SC Gov Nikki Haley Endorses Romney: “Good Conservative Governor, Leadership to Deal With Broken D.C.”

October 29, 2010 - Governor Mitt Romney is pictured campaigning with then-SC gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley in Bamberg, South Carolina.

Governor Mitt Romney was awarded a BIG southern prize this morning…

Nikki Haley, Tea Party supported Governor of South Carolina, offered a rousing endorsement of Romney this morning on the FOX & Friends television program.

FOX News:

“Now more than ever, we need someone that has the leadership to deal with a broken Washington,” Haley said, adding that Romney to his credit is “not part of the chaos” in the nation’s capital.

Haley cited Romney’s experience turning companies around and shepherding the 2002 Winter Olympics. She also said it “says a lot” that he was able to govern effectively and balance the budget in Boston while Democrats were in charge of the legislature.

If nothing else, Haley said the flak Romney takes from President Obama’s team proves he’s the right candidate.

“Governor Romney is the one candidate that President Obama insistently tries to hit and get out of the way,” Haley said. “That lets me know he’s scared of him.”

Governor Haley will also serve as Co-Chair of Romney for President’s National Steering Committee.

“This was something that when I look at the focus of what every family cares about, it’s jobs, the economy and spending, and what I want is someone who is not part of…Washington. What I wanted was someone who knew what it was like to turn broken companies around – someone who had proven results by improving a failed Olympics that ended up being a great success story and someone that knows what it’s like to make a decision and lead, not just make a vote. And, Mitt Romney is that person, and I think now more than ever, we need someone that has the leadership to deal with a broken Washington in a way that we can get things done. And as governor of Massachusetts, what we saw is he balanced his budget, and he cut taxes 19 times with an 85 percent controlled Democrat legislature. That says a lot. That’s something that we need from a good conservative governor at this time.”

From Romney’s Press Office:

“It is an honor to have the endorsement of Governor Haley,” said Mitt Romney. “As a successful businesswoman who entered public service so government could better serve the people, Governor Haley’s career-long efforts to reform government, make government more accountable to the taxpayers, and fight wasteful spending should be examples for leaders across the country. These conservative principles of smaller government are what I am fighting for in my campaign and will be the basis for restoring economic prosperity and fiscal health.”

Click on image to enlarge.

“The election next November will have ramifications for generations,” said Governor Nikki Haley. “Neither South Carolina nor the nation can afford four more years of President Obama, and Mitt Romney is the right person to take him on and get America back on track. He is a conservative businessman who has spent his life working in the economy, and he understands exactly how jobs are created. He is not a creature of Washington, and he knows what it means to make decisions – real decisions – not simply cast a vote. Our country will need real leadership to undo President Obama’s failed policies, and replace them with the conservative principles Mitt Romney learned turning around businesses and a failing Olympics and successfully, conservatively governing a Democratic state. I am proud to endorse him and will work my hardest to ensure he is elected so we can turn around our country.”

(emphasis added)

Background On Governor Haley:

Governor Nikki Haley Is The 116th Governor Of South Carolina. Haley served as member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2005 to 2010. Throughout her career in public service, Haley has been a conservative leader in the fight for smaller and more efficient government. In 2009, she was named “Friend of the Taxpayer” by the South Carolina Association of Taxpayers. Prior to her public service, Haley worked in her family’s business and helped it grow into a multi-million dollar company.

Note: Haley is the first female to serve as Governor of South Carolina and is currently the youngest governor serving in the U.S.

Governor Haley’s revelation that all the GOP candidates courted her endorsement, except Ron Paul, makes her hefty stamp of approval for Romney all the more significant. Her strong feelings about avoiding anyone who had anything to do with the “chaos in Washington” effectively eliminated Newt Gingrich and adds to the growing narrative that Romney’s conservative credentials are better than New Gingrich’s.

Governor Haley and her husband, Michael, will be campaigning today with Mitt and Ann Romney in Greenville, SC. They will hold town hall meetings in Charleston and Myrtle Beach tomorrow.

C-Span recorded Romney’s townhall gathering in Sioux City, Iowa this morning. Gov Tim Pawlenty introduced The Gov. To view, click here.

► Jayde Wyatt

~Addendum by Ross
Click here to listen to the robocall Gov. Nikki Haley recorded for Mitt.