Gov. Haley to Endorse Rubio

 

Rubio-HaleyBig news out of South Carolina. Popular Gov. Nikki Haley will endorse Sen. Marco Rubio in the GOP presidential race:

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio will win South Carolina’s most Republican coveted endorsement of the 2016 presidential race when Gov. Nikki Haley announces her support at a Chapin rally on Wednesday evening, a source with knowledge of the governor’s decision told The State.

Haley, the state’s most popular GOP politician in polls, has decided to back the establishment candidate considered to be in best position to challenge Republican front-runners Donald Trump and Ted Cruz.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who has shared advice on education issues with the governor and helped her raise money for her re-election bid in 2014, also was considered a top contender to win Haley’s endorsement.

But he has lagged in recent S.C. polls, falling to fifth in the six-candidate GOP field. Rubio sits third.

According to a recent statewide poll, Haley has a remarkable 80 percent approval rating among South Carolina’s likely Republican primary voters, and is often mentioned as a possible vice presidential pick. Haley joins fellow Palmetto State conservatives Sen. Tim Scott and Rep. Trey Gowdy in endorsing Rubio.

Do you think this will help Marco’s fortunes in SC’s crucial vote — and does it make Haley a front-runner for his potential veep spot?

Update: C-SPAN is running a live feed of the endorsement.

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  1. AUMom Member
    AUMom
    @AUMom

    South Carolina mourned instead of burning after the shooting in Charleston. No other state or city can say that. We wept together because there had been an ongoing conversation between the races for years.

    To continue that conversation peacefully and substantially, the flag had to be moved from state property. It was not banned in the state. It was not burned. It was moved.

    As a South Carolinian, I am proud of the way the state (and Nikki Haley) handled it.

    • #91
  2. DeanOuellette Inactive
    DeanOuellette
    @DeanOuellette

    The political machine matters in SC. Having Haley and Scott is going to help ensure he, at least, has a strong top 3 finish. This will get it down to a Trump/Cruz/Rubio battle quicker than it looked like it would be after NH.

    • #92
  3. Tom Meyer, Ed. Member
    Tom Meyer, Ed.
    @tommeyer

    DeanOuellette:

    The political machine matters in SC. Having Haley and Scott is going to help ensure he, at least, has a strong top 3 finish. This will get it down to a Trump/Cruz/Rubio battle quicker than it looked like it would be after NH.

    Put it this way: if Rubio can’t land third place in SC with the endorsements of Scott and Haley, then he’s got serious problems.

    • #93
  4. AUMom Member
    AUMom
    @AUMom

    I was voter #137 at 9:48 this morning. I vote in a small precinct. This count is higher than some presidential election years.

    While I was out running errands, I passed another precinct poll. The parking lot was full.

    Whoever wins in SC today, it will be because a lot of people have spoken.

    • #94
  5. Concretevol Thatcher
    Concretevol
    @Concretevol

    AUMom:I was voter #137 at 9:48 this morning. I vote in a small precinct. This count is higher than some presidential election years.

    While I was out running errands, I passed another precinct poll. The parking lot was full.

    Whoever wins in SC today, it will be because a lot of people have spoken.

    Make it happen AUMom!

    • #95
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