I knew there wasn’t gonna be much substance in the first South Carolina GOP debate among gubernatorial candidates, but I watched anyway.
To the surprise of no one who reads this blog regularly, my preference in this race has been S.C. State Representative Nikki Haley and the debate did nothing to change my mind.
All of the candidates are good folks who want good things for the state. But there is a certain chemistry the Governor’s office requires for a person to be a successful chief executive and South Carolina desperately needs a successful chief executive.
Bless his heart, Lt. Governor Andre Bauer was probably the most forgettable of the bunch. He liked telling us that he traveled and promoted the state. Good for him. Maybe that will help him in his race for the 4th Congressional seat.
Attorney General Henry McMaster came across like one of the ol’ boys sitting around the cracker barrel postulating about “them folks in Washington.” Prone to reading his notes while talking, I was waiting for a Pappy O’Daniel moment: “Don’t tell me how to court the electorate. We ain’t one-at-a-timin’ here. We’re MASS communicating!“
State Senator Larry Grooms was sure passionate and reminded us of legislation that “just missed” getting passed. He sounded so much like a salesman, methinks we may have found a replacement for the late, great Billy Mays.
Congressman Gresham Barrett; looked either sour or like he was about to cry. Maybe he was just constipated after having his record shoved up his … place where constipation occurs. I did like his tie, though.
So now we get to Nikki Haley. Some of her answers were the usual politi-speak, but she was personable, she was clear, she was knowledgeable and sounded authoritative. Granted, that could be said about a couple of other participants, but not as consistently as Haley.
A post-debate poll online a the WIS-TV website shows Haley “winning” the debate handily with 44% of the vote (size of sample unknown). That’s more than McMaster (23%) and Bauer (13%) combined and multiples more than Grooms (11%) or Barrett (9%). This is stunning. Remember – we’re consistently told that South Carolina isn’t ready for a woman governor. On this day, she convinced a lot of people that she’s a contender and certainly a force with which two former state-wide candidates (McMaster and Bauer) must contend.
For me, it gets down to this: When important issues facing South Carolina are being addressed, who do I want sitting at the head of the conference table leading the charge? Who has the focus, the demeanor, the expertise, the passion and the intellect to get things done?
Who seemed the most like a governor?
Not the salesman, Pappy O’Daniel, Mr. Constipated or the Traveling Man.
There is a long campaign ahead and much will be learned about the candidates and problems will arise that will test them all. But for now, seat the lady at the head of the table.
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Mrs. Haley did an excellent job. I as very surprised as I have not beeen following this very closely.
Bauer was like a car salesman, primed with pre-canned statements telling us how lucky we would be to have him. I took a shower after watching him, to get the uck off.
You say you want a “successful chief executive,” and yet your choice is the candidate with the worst relationship with the General Assembly? Let me ask you: is Mark Sanford your idea of a “successful chief executive?” Not wther his principels are right — whether he got any of them put into action.
If Mark has been successful in your mind, then I can see Ms halley being your man..er, woman.
Here’s a quick check: how many of her conservative freinds in the Assembly — the real conservatives now, not the RINOs — are supporting her for Governor. Zero? One? Why do you think that is?
She will get NOTHING accomplished.
Dont get me wrong, I think she did well at the debate and is a strong candidate. But if your measure is wheher she can get anythign done, it is hard to imagine a worse cnadidte.
You are mistaken. I’m not supporting Mark Sanford. He can’t run, ya know. Nikki Haley may subscribe to some of Sanford’s policies, but Sanford she ain’t. I believe she will do what she says she will do – work with the Assembly – include legislators – reach across the aisle. I believe she CAN accomplish things because her very election would be a clear signal to the Assembly that the electorate wants a better approach to governance.
If your idea of “getting things done” is to go along with the status quo that will “accomplish” only for the legislative elite, then you are part of the problems that plague South Carolina.
For those of you that were impressed by Nikki Haley last night at the debate please visit her website, http://www.nikkihaley.com. Thanks.
“yet your choice is the candidate with the worst relationship with the General Assembly?” If she has a bad relationship with them then it’s because you’re keeping the good ole boys in these positions who have their own agenda and it’s not the agenda of their constituents.
I suggest you work on removing the incumbent in your area and vote in someone that wants to actually do something…like listen to their constituents. Support the “Spending Accountability Act” so we can see who is for the people and who isn’t.
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She seems reasonable from what I have seen and heard. But, I don’t think I would leave my wallet or children alone with any of them.
“Remember – we’re consistently told that South Carolina isn’t ready for a woman governor.”
Yeah, I guess that’s the reason I am going to miss Governor Marshall Clement “I have a penis and I know how to use it” Sanford Junior and Lieutenant Governor Rudolph Andreas “I have a penis also and I know..er..er.. carry it with me all the time” Bauer.
Election time is the silly season, I refuse to take it as seriously as I have in the past.
“I believe she will do what she says she will do – work with the Assembly – include legislators – reach across the aisle.”
I am still waiting for that list of conservatives in the Assembly that is just dying to work with her.
If the answer is “she will have the mandate of the people,” blah, blah blah….so did Sanford.
Running against the Legislature is a great way to win. It is not a great way to “get things done.”
I only ask beause your original comment was that you thought she was the candidate best suited to accomplish something. Seems like she is the LEAST likely to do that. Tell me she is great becasue she is strong on pricniples, an honest person, a breath of fresh air, etc., I can buy that.
Tell me she is the candidate most likley to get things done…and all you are telling me is that you have no clue about SC poltiics.
So, anyway, just post that list of conservative legsialtors supporting her anytime…
Still waiting…come on… you can come up with 1 or 2, or 3, right?…takes like 65 to pass a bill, but we will settle for just 1 or 2…
Ok, hey…going to go to bed now…I’ll let you sleep on that list of lawmakers just dying to help Nikki “git’er done” next year…
Wait a second…
According to your logic, who IS likely to “get anything done”? And I mean contrary to the status quo that has crippled SC government for the last century or two.
Are you saying that it’s impossible to “get anything done” if someone goes against the legislature? If so, is the only answer to keep going down this same path? Someone’s got to challenge the status quo, which means, yes, going against the legislature.
Your argument is self-defeating, which means that you not only DO “have a clue about SC politics,” but you’re also the problem with it.
Riley worked with the legislature….so did Campbell…they “got things done.”
Seems like you missed my point (and the author of this blog has jsut chosen to ignore it): this post was based in large part on the assertion that Nikki, better than all the other GOP candidates, could “reach across the aisle,” “get things done, sit at the head of the table, blah blah blah.
I call BS on that one.
Of the crew running, Haley and Gresham would probably be the least effective with the legislature. Bauer and Grooms would probably be the best. Hard to say about General Mac.
It was the original post that set the measure for success. All I am saying is that, if you accept that measure, then Nikki comes in LAST
Too bad that neither you nor anyone else calls on the legislature to work with the governor, but the other way around. Is there no responsibility on the representatives to cooperate with the chief executive – elected by the entire state?
Your point is really – which candidate will bend over and let Leatherman and Harrell have their way with him/her? As Abba Joe said, that’s the status quo and that’s why South Carolina is in such piss poor shape. Riley and Campbell were successful because the legislature treated them like executives, not subjects. Bauer, McMaster and Grooms would be lap dogs to the good ol’ boys.
The governor doesn’t have to reach across the aisle. All the governor has to do is reach for the pen and sign it or veto it. These are a few reps that I believe would work with her.
Ballentine, Wylie, Stringer, R.L. Brown, Kirsh,
E.H. Pitts, Miller, G.R. Smith, Whipper, Huggins, Frye, Knight, Daning,
J.E. Smith, Rice, Anderson, G.M. Smith, Phillips, Clyburn, Hart, Bowen,
T.R. Young, Simrill, Duncan, Gunn, Agnew, Viers, Cobb-Hunter, King, Allison,
Nanney, Bingham, Hamilton, Toole, Hiott, Millwood, Stavrinakis, Funderburk,
Battle, Neilson, Erickson, Cole, Hutto, Pinson, and Jefferson