Haley chooses to back Romney

COLUMBIA -- As South Carolina prepares to catapult a Republican presidential candidate toward the 2012 nomination, Mitt Romney received a boost Friday with Gov. Nikki Haley's endorsement, but political observers say it might not be enough to jolt Newt Gingrich's momentum.

S.C. Republican Party Chairman Chad Connelly contends that the race is still wide open and that voters want a chance to meet with the candidates.

"I encourage them to get here and get here quickly," Connelly said.

The state's Republican voters will decide Jan. 21 which of the GOP candidates should face Democratic President Barack Obama in November. A Republican debate is scheduled in Myrtle Beach for Jan. 16.

By next week, South Carolinians should expect to see many more television ads in an effort to sway voters and reassure committed supporters that their candidate takes the Palmetto State's primary seriously.

Scott Buchanan, director of The

Citadel Symposium on Southern Politics, said polls show Gingrich, the former House speaker, as the front-runner with a commanding lead. Romney, who spent most of the campaign season as a favorite, was never really able to break above 25 percent, no matter which candidate temporarily took the lead, such as Texas Gov. Rick Perry or Herman Cain, the former Godfather's Pizza executive who dropped out of the race this month.

Given the strong support Gingrich has in the polls now, Buchanan said he expects him to win South Carolina.

Mark Tompkins, a political science professor at the University of South Carolina, is not as sure. Gingrich might win or come in a close second, Tompkins said. But, he said, many voters still want to know: Does Gingrich want to be president or does he want to preserve his place in the public eye?

Many of the second- and third-tier candidates, such as Perry, former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, will probably run out of resources to continue their campaigns early in the new year, Tompkins said.

Ron Paul, a Texas congressman, will likely be a continuing figure in the primaries, surviving beyond South Carolina, he said.

Buchanan and Tompkins agreed that Haley's endorsement of Romney likely won't do much for the former Massachusetts governor.

"Politicians love endorsements," Buchanan said. "They are more superstitious than baseball players. There is no evidence that the average voter goes in and votes for someone based on an endorsement."

Haley's endorsement could mean even less, given her waning popularity with state voters, the professors said.

A Winthrop University poll, released this month, shows Haley has less than 35 percent approval from more than 1,000 registered Democrats, Republicans and independents surveyed. Another 43 percent said they disapprove of the job Haley has done as governor.

Haley will appear with Romney during his trip to the Lowcountry today. The two are scheduled to participate in a town hall meeting, hosted by 1st District Rep. Tim Scott, at 9:15 a.m. at Memminger Auditorium in Charleston. They have an afternoon event scheduled in Myrtle Beach.

The first-term GOP governor said she decided to back Romney -- as she did in 2008 as a then-state House member -- because of his experience as a conservative businessman that enables him to understand how jobs are created.

"He is not a creature of Washington, and he knows what it means to make decisions, real decisions, not simply cast a vote," Haley said in a statement, which is a veiled jab at Gingrich.

In a way, Haley is returning a favor. Romney backed her during her 2010 gubernatorial run and contributed thousands to her campaign.

Romney said Haley's support is a stamp of approval for conservatives.

"As a successful businesswoman who entered public service so government could better serve the people, Governor Haley's career-long efforts to reform government, make government more accountable to the taxpayers and fight wasteful spending should be examples for leaders across the country," Romney said in a statement.

White House hopeful Mitt Romney and Gov. Nikki Haley will campaign along the coast today. Their stops are:

--A town hall meeting at 9:15 a.m., Memminger Auditorium, 56 Beaufain St., Charleston. Doors open at 8 a.m. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

--A town hall meeting at 2:20 p.m., Horry-Georgetown Technical College, Grand Strand Campus Conference Center, 743 Hemlock Ave., Myrtle Beach.

Newt Gingrich's daughter Jackie Gingrich Cushman will visit the Upstate on Monday. Her stops are:

--9-10 a.m., breakfast at the Main Street Deli, 112 N. Main St., Anderson.

--Noon-1 p.m., luncheon at The Scarlet Chord, 1500 Western Square Drive #E, Laurens.

--2:30-3:30 p.m., tea at the Greenwood County Library, 600 S. Main St., Greenwood.

--5-6 p.m., cocktails at Soby's, 207 S. Main St., Greenville.

--7-8:30 p.m., Spartanburg GOP Christmas Party at 351 E. Henry St., Spartanburg.