GOVERNOR SAYS SHE DOESN’T WANT TO “TIE THE NEXT SENATOR’S HANDS”
S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley will not appoint a “caretaker” – or “placeholder” – for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint.
“I do not want to tie the next U.S. Senator from South Carolina’s hands regarding future office,” Haley said in a statement issued by her office. “I do not want to deprive our state’s citizens of the chance to render their judgment on the appointee’s performance by way of their vote. Most importantly, while I am an avid supporter of term limits, I do not want the effectiveness of our state’s new U.S. Senator to be undermined by the fact that he or she will automatically be leaving the office such a very short time after assuming it.”
“I believe South Carolina will be best served by a U.S. Senator who will work hard day in and day out, and put him or herself before the voters at the soonest possible time,” Haley continued. “Accordingly, I reject the option of a ‘placeholder.'”
Haley’s announcement effectively rules out the likelihood that S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster will be appointed to the seat. It also dramatically increases the likelihood that she will select U.S. Rep. Tim Scott – whose candidacy is being aggressively pushed by national “Republicans.”
Haley and Scott don’t have an especially warm relationship, as the Lowcountry lawmaker is a close ally of fiscally liberal S.C. Speaker Bobby Harrell. Also Scott’s support for crony capitalist bailouts and costly transportation boondoggles like the Interstate 73 project hardly make him a worthy ideological successor to DeMint.
Nonetheless, Scott finished just behind comedian Stephen Colbert in this week’s Public Policy Polling (PPP) survey of South Carolina voters as to their preference for DeMint’s replacement. According to the poll Colbert received the support of 20 percent of Palmetto State voters, compared to Scott’s 15 percent.
This website has recommended that Haley appoint U.S. Rep. Mick Mulvaney, one of only a handful of South Carolina elected officials who has the fiscal conservative credentials/ devil may care approach to the status quo embodied by DeMint.
***
18 comments
Not necessarily
What does she mean by the term
“placeholder?”
All those being mentioned,including McMaster, could be considered a “serious” candidate,once the freebie appointment was up in 2014.
I think what Haley is really saying is:
“Whoever I appoint becomes,by virtue of my appointment,a “serious” appointee,even if they decide,on their own of course, to step aside in 2014 ,and if I should decide to run myself,well I can assure you that I is all just coincidental!”
You got this right. She continues to talk from both sides of her mouth (and rear end).
Why does the phrase “Affirmative Action” keep popping to mind?
If Haley were smart, she would put a fiscal conservative business man in the Senate. We need more business men & women to hold office!! Ralph Norman would be the right choice hands down!
Damn she’s ugly
Expect Nim Nim to LOUDLY bow-out from the Governors chair in about a year to run for the senate seat in 2014 because she knows she won’t be elected Governor! In the mean time she can soak all of us tax payers dry…..or should I say SUCK!
Y’all believe me, right??
I detect faux shock should republicans resort to the same “affirmative action” game the democrats have honed to a science!
Irony is delicous.
Representative Scott is clean and articulate by day and preacher thumpin’ with the folk by night – the torch is about to be passed.
Yes we can!
Dark horse and who knows, a potential Haley admin. favorite – former Supt. candidate Brent Nelsen
Why not Alvin Greene?
Henry McMaster is a viable candidate despite the nonsense Fits keeps saying about him. Viable for the appointment and for the 2014 election cycle on this Senate seat. Just because you keep saying it over and over, and stating it affirmatively, does not make it so.
With the Quinn’s influence over her, don’t be surprised to see Henry in the saddle. Wilkins may be promising not to Primary Haley in return for the appointment but I’d rather have Henry giving Obama hell than Wilkins kissing his ass and doing a reach around the aisle thingy.
well said Billy
Really, now – could Jakie still be in the mix?
end the end Haley loses
Damn, Sic, you BRAGGED about nailing her? She must have gotten an ugly stick beatdown since those days…
1. Never believe a word she says.
2. Tim Scott has signed John Learner (Haley campaign consultant) as his new campaign consultant. Done deal, Scott fork up the cash to Learner and he gets the Senate seat.
3. Don’t be surprised if the Scott endorsed replacement for his congressional seat has has his campaign consultant John Learner.
4. It is about the money. Always the money.
I agree with this analysis. And there is money for Hailey in this somewhere.
one term only.