Sarah Palin: ‘54 states to go’

Just 37 seconds after Sarah Palin was called upon for election night analysis, Fox News had to interrupt her for the series of three concession speeches by the also-rans and Newt Gingrich's victory speech. The network got back to her later, and we posted that video last night.

But in the brief earlier segment, Mama Grizzly got in a quick swipe of the bear claw at the incompetent occupant of the White House:


h/t: SarahNET

- JP

'The Undefeated' will show in four additional cities July 29 (Updated)

In three states
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Victory Film Group has announced that four additional cities will be hosting "The Undefeated" starting Friday, July 29th. They are Charleston, South Carolina; Cincinnati, Ohio; Columbus, Ohio; and Salt Lake City, Utah.

Update: Here are the theaters:

N. Woods Stadium 13
2181 Northwoods Blvd.
N. Charleston, SC 29406

Carmike:
Ritz 15
3217 South Decker Lake Drive
West Valley City, UT 84119-3284

AMC Newport on the Levee 20 (across bridge from Cincinatti)
1 Levee Way, Suite 4100
Newport, KY 41071

AMC Lennox
777 Kinnear Rd.,
Columbus, OH 43212

- JP

RCP: Sarah Palin to Visit S.C. as Part of Early-State Trifecta

"To me, an American is an American, no matter what their primary election dates are."
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RCP national political reporter Scott Conroy says RealClearPolitics has learned that Gov. Sarah Palin will visit South Carolina later this month as part of her One Nation bus tour. The Palmetto State presidential primary in January is traditionally the first to be held among the southern states and the third major GOP primary in the nation:

RCP has learned that she is purposefully bypassing meetings with local party leadership as she works to cultivate her image as an "anti-politician," in anticipation of a wildly unconventional presidential run.

[...]

During her political rise in Alaska, Palin had several high-profile dust-ups with members of the state GOP establishment, which left an indelible mark on her psyche and have made her resistant to what she views as the trappings of party machinery.

Palin won accolades in Alaska when she blew the whistle on a state party chairman who had committed ethics violations, and she subsequently took on incumbent GOP Republican Gov. Frank Murkowski during her successful 2006 gubernatorial primary run, in which she was opposed by most members of the party apparatus.

Palin has shown a deep desire to avoid direct participation in the traditional machinations of Republican Party politics ever since, and she is showing no signs of changing a strategy that has repeatedly paid dividends.

"I figure that politicians in office are really busy and they don't need to be bothered by someone just knocking on their door," Palin told RCP.

Following her current "One Nation" tour of the Northeast, Palin will next journey to the Midwest, where Iowa will be front and center.

[...]

During the third leg of her tour, Palin will travel to South Carolina and may also appear at the Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans, where several other current and potential GOP White House hopefuls are scheduled to speak.

[More]

Gov. Palin will tour Ellis Island this morning before her bus tour continues on to New England. It is widely anticipated that she will stop in Boston, where colonists dumped the British's tea into the Boston Harbror in 1773, on her way to the first-in-the-nation primary state of New Hampshire later this week.

- JP

SarahPAC's direct mail campaign (Updated)

If she gets in the race, it would shake up the field
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SarahPAC, Gov. Sarah Palin's political action committee, is sending direct mail fund-raising solicitations nation wide. Rachel Weiner states the obvious at Chris Cillizza's Washington Post blog, "The Fix". It's a move that which will no doubt ignite the punditocracy, which has been all about how she's not going to run in 2012, to reconsider the efficacy of that narrative:

The copy of the letter sent to The Fix came from South Carolina, and SarahPAC Treasurer Tim Crawford said that about 400,000 solicitations were sent out nationwide. While the mailing, which aims to raise contributions for Sarah PAC, says nothing specific about Palin’s own political future the decision to send it will surely raise eyebrows.

“Taking back control of the House last year was only the first step,” Palin writes in the mailer. “Now you and I must fix our eyes on 2012. Our goal is to take back the White House and the Senate.”

Ms. Weiner makes the obviouss observation that if Sarah Palin jumps into the race, it would shake up the field in the aftermath of Mike Huckabee’s announcement Saturday that he will sit out the 2012 contest. No small number of values voters, a critical demographic for 2012 Republican primaries, are now up for grabs. Gov. Palin is still well-regarded by these social conservatives.

SarahPAC is a leadership PAC, an an organization formed to support other candidates. Although a leadership PAC cannot under FEC rules spend fund to directly support the campaign of its sponsor, it may fund travel, administrative expenses, consultants, polling, and other non-campaign expenses. Sarah PAC had $1.3 million on hand at year's end after raising $3.2 million during the election cycle. The SarahPAC website got a major overhaul last month which allows Palin supporters to more easily interact with the governor.

Update: A PDF copy of the letter is here.

- JP

Sarah Palin: Remove the Boot from the Throat of U.S. Businesses

Obama’s job killing policies and regulations are poisoning our business climate
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Gov. Palin, in an op-ed posted Wednesday on her Facebook Notes page, warns President Obama that when his NLRB pits one state against another, "eventually every state will suffer":

Removing the Boot from the Throat of American Businesses

President Obama has the opportunity to prove that he cares about keeping jobs for working class families in America. He can speak up about his appointees at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) who have their boots on The Boeing Company’s neck. Does the President support the rights of businesses and working class people in right-to-work states to make sound decisions without government regulatory agencies unfairly punishing them?

Does the President realize the real concern here is not that businesses will choose to locate in one state over another? It’s that businesses will choose to locate in other countries because thanks to the Obama administration’s job killing policies and over-reaching regulatory boards the business climate in the United States is growing toxic. South Carolina’s Senator Jim DeMint reminded President Obama that the President said in his State of the Union address: “We have to make America the best place on Earth to do business.” I agree with this sentiment, Mr. President. If we want to keep good paying jobs for working class families in the United States then you shouldn’t pit South Carolina against Washington state because eventually every state will suffer when businesses declare “enough is enough” with these tactics and decide to relocate in more business-friendly countries.

- Sarah Palin

- JP

Gov. Palin: Another Boot on the Throat of Business

A Wednesday morning tweet from the guv:
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"Boot on the throat of business in the USA. Here's another JOB KILLER that Obama idly watches, while freedom erodes http://on.wsj.com/j2vMAD"

Now the unions presume to dictate where business can and cannot operate. Had enough socialism yet?

- JP

In Charleston County SC, Charlie Lybrand supports Sarah Palin

"Run Sarah Run!"
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If Sarah Palin runs for president in 2012, she will need the support of local politicians down at the county and precinct levels to help her build her state and county organizations across the country. These are the folks who will recruit the campaign volunteers who work the phones, stuff the envelopes and knock on doors.

In Charleston County, South Carolina, we have no doubt that Charlie Lybrand, who has been active in county government and politics for years, will be organizing for her there. In a guest op-ed on Earl Capps' blog, Lybrand expresses his support for Gov. Palin:

I had no idea how soon, Sarah Palin would become a household name. Her freshness and good looks continue to keep the Sarah Palin haters off balance. She likes to hunt, fish, and go camping and do all the things us guys hope we might find in the perfect woman when we choose a mate. She can talk politics and sports without having to be coached. She’s pro-life, loves her children like they are the only ones in the world. She can fillet a Halibut shoot a Moose and cook’m up for dinner. Did I mention she looks just as good in chest high waders as she does in her Sunday go to meeting clothes.

She’s written two best selling books and she is not afraid to endorse candidates who may or may not win. In fact, my State’s Governor Elect, Niki Haley would most certainly have been just one more also-ran, had Sarah Palin not endorsed her at exactly the right time in the campaign. I saw my guy Henry McMaster go from the top of the pile to 20 points down in one day after the Palin endorsement. Now that’s power.

I knew right then the political strength this woman had. All the media critics except for Fox news love to make fun of her, yet she keeps having to get bigger trucks to take all the money she is making to the bank. Isn’t America great!!! She is not afraid to speak her mind or take on a cause. She recognized early on how important the Tea Party was and embraced the movement as well as becoming its titular head.

The political elitist still like to make fun of her but as the days go by, I get the feeling that they are seeing the 2008 Presidential Campaign played out all over again. Except this time, it’s not Barack Hussein Obama who is in the drivers seat.

Sarah Palin is a red blooded American from the tip of her toes to the top of her head and unabashedly proud of it. That’s one of the main reasons I like her so much.

I remember what it was like when Ronald Reagan was sworn in to Office. Americans knew the long painful haul of the Carter Administration was finally over. Our hostages were coming home and we could finally get our chins off of our chest. If my intuitions are still intact, I think that most America will feel the same way in 2012. Except this time the hostages that are being held are us and our country will be set free.

[More]

Are there a lot more Charlie Lybrands out there who would able and willing to organize a Sarah Palin presidential campaign down at the boots-on-the-ground level? You betcha!

- JP

Sarah Palin Fans Waited in Rain, Cold Before SC Book Signing (Updated)

Last stop -- for now -- on this book tour
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For hundreds of excited but chilly Sarah Palin fans in Columbia, SC, their long wait in the cold and rainy weather is over. Gov. Palin is signing their copies of America by Heart. In addition to her autograph, reports the Associated Press:

Everyone who walked up to Palin got a "Hi there! What's your name?" followed by a million-dollar smile and a few seconds of chitchat. County music blared over the store's loudspeakers as the line for Palin eventually snaked down almost every aisle.

The governor is wrapping up her second book tour (although she's hinted that future signing events may be scheduled) in a key presidential primary state:

South Carolina will be the first state in the South to send its Republicans to the polls in 2012, and Palin is well-liked here. An exit poll taken on Election Day found more than 80 percent of people who identified themselves as Republicans in South Carolina approved of Palin.

But they also split among Palin, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee when asked which candidate they favored to be the party's nominee in 2012.

At the Books-a-Million in suburban Columbia on Friday, it was hard to find anyone who wasn't planning on voting for Palin if she runs.

[...]

"We need someone like her to clean things up," said Gail Martin, who was getting a book signed for her and her 8-year-old daughter. "She's not like anyone up there now."

[...]

Martin's husband picked up the bracelet for her. But she wasn't going to miss meeting her hero Friday. The 36-year-old Navy veteran from Lexington was thrilled when U.S. Sen. John McCain from Arizona won the Republican presidential nomination in 2008. She became even more excited when she got to know Palin after McCain picked her as his running mate.

"She just stepped into the spotlight and handled it great. And then I found out she had a child with Down syndrome, and I knew she was what this country needed," said Martin, who has a 6-year-old daughter with autism.

Martin brought along her 8-year-old daughter Lauren, who started liking Palin after watching her climb mountains and go hunting on her new reality show.

Gov. Palin was last in Columbia in May to give her endorsement to Nikki Haley, who is now the Palmetto State's governor-elect. Just a few weeks later, Haley defeated three more established candidates to win the Republican Party nomination:

Plenty of cars in the bookstore parking lot had fresh "Haley for Governor" bumper stickers on the back.

"We now have a woman as governor," Martin said. "Wouldn't it be nice to have one as president too?"

Update: More coverage from The State, The Post and Courier and The Bellingham Herald.

- JP

Dan Calabrese: AP = All Propaganda

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Dan Calabrese notes that incumbent U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis of South Carolina's 4th congressional district was destroyed (by a whopping 42 percentage points) in the GOP primary this year by local prosecutor Trey Gowdy. Incredibly, the Associated Press blames Sarah Palin, even though she never endorsed any candidate in that race:

Now, many people can tell you why Inglis lost, although none of them work for the AP. Inglis lost because America finds itself in a precarious fiscal situation and needs to elect people with certain qualities in order to fix that situation – and Inglis does not possess these qualities. America is careening toward fiscal insolvency because of Congress’s refusal to get federal spending under control. Solving the problem means electing people who will reform entitlements, reject pork-barrel politics and stop trying to kick the can down the road so the next generation of Americans can deal with the problem.

[...]

So in an attempt to explain all this, the AP highlights what it sees as Inglis’s brave, high-minded denunciations of Glenn Beck, whom he labels a divisive fearmonger. But that is just an entry point for the AP to take a shot at one of its favorite targets – Sarah Palin.

Now, let’s back up for a second. You will recall that Palin denounced the ObamaCare socialized medicine bill for the fact that it will likely lead to “death panels,” a description that refers to committees of “experts” who will make decisions about who gets life-saving treatment and who doesn’t – largely based on what it will cost the government.

You will also recall that the major media, particularly the AP, screamed long and loud to anyone who would listen that there are no death panels in the bill. The media made this insistence so many times that the left-wing propaganda group MediaMatters declared Palin’s statement “debunked” based on the fact that the media said so many, many times, which qualifies as evidence of truth in the twisted world of MediaMatters.

What you may not recall is, as documented in this column and elsewhere, the bill (now a law) absolutely does contain the panel to which Palin refers. It is called the Independent Payment Advisory Board, and it is so important to the supporters of ObamaCare that Harry Reid added a stipulation that it cannot be eliminated without a two-thirds majority vote of both houses of Congress.

But the AP has, for nearly a year, treated Palin’s death panel comment as an established falsehood. So the AP now sees Inglis as the tragic victim of his own courageous honesty because he, too, bought the AP’s propaganda.

[...]

Poor Bob. He lost the seat to which he had a divine right because he wouldn’t join in the horrible demagoguery practiced by Sarah Palin, and now that his career as a congressman-for-life has been cut tragically short, the AP must run to him for an explanation of all that has gone wrong in American politics.

Because people who lose primaries for their own seats by 42 points are usually the smartest people in the room, don’t you know?

Dan Calabrese has much more to say on this at North Star National.

h/t: roy y

- JP

Daria DiGiovanni: Palin, Haley and the Palmetto State Primary

*
This commentary by Daria DiGiovanni at Parcbench.com is worth the read. We've excerpted the first few paragraphs:

When it comes to Sarah Palin, one thing’s for certain: her critics on both the left and right are incapable of constructive criticism. To the everlasting shame of the current state of our cultural and political landscape, we’ve become tragically accustomed to the depraved, illogical and relentless attacks on her from the Obama-worshipping crowd hell-bent on destroying their messiah’s most vocal, principled and courageous opponent.

But as the reaction of many Facebook conservatives to the South Carolina primary results indicates, at least some on the right have either lost the ability to respectfully debate on substance, or fallen victim to a less virulent, though equally unattractive strain of Palin Derangement Syndrome. If they are disappointed in Palin for endorsing Nikki Haley, it necessarily follows that her entire proven track record of reform, good governance and principled leadership suddenly disappears in puff of self-righteous indignation.

Thus the woman who successfully triumphed over Alaska’s “Corrupt Bastards Club” (CBC) is chastised as a “sell-out”, a self-serving member of the establishment and—most reminiscent of our friends on the Left—a dumb hick who, on second-thought, really doesn’t bear that much of a resemblance to Ronald Reagan after all. Never mind that Reagan often endorsed candidates with whom he had a few policy disagreements.

Ms. DiGiovanni is the author of a novel, Water Signs: A Story of Love and Renewal, and co-host of the "Conservative Republican Forum" program on Blog Talk Radio. Read her full Parcbench op-ed here.

- JP

Nikki Haley: Palin endorsement gave campaign 'amazing boost'

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Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Republican SC State Rep. Nikki Haley acknowledged Sarah Palin for the former Alaska governor's key endorsement in her come-from-behind victory in the SC GOP primary last night:

In an interview with MSNBC Wednesday morning, Haley said ex-AK Gov. Sarah Palin (R) had given her campaign a key boost. Palin appeared with Haley at a rally in Columbia, then in a TV ad as Haley's numbers surged.

"Gov. Palin has been fabulous at getting people to understand the power of their voice," Haley said on "Morning Joe." "She gave us the push we needed at the time."

- JP

Nikki Haley and Tim Scott win SC primary runoffs (Updated)

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With just 31 percent of the precincts reporting, the Associated Press declared Nikki Haley the winner in South Carolina's GOP primary runoff election for governor. Haley's lead over Gresham Barrett was such a commanding one that the AP declared her victory only about an hour and a half after the polls closed at 7 PM Eastern Time Tuesday:

Nikki Haley became South Carolina's first Republican woman nominated for governor Tuesday.

Her win came as she rode the public backlash against the state's notoriously rough-and-tumble politics and with the backing of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and popular former South Carolina first lady Jenny Sanford. In her three House terms, she has been known as a close ally of Gov. Mark Sanford and a boat-rocker who sparred with leadership.

It was a winning mix in a year where tea party activists and GOP conservatives are anxious to reshape the Republican Party. Now she'll face Democratic state Sen. Vincent Sheheen to succeed term-limited Gov. Mark Sanford.

[...]

Tuesday night, preliminary results showed Haley leading with 63 percent of the votes to 37 percent for U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett.

Tim Scott won the GOP primary runoff contest in South Carolina's 1stCongressional District:

Scott hopes to become South Carolina's first black GOP congressman in more than a century. He beat Paul Thurmond, the son of the late U.S. Sen. and former segregationist Strom Thurmond in the runoff after securing the backing of several Republican leaders in Washington. With 83 percent of precincts counted, he led with 69 percent of the vote to 31 percent for Thurmond.

Like Haley, Scott was also endorsed by Sarah Palin.

Update: Gov Palin congratulates the winners via Twitter:

"Congratulations to Nikki Haley and Tim Scott! On to November!"

- JP

The Campaign Spot: South Carolinians Go to the Polls Again

*
It's runoff day in The Palmetto State, and two of Sarah Palin's endorsements are on the line in the candidacies of Nikky Haley and Tim Scott:

In South Carolina, Republicans will pick their gubernatorial nominee between Nikki Haley and Gresham Barrett. The past two weeks have seen no anti-Haley bombshells, so she is expected to win; in the first round, she had 49 percent to about 22 percent for Barrett. But because a little over 50 percent voted for someone else last time, it’s possible this might not be the rout that the first round’s results would suggest. Haley represents overturning the established order of Palmetto State GOP politics, and there are a lot of folks who are comfortable with the way things are already.

[...]

Down-ticket in South Carolina’s 1st congressional district is the GOP runoff for U.S. House; Tim Scott is expected to finish ahead of Paul Thurmond, son of the longtime senator. This is an R+10 district, and so the winner is likely to go on to win in November; if elected, Scott would be the first African-American Republican in the House since J. C. Watts retired.

The State, SC's largest newspaper, will have updates from the runoff election here throughout the day. The South Carolina State Election Commission will be reporting unofficial results here after the polls close.

- JP

Quote of the Day (June 21, 2010)

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Mark J. Goluskin:

"If both Mr. Scott and Mrs. Haley win, this is great news for Sarah Palin. It shows that she has the real pulse on the Republican voter nationwide. And that is what the Republican establishment fears the most."

- JP

Sarah Palin endorses Tim Scott in SC-01

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On Facebook Saturday, Sarah Palin endorsed Tim Scott in the GOP primary runoff for South Carolina's 1st Congressional District:

Tim Scott for South Carolina’s 1st District

I’m very proud to add my support to Tim Scott’s campaign to represent South Carolina’s 1st congressional district. Tim has a remarkable success story. He grew up in poverty and was raised by a single-mom who struggled to provide. With help from a mentor and his brave mom, Tim learned to appreciate the value of hard work and American opportunity. He went on to become a business owner and has served in public office with integrity on the county and state level.

Tim is a pro-life, pro-2nd Amendment, pro-development, Commonsense Conservative who’s been endorsed by the Club for Growth because of his solid commitment to the principles of limited government and fiscal responsibility.

He will represent the Palmetto State with distinction in DC, so I encourage you to vote for Tim in his run-off election next Tuesday, June 22nd. Please visit Tim’s website at www.votetimscott.com and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

- Sarah Palin

SC-01 is a coastal congressional district which ranges from Seabrook Island to the North Carolina border. It encompasses parts of Charleston, Dorchester, Berkeley and Georgetown counties and all of Horry county. The district includes the city of Charleston and the Myrtle Beach resort area.

Scott, a state representative, faces Charleston County Commissioner Paul Thurmond, son of the late Sen. Strom Thurmond, in the run-off. The winner will battle Democrat Ben Frasier, Jr. in the general election.

- JP

Politico: Primaries a win for Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney

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Politico has published a major piece by Andy Barr on the impact of Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney on the Tuesday primaries and the implications for both if they decide to run for president in 2012. Their endorsements and support for successful GOP candidates in the critical early primary states of Iowa and South Carolina means that each will have some powerful friends in all the right places.

Both Gov. Palin and Gov. Romney were backers of big winners former GOP Gov. Terry Branstad in Iowa and state Rep. Nikki Haley in South Carolina. The endorsements are the sort of political investments which will be paid back with interest if either or both of the former governors run for president in 2012.

Mike Huckabee's endorsements, unfortunately for the former Arkansas governor, were investments in losing campaigns in the two states -- Bob Vander Plaats in Iowa and Andre Bauer in South Carolina -- both of whom finished well back in the pack of their respective races.

Barr says that the stellar showing by Branstad and Haley -— she nearly avoided the runoff in which she will square off against U.S. Congressman Gresham Barrett June 22 -- "represent a subtle but possibly important shift in the conservative grassroots" which gave Huckabee an upset Iowa victory in 2008 and a solid runner-up finish in South Carolina. Romney, who invested considerable time and treasure in Iowa to kick off his 2008 primary campaign, finished second behind Huckabee there in 2008

Those who read the political tea leaves will find it significant that Republican voters in South Carolina have no problems whatsoever having a woman heading the statewide ticket, as Haley would be the first Palmetto State governor of her gender if elected. They will also find significance in the fact that Iowa's GOP electorate chose a more mainstream conservative over a favorite of the Christian right who headed Huckabee's state campaign in 2008.

For Palin, who is already popular with conservative activists in Iowa and South Carolina, her support for the GOP nominees -- who serve as the de facto party leaders in the two states -- means she now has important allies in exactly the right places for 2012.

“I think those endorsements help Palin more than they actually help the candidates themselves,” said GOP strategist John Feehery. “She now has friends for life and she has created the perception that she has her finger on the pulse of the Republican Party, which gives her more credibility as the party spokesperson.”

Perhaps of more consequence for a potential Palin presidential bid, the former Alaska governor now has access to a network of staffers and activists with recent winning experience in winning contested statewide races.

For Palin, who is notorious for running an extremely lean operation and has never had to assemble a ground operation in those states, the assistance in marshaling staff and a field unit would prove invaluable.

[...]

Former South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson said Romney’s early endorsement proved helpful to Haley, but it was Palin who helped push her across the finish line.

“Romney backed Nikki when she was at seven percent in the polls and gave her credibility,” Dawson said. “Palin then knocked it out the park along with a well-run and funded four-week effort to close the race.”

[...]

“Palin is still the hottest endorsement for Republicans in contested primaries,” said Frank Donatelli, the chairman of GOPAC, an organization designed to elect Republicans to state and local offices.

Republicans with ties to the Romney and Huckabee camps, meanwhile, were in the spin cycle, trying to downplay Gov. Palin's impact on the June 8 results. In doing so, they joined many on the left such as David Weigel and David Corn, who have been pursuing the same tactic in the Washington Post and other liberal outlets.

Though we've been critical of Politico in the past for some biased reporting, we have to give Barr credit for an impartial and balanced analysis here.

- JP

RGA: Nikki Haley Won; Stop the Madness

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The Republican Governors Association, in not so many words, is suggesting that Gresham Barrett should withdraw from the GOP gubernatorial runoff in South Carolina:

The Republican primary contest in South Carolina is now headed to a runoff, while Democratic voters have selected Vincent Sheheen as their nominee. Republican Governors Association Executive Director Nick Ayers today issued the following statement:

“The voters of South Carolina made a clear choice in Nikki Haley, notwithstanding the possibility of a runoff. The outcome is all but certain.

“Nikki Haley withstood a barrage of innuendoes and slurs in the closing days of the primary season and persevered to the finish with dignity, determination and confidence. Moreover, receiving half of the votes against two other statewide incumbent Republicans and a sitting Congressman speaks volumes of her strength as a candidate and bodes very well for her in the General Election. We congratulate Nikki for her grit and determination.

“Meanwhile, South Carolina Democrats have again served up the same old Washington, D.C.-style solution to any problem: expanded government. Vincent Sheheen promises more regulatory interference, bureaucratic red tape and impediments to free enterprise. Exactly what The Palmetto State does not need.”

But Politico's Ben Smith reports that the Barrett campaign is not taking the RGA's hint:

No way, says Barrett aide Todd Harris, who tells me Barrett will "totally" stay in for a second vote.

We don't understand the Barrett camp's thinking here. Unless that contributor cash is burning a hole in the campaign's collective pocket, and they feel like they absolutely must spend it. To us, this is a pretty good indicator of what Gresham would do with the taxpayers' money. It's what Sarah Palin has referred to as "Opium Addiction" -- OPM, for "Other People's Money." The urge to spend, when doing so serves no attainable end, is a powerful one, and when politicians cannot resist it, just another symptom of what is wrong with politics as usual.

- JP

Nikki triumphs, a big win for Sarah and the libertarian wing

- by Eric Dondero
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AP: She's "Libertarian" with a Capital "L"

Nikki Haley finished with 49% of the vote in the GOP primary last night. Her nearest rival gained 22%, which makes the outcome of any run-off all-but-certain.

Her huge win is being heralded, even by the liberal media, as a victory for libertarians and for libertarian-leaning Sarah Palin.

From Google News via the AP:

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina's Nikki Haley entered a runoff for the Republican gubernatorial primary with a substantial edge over her GOP rival, deflecting attacks on her marriage and her ethnicity using an antiestablishment message that resonated with the state's voters.

"We saw us push against the establishment, we saw us push against the power and push against the money and boy did they push back," Haley, a three-term state lawmaker and tea party headliner, said after coming close to winning the four-way race outright.

Continuing:

Haley blamed an entrenched "Good Old Boy" system for conspiring to derail a campaign that gained steam with a slew of television ads and a spirited endorsement by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. She pivoted off the claims to underscore an antiestablishment message that has so far resonated.

Haley's politics are familiar to the state's conservative voters. She hews to the Libertarian, limited government policies favored by Sanford, though she distanced herself from him. He backed her candidacy and she won the endorsement of his ex-wife, popular former first lady Jenny Sanford.

- E.D.

Regular contributor Eric Dondero is a Texan and the Publisher/Editor of Libertarian Republican.

Quote of the Day (June 7, 2010)

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Peter Hamby:

"It's easy to forget that for a while there, the South Carolina governor's race was a pretty tame affair... The race was turned upside down on May 14 when Sarah Palin stood on the steps of the State House in Columbia and endorsed state Rep. Nikki Haley, earning Haley boatloads of exposure and helping rocket the long-shot candidate to the front of the race."

- JP

Erickson: The Most Dangerous Woman (Updated)

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RedState's Erick Erickson reports on the results from the GOP primary election for governor in South Carolina:

They called Nikki Haley a whore. They called her a raghead. Now they better start practicing calling her Governor.

Nikki Haley came within a percentage point or two of avoiding a runoff for the Republican nomination in South Carolina. Despite all the smears and all the foul play, she is a winner.

The second place finisher, Congressman Gresham Barrett, goes into the runoff roughly 27% behind Haley.

[...]

This race also makes Nikki Haley the most dangerous woman in South Carolina. The old order, the old way of doing things, has been decidedly defeated. The runoff becomes the last stand — a TARP voting establishmentarian versus the outsider accountant they threw everything at.

With 99% of the precincts reporting, Haley had 49 percent of the vote to Gresham Barrett's 22 percent. Henry McMaster got only 17 percent, and Andre Bauer only managed 12 percent.

Update: From The Garnet Spy:

Weekly Standard Editor Bill Kristol said on Fox News Tuesday night that he has spoken to influential party officials in Washington who say they expect South Carolina Congressman Gresham Barrett, who appears to have earned a runoff for the Republican nomination for governor against State Representative Nikki Haley, will drop out of the race on Wednesday.

- JP