SC: Romney Endorsed by Leaders, Gov Nikki Haley Weighs in on Debate

By Jayde Wyatt | January 17, 2012 - 6:41 PM | 2012 Election, Barack Obama, Conservatives, Debate, Deficit Spending, Economy, Endorsements, Family Values, Fox News, Jobs, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Nikki Haley, Rick Santorum, Right-To-Work, South Carolina, Spending, Values 1 views

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Mitt Romney greets enthusiastic supporters while walking to his campaign bus after holding a rally in Florence, SC. Jan 17, 2012 (Photo/Reuters/Jim Young)

SC Governor Nikki Haley and former SC GOP Chairman Barry Wynn weigh in on last night’s presidential debate in Myrtle, South Carolina:

“Tonight, Mitt Romney once again displayed his vision, leadership, and grace under fire. He showed why he is without question the right man to end the chaos in Washington, D.C. and put America back to work. Neither our state nor our nation can afford four more years of President Obama, and it is critical that we nominate someone with Mitt Romney’s history of results. We need a president who has a record of not just talk, but of actually getting things done, and Governor Romney is that man.” ~ SC Gov Nikki Haley

“Mitt Romney came out ahead in tonight’s debate because he again showed that he is the best candidate to both take on President Obama and fix our economy. President Obama spent his life outside the private sector and it shows. Mitt Romney spent his life outside of politics, working in the real economy. In order to create private sector jobs in this tough economic environment, we need a president who worked in the private sector.” ~ former SC GOP Chairman Barry Wynn

Before South Carolinians vote on Saturday, Governor Romney has one more chance to show them his dynamic, determined, delightful self. CNN is hosting a debate on Thursday, Jan 19th in Charleston. According to most of the reports I’ve gathered, pundits say Newt Gingrich had a great night last night and Romney was winged. I agree that it wasn’t his best debate, but he held his own. I’m hoping we see more of the agile-smiling-sparring-superior Romney we know so well. And, the next time Newt or Rick Santorum interrupt The Gov, I hope he boldly says “chill” … then, charges in for checkmate.

More great news:

MITT ROMNEY ANNOUNCES SUPPORT OF SOUTH CAROLINA LEADERS

Boston, MA – Mitt Romney today announced the support of key South Carolina business leaders, elected officials, veterans, and conservative activists.

“The wide range of support from conservatives across South Carolina proves that my message of a ‘Simpler, Smaller, and Smarter’ federal government is resonating with voters concerned about the direction of our country,” said Mitt Romney. “I’m happy to earn their endorsement and look forward to working with them for the vote of every South Carolinian.”

“The voters of South Carolina have an important choice to make regarding the future of this country,” said former South Carolina Secretary of Commerce Bob Faith. “We need a conservative candidate who will defeat President Obama and reverse his failed policies. That man is Mitt Romney. He is committed to getting rid of failed government programs like Obamacare. He is against government entities like the NLRB interfering with free enterprises like Boeing who want to invest in South Carolina and create jobs for South Carolinians. He is for restoring conservative principles to government, so that Washington will stop spending and start letting this country’s entrepreneurs and business leaders get back to creating jobs.”

“Our nation is at a crossroads, and Mitt Romney is the best choice to lead our country through these challenging times,” said Greenville County Council Chairman and retired Brigadier General Butch Kirven. “He is a strong leader who we can trust to restore limited government to Washington, cut spending, grow our economy, and get our nation back on the right track. I was looking for someone who reflects my values, is strong on national defense, and knows how to get the economy going again. Mitt Romney is the leader who can positively do that, and he can win in November.”

“It’s really simple, the only person of either party running for President who has created significant private sector jobs is Mitt Romney,” said retired executive Bill Hewitt. “He will implement the policies necessary to turn the economy around, start of story, end of story.”

(emphasis added)

South Carolina Leaders Supporting Mitt Romney:

Upstate
State Representative Don Bowen, Anderson
Greenville County Councilman Joe Dill
Greenville City Councilwoman Amy Ryberg Doyle
George Dean Johnson, Jr., Chairman, Johnson Development Associates, Spartanburg
Greenville County Council Chairman Butch Kirven
State Representative Phil Owens, Easley
Rick Pennell, Metromont Corporation, Greenville
Specialist John Snyder, U.S. Army, Ret., Greenville
Greenville Mayor Pro Tempore David Sudduth

Midlands
John H. Burriss, Owner of Gold’s Gyms of Columbia
Former York County GOP Chairman Henry Eldridge, Rock Hill
Richard J. Gaton, Columbia
Richard Jackson, CEO, C.R. Jackson, Inc., Columbia
Leighton Lord, Former Chairman, Nexsen Pruet, Columbia
State Representative Ralph Norman, Rock Hill
Former York County GOP Executive Committeewoman Karen Walto, Rock Hill

Coastal
Sally and Richard Coen, Mount Pleasant
Former South Carolina Attorney General Charlie Condon, Charleston
Former South Carolina Secretary of Commerce Robert A. Faith, Chairman & CEO, Greystar Real Estate Partners, Charleston
Rear Admiral, James Flatley, U.S. Navy, Ret., Charleston
William B. Hewitt, Retired Executive, Charleston
Former Bluffton Mayor Hank Johnston
Former South Carolina Secretary of Transportation Buck Limehouse, Charleston
Brigadier General Cliff Poole, U.S. Army, Ret., Charleston
Bill Prezzano, Charleston
Charleston County Treasurer Andy Smith
Jonathan Zucker, President, The InterTech Group, Charleston

*Company/business names are provided for identification purposes only.

Endorsers are retired or not on active duty. Use of military rank and job titles does not imply endorsement by the Department of Defense or any department thereof.

Love to see the endorsements rolling in from across the state… Now, let’s win this thing!

► Jayde Wyatt

BREAKING: Nikki Haley Endorses Mitt Romney

By Luke Gunderson | December 15, 2011 - 11:53 PM | Mitt Romney 1 views

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South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley Stands With Mitt

A HUGE get for Mitt from South Carolina:

From Politico: South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, one of the most sought-after remaining Republican endorsements, will come out for Mitt Romney Friday morning, POLITICO has learned.

Haley will offer her formal endorsement on Fox and Friends, giving Romney an important boost ahead of South Carolina’s primary next month.

Romney is heading to South Carolina this weekend, where he’s likely to be joined by Haley at town hall meetings on the coast.

Haley, a tea party favorite who upended South Carolina’s GOP establishment by winning last year, has been courted by all of the GOP presidential contenders. As a state representative, she backed Romney in 2008.

Will Mitt Romney be at the Fox News Debate in South Carolina on May 5th?

By Tommy Winter | May 2, 2011 - 11:46 AM | 2012 Announcement, Debate, Mitt Romney, South Carolina 1 views

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Nope.

It’s an answer that a lot of us expected, even though we’re anxious to see our man on the debate stage. Here’s a statement from top Romney advisor, Matt Rhoades:

“Gov. Romney will not be participating in this week’s South Carolina debate because it’s still early, the field is too unsettled and he’s not yet an announced candidate. Fox News and the South Carolina Republican Party have both been notified of this decision. Gov. Romney is planning to visit South Carolina on May 21st and he looks forward to debating there closer to their primary.”

The impatient part of me wants Romney to go out swinging — right now — but the strategy conscious part of me tells me that this is a good call by the Romney camp.

Your thoughts?

Nikki Haley in Final Campaign Push: Help from Mitt and Ann Romney, Jenny Sanford

By Jayde Wyatt | June 16, 2010 - 7:19 PM | 2010 Election, Endorsements, Family Values, Fundraising, GOP, Mitt Romney, Videos 1 views

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Mitt Romney and Nikki Haley South Carolina gubernatorial hopeful Nikki Haley called upon two of her big-name endorsers, Mitt Romney and Jenny Sanford, for extra help on the campaign trail this Friday. South Carolina’s run-off election takes place next Tuesday, June 22, 2010. Haley is running against Rep Gresham Barrett (R-SC).

CNN – Former South Carolina first lady Jenny Sanford will join gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney on the campaign trail Friday for a headline-grabbing final push ahead of next Tuesday’s Republican runoff election, a Haley source tells CNN. Sanford won’t have to go far to join the front-running gubernatorial candidate – Haley is scheduled to appear with Mitt and Ann Romney in Charleston and Beaufort, both a short drive from Sanford’s home on Sullivan’s Island.

(emphasis mine)

From Nikki Haley March 17, 2010:

Friends,

Yesterday we received some incredibly exciting news – former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has endorsed our campaign for Governor.

“Ann and I got to know Nikki Haley during my campaign for president and came away enormously impressed with her as a person of character and as the spokesperson for a new generation of leadership for South Carolina,” Governor Romney said. “She has a proven conservative record of fighting wasteful spending and advocating for smaller, more efficient government. I’m honored to call her my friend and prouder still to endorse her campaign for governor.”

Governor Romney is a national leader and one of the most successful businessmen of his generation, and I’m honored to receive his support. He knows how to create jobs and turn the economy, and his support and advice will be invaluable over the months and years ahead as we do everything we can to put South Carolinians back to work.

The momentum for our campaign is continuing to grow and yesterday is yet another example of the exciting news we are getting day in-and-day out. I am so proud of the campaign we have run, how far we have come in the relatively short time we have been at this, and the prospects for all of us as we approach the primary on June 8th.

And we need your continued support to get our message of pro-business, good government reform to as many voters as possible. Would you donate, put a bumper sticker on your car, and put a yard sign in your yard?

Thank you again for all you have done for this campaign. Together, we can and will change South Carolina forever.

My very best,

Nikki

(emphasis mine)

Haley’s latest campaign video:

Good luck, Nikki!

UPDATE from Politico (6/17/10):

South Carolina’s Nikki Haley is hoping to lock up the Republican nomination for governor this Friday with a series of high-profile campaign stops featuring Mitt and Ann Romney as well as Jenny Sanford.
[…]
The two stops will be among the few political appearances Ann Romney has made since the end of the 2008 presidential campaign.

Sanford may continue to campaign through the weekend as Haley works up to Tuesday’s runoff, a campaign source told POLITICO, although the schedule is not yet set.

Both Sanford and Romney came out early for Haley and have appeared on the stump with the GOP state representative.

Asked about the campaign stops, Haley spokesman Tim Pearson told POLITICO: “Gov. Romney came out for Nikki when she was in fourth place, and in a state like South Carolina that has national implications, that’s not an easy thing to do.”

“He gave us some real credibility in the state and country,” Pearson added of Romney. “He’s very popular and we’re excited for him to come out for us.”

(emphasis mine)

June 8, 2010 “Mini” Super Tuesday Election Results: Let’s Chat!

By Jayde Wyatt | June 8, 2010 - 1:17 AM | 2010 Election, Family Values, GOP, Mitt Romney 1 views

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Update: Results and recap for June 8, 2010 elections can be found by clicking here.

Join us for

“Mini” Super Tuesday

election CHAT

Today, June 8, 2010

6:00 P.M. Eastern Time – ?

Americans will be casting votes for candidates today in state primary elections and one run-off election across 12 states: Arkansas, California, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, N. Dakota, S. Carolina, S. Dakota, and Virginia.

Will incumbents prevail? Or, will fresh faces triumph?

Join the camaraderie and conversation as election results come in!

(Thanks for participating, everyone. The chatbox has been moved back to the sidebar. It can also be found in the chatroom at any time.)

UPDATE #1 (from Ross): The Early Word on Turnout in Nevada, California, and South Carolina

All things considered, the turnout seems a bit low…Generally speaking, low turnout helps outsider and upstart candidates.

Nikki Haley, With Romney & Palin Support, Takes Lead in SC's Race for Governor

By Luke Gunderson | May 21, 2010 - 10:08 PM | 2010 Election, Endorsements, GOP, Mitt Romney, Polls, Videos 1 views

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Romney & Haley

After an entire year of being the underdog in South Carolina’s gubernatorial race, Nikki Haley has suddenly captured the lead!

She may owe this abrupt jump in polls to some really big endorsements, including initial nods from Mitt Romney, Jenny Sanford, and Erick Erickson of RedState – followed by the more recent endorsement of the rogue herself, Sarah Palin.