Jenny Sanford backs Haley for governor

South Carolina first lady Jenny Sanford has penned a letter in support of state Rep. Nikki Haley and her bid for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.

Meanwhile, organizers of the South Carolina Tea Party organizations have decided to support one of Haley's rivals, state Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Bonneau.

Haley, R-Lexington, has been one of the Legislature's biggest supporters of Gov. Mark Sanford and has said she would continue his push for reform.

Jenny Sanford's letter praises Haley for fighting for taxpayers and for her courage in bucking legislative leaders, such as her push to have more votes recorded. "Nikki Haley took it upon herself to stop this corrupt system and fought to have each and every vote put on the record so taxpayers could see all the special-interest deals and the wasteful spending. As you can imagine, that didn't go over real well with the leadership in Columbia.

"They threatened to pull Nikki's committee assignments from her, and when she refused to back down, they fulfilled that threat," Sanford's letter says. "She still didn't back down. And she got results -- we now have an unprecedented number of votes on the record."

Haley will meet with voters and supporters from 8:30-10 a.m. today at the Fuschia Tea Emporium, 113 Church St. in downtown Charleston.

Charleston Tea Party organizer Ron Parks said Tuesday that Grooms stands out from the other candidates. "Larry Grooms not only represents the principles of liberty and conservative values that we believe, but no other candidate has literally been there with us like Larry Grooms," he said. They plan to announce their endorsement at 3:30 today at Waterfront Park in Beaufort.

Other Republicans running are 3rd District Rep. Gresham Barrett, Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer and S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster. Democrats in the race are Charleston lawyer Mullins McLeod, Columbia lawyer Dwight Drake, S.C. Education Superintendent Jim Rex and state Sens. Robert Ford and Vincent Sheheen.