South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s decision to hit the road this week for three days to campaign for presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is drawing some criticism at home.
“I think Gov. Haley should be focused more on the issues facing South Carolina instead of spending time boosting her national profile,” said Phil Bailey, chairman of the South Carolina Democratic Caucus.
The South Carolina legislature is set to reconvene Jan. 10. The governor’s schedule, released by her office this week, only shows her scheduled events through the end of the week. It’s not clear when she will return, and calls to her spokesman seeking comment were not returned.
Haley, who endorsed Romney last month, will meet up with the former Massachusetts governor during a campaign event in Charleston on Thursday. The two will then travel to Conway, and then she’ll follow him to New Hampshire on Saturday.
“The most dangerous place in the world to be is between Nikki Haley and the national media,” Bailey said. “But her popularity in New Hampshire is probably stronger there than in her own state anyway.”
Despite her endorsement being heavily courted by Republican presidential candidates, Haley’s approval rating has languished in recent months. A recent Winthrop University poll found just 52.5 percent of Republicans approved of her performance while 21.7 percent disapproved.
In recent weeks, the first-term governor has been dogged by claims that she improperly influenced a decision that allowed harbor deepening across state lines Savannah, Ga. The move was unpopular since Charleston’s port competes for business against Savannah.
She’s also been criticized over allegations that she dictated findings of a state committee researching health insurance options.
But around the country, Haley has been championed as a “rising star” by the national media. Her Romney endorsement on national news, and her appearances with him on the campaign trail, have sparked speculation about her political ambitions.
"Nikki Haley wants to be vice president,” said Charleston-based Democratic strategist Tyler Jones. “Bless her heart."
Romney is set to hold a 3:45 p.m. rally in Charleston at Charles Towne Landing. On Friday he will speak at Peanut Warehouse in Conway, S.C.
Kent Bailey
5:07 pm on Tuesday, January 3, 2012
If Governor Haley were a Democrat involved with the re-elect Obama Campaign there would be no criticism at all. We all know that Democrats govern themselves by a totally different standard.
Steve Symonds
5:53 pm on Tuesday, January 3, 2012
I am an Independent but I do think Mr. Bailey speaks the truth. Integrity, honesty, staying out of folks bedrooms, committed to helping people whether they be wealthy or poor. That's how Democrats govern. Haley and the Teanderthals? Well that;s another story. Disingenuous messages, deceitful conduct, dictating about how folks can run their own lives, championing policies that advantage millionaires and billionaires over the middle class. You folks in SC voted this wing nut into office because the Teanderthals were entranced by her. Time to take your state back from the extremists.
Doug Parker
10:15 pm on Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Republicans are her most vocal critics about this endorsement. A democrat merely commented. So before you criticize anyone read the article carefully.
Steve Mehlman
10:48 pm on Tuesday, January 3, 2012
That's absurd, Kent. If you and your namesake Phil Bailey supported Romney instead of one of the ultra-right wing unelectable yahoos who are still in the race, neither of you would object one bit to Governor Haley campaigning for him.
Cornell Davis
7:41 pm on Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Gov Nikki Haley and Mitt Romney have one thing in common. There are both frauds. This state voted for a lying know good evil woman whose only purpose is to look out for Nikki Haley. She can campaign for that clown here, but why does she need to go to New Hampshire? Well, she wants to be in the national spot light. The people who voted for this lady are getting what there deserve. Haley has been lying her way into office from the first day she started campaigning. Know one never asked her the tough questions, and if there did, there would give her a pass when she gave a vague response. You have created a monster that is out of control. Haley is a glory hound and not a good one at all.
Tonto
8:38 pm on Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Cornell, surely your describing Obama-Biden. Not Haley-Romney You need to think before you type :) There is a boat load of tough questions the liberal media never did or will ask Obama.
Michael
10:07 pm on Tuesday, January 3, 2012
What else would you expect a Democrat to say? if this turkey wants to complain about something, how about all the vacation trips Obama has taken since being in office. he spends more time on Air Force One than in the oval office.
Doug Parker
10:16 pm on Tuesday, January 3, 2012
He has still spent less time on vacation than the previous president.
Tonto
10:17 pm on Tuesday, January 3, 2012
I think he already has the record for golfing :)
Tonto
10:18 pm on Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Still spends alot of our dime smoking too.
Erin
2:09 pm on Wednesday, January 4, 2012
That is a really bold comment considering W spent 487 days at Camp David & 490 days at his ranch in Texas. That is over a third of his presidency. I guess the W stands for worthless.
Steve Mehlman
2:24 pm on Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Erin, please quit trying to use FACTS in your arguments. Haters like Michael and Tonto don't want to be confused with facts, especially when they inhibit their rants against the President of the United States.
Thelma T. Reyna
2:45 pm on Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Michael, do your homework. President Obama has actually spent far less time vacationing at this point in his tenure than many other presidents, particularly George W. Bush, whose days at the ranch far, far outnumber the days Obama has taken off. Look it up. Plus, the "luxurious" vacations he takes are no fancier or more luxurious than what other Presidents took, not counting GW. I wonder why folks who never complained about the others get so huffy about Pres. Obama's vacations. I wonder why!
MollyBeejay
6:48 pm on Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Michael, you couldn't even type that with a straight face. President Obama has taken less vacation in his entire time in office than Bush did in any given year. As my sister says: That's some fraggernackel BS."
Kent Bailey
8:00 am on Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Steve Mehlman: Phil Bailey and I are no relation. I have never met him and do not even know him and I certainly was not named after him. You need to go back and READ my post. NO WHERE did I oppose Governor Haley being involved with the Romney Campaign. I'm all for it. What I previously stated was if Governor Haley were a Democrat involved in the Obama Campaign she would not have been opposed.
Steve Mehlman
1:54 pm on Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Phil Bailey is chair of the REPUBLICAN PARTY. The people complaining about Gov. Haley campaigning for Romney aren't Democrats; they are Republicans who support other candidates. President Obama has nothing to do with this story, but you haters have to get your digs in any chance you get, eh?
Where I come from, real patriots respect the office of the President of the United States even if they disagree with a President's policies. But as your great representative Joe ("You Lie") Wilson has shown, I guess a lot of the SC Reeps were out of the room having a smoke when that patriotism lesson was being taught.
Kent Bailey
2:13 pm on Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Steve, I'm not from South Carolina, I had no idea who Phil Bailey really is. All I was doing was responding to the Mount Pleasant Patch article that referred to him as a Democrat. I agree that we need to treat the office of President with respect even though we do not respect the individual who may hold such an office. For the record I do not hate anyone. I was not attempting to throw digs at Governor Haley. I think that she has every right to campaign for Governor Romney, and I also view Governor Romney as being the strongest opponent to face President Obama in the 2012 Election.
Steve Mehlman
2:21 pm on Wednesday, January 4, 2012
OK, Kent. I stand corrected. I guess I'm still ticked off at Joe Wilson's disrespect and overreacted.
Gretchen
8:10 am on Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Isn't it funny ? Haley is criticized for campaigning for Romney, but when OBAMA is constantly campaigning or playing golf, or on vacation -- there is no problem. GO FIGURE ! ! And Cornell Davis calls Romney and Haley a "fraud." Good grief. Look at all the statements made by Obama and tell me who is the fraud. How many jobs has he created ??? Millions ! What a joke. Wake up Democrats. Your candidate is going to LOSE.
Erin
2:35 pm on Wednesday, January 4, 2012
You're delusional... lose. Find me a competent and legitimate Republicon candidate first.
Thelma T. Reyna
2:50 pm on Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Gretchen, do your homework. President Obama has taken far, far FEWER days of vacation than many, if not MOST OTHER PRESIDENTS in America. It's Fox News and other liars who say otherwise, when they know, or should know, the facts. This President is one who works and rarely takes a vacation. And when he does, the Republicans and lie-spinners cry and whine and howl...none of which they did when George W. Bush took about 800 days of vacation. Compare that to Pres. Obama.
Mickey Kriese
9:20 am on Wednesday, January 4, 2012
@ Gretchen - Have you been keeping up with the news? Haley has sold us out, dodges any kind of accountability questions under a guise of this flaky "hi ya'll" facade. oh wait, but 34% approval rating after your first year of governor is respectable... give me a break....
MollyBeejay
6:50 pm on Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Mickey, don't confuse Gretchen with facts. She may break out in hives.
Gretchen
9:26 am on Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Well...........then VOTE HER OUT ..... pretty simple !
Thelma T. Reyna
2:52 pm on Wednesday, January 4, 2012
It would be simple, and should be simple, if folks educated themselves about the truth, about THE FACTS, which as you've shown, not everybody does. When folks just listen to certain cable shows and certain radio shows, and that's all they rely on, they're not educated or informed well enough to go vote out the bad politicians. They believe lies and continue the status quo. Sad but true.
Steve Mehlman
7:23 pm on Wednesday, January 4, 2012
You are right on target, Thelma,
Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Gobbles once said that if you tell a lie often enough, people will begin to think it's true.
Rush Limbaugh and the Tea Party have learned this lesson well.
stanley seigler
9:41 pm on Wednesday, January 4, 2012
@Steve Mehlman: "...if you tell a lie often enough, people will begin to think it's true...Rush Limbaugh and the Tea Party have learned this lesson well."
COMMENTs
not sure many believe the lies any more...rush and the TPers have overplayed their hand...
but wish no one would ref the nazis...they were evil in a class by themselves...and despite differences we are all americans...besides;
gobbles was smarter than rush, etal...
Tonto
10:21 pm on Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Obama puffs on his cigarette while worrying himself sick about our health LOL, LMAO :)
Steve Mehlman
12:50 am on Thursday, January 5, 2012
Tonto, you think it's easy to quit smoking. At least PRESIDENT OBAMA gives a damn about people other than himself. Can't say the same for you.
Tonto
8:53 am on Thursday, January 5, 2012
Now Obama's communist beliefs are out in the open as he bypasses congress and ignores the constitution. Nothing worse, history tells us, then an angry communist dictator :(
Steve Mehlman
10:58 am on Thursday, January 5, 2012
I see. The American people elected a Communist dictator to be President of the United States. That not only insults the President, it insults the majority of American voters who elected him.
Where I come from, real patriots respect the office of President of the United States even if they disagree with a particular president's policies. I often disagreed with President Bush, but I always respected the office.
Guess you don't qualify as a real patriot, Tonto.
Tonto
9:13 pm on Thursday, January 5, 2012
If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, with all DUE respect it is a duck sir.
Steve Mehlman
9:51 pm on Thursday, January 5, 2012
No respect at all in your response. The President was duly elected by the voters of the United States. You have every right to disagree with him on some or all of his policies. But smearing him as a "Communist dictator" is an insult not only to the President but also to American voters.
I would suggest you spend some time in North Korea so you can find out what it is REALLY like living under a Communist dictator. Maybe then you'll be more appreciative of the country you live in.
Tonto
10:14 pm on Thursday, January 5, 2012
I grew up as a child living in fear of communists. People used to build bomb shelters in fear of communists. This new and improved communism being sold in a bright shiny new wrapper doesn't fool me. Take a bite it it still tastes the same. Its is a duck. Quack quack.
Steve Mehlman
10:19 pm on Thursday, January 5, 2012
Perhaps this means you haven't grown up? Or perhaps you need to return to the bomb shelter.
Tonto
10:44 pm on Thursday, January 5, 2012
Opps, i forgot to miss spell some words so you could go off on a liberal talk down. I'm soury :)
Steve Mehlman
12:04 am on Friday, January 6, 2012
You don't need to misspell words. Your lack of understanding is perfectly clear.
But enough wasting my time trying to use facts to convince a close-minded ideologue. Mehlman out.
Karen
12:49 am on Thursday, January 19, 2012
I can't find anything to criticize Nikki for helping out a politician friend. Heck, Obama has spent most of his days in the WH campaigning on the taxpayer dime, and no one seems to care. I'd love to hear him debate Romney or Gingrich on the issues. What has he accomplished in three years?
stanley seigler
12:06 pm on Thursday, January 19, 2012
PS another specific accomplishment
What the [auto] companies got was an infusion of federal money and a brief period of government oversight.
The result? Two years later, the U.S. automakers are one of the rare success stories of these dismal economic times. General Motors has added thousands of jobs and invested $2 billion in 17 manufacturing plants. Chrysler has done so well that the company paid off the federal loan six years ahead of schedule.
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/topoftheticket/la-na-tt-rush-freaks-20120112,0,16119.story
stanley seigler
10:28 am on Thursday, January 19, 2012
@Karen: I can't find anything to criticize Nikki...
i disagree with most of SC gov's policies...but most of her actions are in line with GOP thinking...if GOPs dont approve of her GOP philosophies they should vote for the DEMs...cause there will be little or no difference under any GOPer . ( and she will probably not go hiking on the Appalachian trail)
re: I'd love to hear him debate Romney or Gingrich on the issues.
dont think you will love the results...
re: What has he [BO] accomplished in three years?
despite a "block BO" congress which has no accomplishments:
in general BO has 30-40 million on the path to affordable health care; is strong on defense...has not lied us into an unnecessary war; turned the economy around: most all economic trends are now up.
for some specifics google "obama's accomplishments".
of course most GOPs will not see the list as accomplishments...but hope they recall the direction the USA was headed in 2008...and that it was the GOP no reg, trickle down, voodoo, economics that caused the 1929 and 2008 debacles.
it is a myth the economy does better under GOPs than DEMs...would welcome/appreciate any data to show it's not a myth.
re: debate on the issues.
it would be refreshing to debate issues on PATCH vice beyond the pale, over the top, party line hype, and personal attacks.