PISSING MATCH, PALMETTO STYLE …
A prominent South Carolina lobbyist has enraged the most powerful elected official in the Palmetto State with his comments praising governor Nikki Haley.
And while the dust-up is obviously the latest testament to the increasingly thin skin of aging S.C. Senate president Hugh Leatherman, it could have far-reaching effects on the upcoming session of the S.C. General Assembly.
In a big story in The (Charleston, S.C.) Post and Courier, lobbyist Tony Denny praised Haley in no uncertain terms – arguing her status as one of the luminaries of the #NeverTrump movement would not hurt her national aspirations or her status as a “lame duck” governor.
According to Denny, Haley’s position as a popular GOP governor – and a leading candidate to head up the Republican Governors Association – “trumps” her aggressive advocacy against Donald Trump, who confounded the political establishment last week with his upset victory over heavily-favored Democrat Hillary Clinton.
“I think that makes her a player,” Denny told the paper. “I think for those who say ‘lame duck,’ I’d say not so fast.”
Lame duck? Actually the term we used was “dead duck.”
And not just because Haley went out of her way to attack Trump – who tonned it in South Carolina – but because of her subsequent failure to take out several Republican leaders at the S.C. State House.
Haley targeted Leatherman and several other lawmakers for defeat during the 2016 primary elections.
What happened? She lost … bigly.
(Click to view)
(Via S.C. Governor)
To say that Denny’s interview – which appeared in Saturday’s editions of the liberal Lowcountry paper – angered Leatherman would be an understatement.
“Livid,” a source close to the diminutive 85-year-old liberal told us. “I think it pissed him off more than when she endorsed his opponent.”
Another source familiar with the inner workings of the State House lobby expressed shock at Denny’s comments.
“He’s too smart to do something that stupid,” the source said.
So … will there be retribution against Denny and his stable of legislative clients?
Um, this is South Carolina politics. Count on it.
In addition to his leadership post in the Senate, Leatherman is the chairman of its powerful finance committee – meaning he rules omnipotent over the state’s budget. And while his power has been weakened somewhat in recent years – he still dominates the legislative landscape and wields more influence over public policy than anyone else in South Carolina.
He’s also looking to flex his muscles as he heads into another four-year term – at the expense of Haley and anyone who supports her.
Petty? Yes. Silly? Absolutely.
But unless Leatherman drops dead (which let’s face it – is not outside the realm of possibility), expect Haley to find a brick wall awaiting her in the State Senate for the final two years of her second term.
(Banner via Travis Bell Photography)