‘self-absorbed, media-loving, lying
loons’ who surround themselves with ‘huckster media consultants’ slopping at the public sector ‘feeding trough’ for life. ?

Intelligent voters support the lesser of two evils & hope that their lives and economic condition do not fall further into the abyss of government waste and idiocy.

Queen ‘Nimrata’ & ‘Let me save you from your own stupidity Sheheen’ are equally unfit for public office-

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Carolina Girl September 17, 2013 at 6:33 pm

The average primary voters in SC are Republicans. They have no understanding of real politics, and they swallow everything Haley gives them, hell she swallows whatever is available LOL! It’s sad that this state won’t vote Democrat because all they remember is the white people are Repubs, all the rest we don’t want, no matter the policies and issues! I will personally campaign for Vince Sheheen who is honest and forthright, reveals his taxes and doesn’t cover up his image. At least he didn’t lie, cheat and sleep his way into politics! And, by the way, I am white! But I can see through Haleys and the Repubs bullshit!

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doo doo ice September 13, 2013 at 10:05 am

This just in. Jadeaveon “Bozo” Clowney has a career ending knee injury doing some creative acrobatics with several employees of the Atlanta Falcon organization at the Hilton. In dire need of a new profession, Clowney turns to politics coincidentally at the same time as the entire union of boosters for the University of South Carolina, in a collective bourbon induced moment of clarity, raise a formidable war chest and give Clowney “an offer he can’t refuse,” so long as he runs for Governor in the Republican primary. In an incredible turn of events, Clowney runs in the primary, easily dismantling Haley by gaining a popular vote of an astounding 98.6% of the South Carolina electorate. The next day the South Carolina Democratic party declares bankruptcy as it’s gerrymandered stronghold’s constituencies changed party affiliation.

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TontoBubbaGoldstein September 13, 2013 at 10:43 am

Clowney will get TBG’s vote if he …

A). Doesn’t play against Clemson.

or

B). Runs against Lindsey Graham.

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Polyphemos September 13, 2013 at 12:11 pm

I’d vote for the shadow of a dead dog over Graham. or Jim Clyburn.

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TontoBubbaGoldstein September 13, 2013 at 12:52 pm

TBG, too!

TBG would even vote for Clyburn if he ran against Graham, operating under the theory that a visible wolf is less dangerous than a “wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

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shifty henry September 14, 2013 at 6:00 am

Robert Ford isn’t busy these days……..

southmauldin September 13, 2013 at 10:29 am

Andre may jump in as a 3rd party candidate in the general, but the Republicans in this state are too chickenshit and scared of the grifter Governess to run against her in the primary.

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Sphincter Lips September 15, 2013 at 10:02 pm

Is Andre married?

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Marie Harrison September 13, 2013 at 11:05 am

Darla Moore or Jeff Duncan? Honestly, John Rainey could whip her wayward ass.

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Yelsewh September 13, 2013 at 11:21 am

I’ve been saying for awhile that Queen Nimrata should worry about winning the Republican nomination for Governor before concerning herself with Vincent Sheheen. God-willing she won’t make it out of the primary.

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neighbor September 13, 2013 at 11:30 am

God-willing, she and her little caravan won’t come back to Governor’s Grant. Would lower the property values.

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Yelsewh September 13, 2013 at 12:47 pm

Don’t worry, she forgot about Lexington County the moment she was elected to the House.

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Manray September 13, 2013 at 11:50 am

Will it make any difference? The TP will trot out some wingnut, who Repubs won’t even vote for, and Nikki wins again. I’ll lay a bet right now: Haley is re-elected. She’ll get the nomination and the sheep (SC voters) will troop to the polls and say “Baaa!”

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Catherine September 13, 2013 at 11:53 am

The name Wilkins comes to mind

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Polyphemos September 13, 2013 at 12:09 pm

I would welcome David, but I don’t believe he wants to take the pay cut. If we can’t get him to run against Lindsey, I just don’t see him running against Haley.

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Catherine September 13, 2013 at 1:04 pm

I don’t think money is an issue for him/his family. At a certain level, some things are more important than $. There has yet to be a Wilkins in the Gov. mansion and I doubt Nelson Mullins, RILEY et. al would mind that kind of prestige. Oh wait….they’ve been in this position before

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Polyphemos September 13, 2013 at 1:25 pm

Maybe so. I just know he won’t run against Lindsey. Didn’t ask him about Haley.

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9.5" September 14, 2013 at 6:47 pm

Wilkins is in the thick of the corruption of this state. He has been enabling Haley since her inauguration.

Polyphemos September 14, 2013 at 9:51 pm

Well, then I guess I am, too. I only know three honest very powerful people in this state. I don’t know about Billy, but David is not corrupt. Very, very powerful, yes, but not corrupt.

yon September 13, 2013 at 6:44 pm

David Wilkins has made a fortune of the Haley Admin. He will not be running against her!

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shifty henry September 13, 2013 at 12:10 pm

OFF SUBJECT: Has anyone else been getting this message over the last few weeks: “Internet Explorer blocked this website from displaying content with security certificate errors”?

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Polyphemos September 13, 2013 at 12:12 pm

Si. Also Firefox

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shifty henry September 13, 2013 at 12:20 pm

Sic must be attempting some kind of upgrade. Also, sometimes the screen will “flicker” about 2-3 times instantly together.

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Polyphemos September 13, 2013 at 12:34 pm

Now the screen flicker may be (MAY BE) simultaneous hits, which happens when all the portals on his rented server runs out of holes and starts expanding. That could be good news for Will. Then again, it could be REVENOOERS!

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You know me September 13, 2013 at 10:24 pm

Will did upgrade after Nikki. The upgrade was named Katrina. and he married her. Will, aren’t you glad you kept Nikki from leaving her husband for you? Could you imagine what that hell would be like?

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shifty henry September 14, 2013 at 5:55 am

Sic Willie might be in Afghanistan today…… and Mikie would be guarding Heart Breakers………

misty September 14, 2013 at 9:29 am

Yes, heard he does like his strip clubs. Guess he was not satisfied at home.

jimlewisowb September 13, 2013 at 2:45 pm

Just for the fun of it even if someone did run in the primary what are the odds they would have the balls to the wall attitude to run the type of campaign to send the Gypsy packing

Wilkins looks like he died last year
Bauer has gone full Weiner
Moore has the charisma of a Fudgesicle
McConnell has more baggage than an Amtrak Train leaving Mobile for New York
Davis lost the battle over Jasper Port and all hopes of any higher office
Duncan who

As for the Gypsy’s chances against Sheheen it now appears Sir Michael the Cuckold could beat him. By the way where the hell is Colonel Cuckold

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Artie September 13, 2013 at 4:18 pm

Moore?

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jimlewisowb September 13, 2013 at 7:36 pm

Darla Dee Moore (born August 1, 1954) is a partner of the private investment firm Rainwater, Inc, and is married to Richard Rainwater, who founded the firm.

Moore was born in Lake City, South Carolina, to Eugene and Loraine Moore. She graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1975 with a BA in Political Science.

After school, she worked for the Republican National Committee in Washington, DC.

In 2011, Gov. Nikki Haley removed Darla Moore from the University of South Carolina board. Moore was replaced with Tommy Cofield

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Catherine September 13, 2013 at 8:00 pm

Last I heard Nimrata’s husband VOLUNTEERED to be shipped over to Afghanistan until Jan 2014…apparently THAT is better than having to be around her….jus’ sayin’…..

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jimlewisowb September 13, 2013 at 8:12 pm

Would be a kick in the ass if Colonel Cuckold has found himself a young Afghanistan and brings her back to the States with the announcement he willt be returning to the Governor’s Mansion

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Philip Branton September 13, 2013 at 3:05 pm

Quite frankly all any candidate would need to do would be to utilize this comment section to get the word out.

We don’t use this forum for nothing.

Most everyone here knows how to think and can use a computer to hold a candidate “Verifiable”…!!

Just think……

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You know me September 13, 2013 at 4:08 pm

Three rings…very Bamberg-ish. Guess she’s not into fashion.

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William September 13, 2013 at 8:59 pm

Nancy Mace should have run against this douche.

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ClubCourse September 14, 2013 at 1:38 pm

This website’s use should increase with McClatchy migrating to Facebook.

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darth September 16, 2013 at 3:37 pm

aww hell, I thot you said Nikki Charm…

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