Haley, Barrett in GOP runoff; Democrats choose Sheheen

COLUMBIA — Brushing aside allegations of extramarital affairs, tea party favorite Nikki Haley pushed aside a tough group of political stalwarts and nearly won outright the GOP primary race for governor. Just shy of the 50 percent needed to earn the Republican bid, Haley now faces U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett in a runoff June 22.

Meanwhile, Democrats overwhelmingly chose Vincent Sheheen as their nominee for governor. Sheheen, a state senator from Camden, took 59 percent of the vote, topping Jim Rex, state superintendent of education, with 23 percent. State Sen. Robert Ford of Charleston finished with 18 percent.

Sheheen said today marks the start of the general election for Democrats to regain control of the governor's office.

In the GOP race, Haley, a state representative from Lexington, received a major boost last month with Sarah Palin's endorsement. Then Haley survived a national media storm after two men — both well-known political consultants — claimed to have had extramarital affairs with her in recent years. Haley, a married mother of two, denied the allegations and neither man provided proof.

Covering the politics of the Lowcountry, South Carolina and the nation.

With 99 percent of the precincts reporting late Tuesday, Haley had 49 percent to Barrett's 22 percent. Attorney General Henry McMaster had 17 percent, and Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer had 12 percent.

'We went up against some hard-name people: an attorney general, a congressman and a lieutenant governor,' Haley told her supporters. 'We had no name ID and we had no money. We had something they didn't have. We had you.'

All results are unofficial.

Meanwhile, the Democratic contest ended as quietly as its began.

Sheheen, who has served in the Legislature since 2001, stood out as the Democratic front-runner throughout the primary.

He e-mailed a message to thank his supporters early today.

"Thank you for seeing the potential of our great state and for believing that with hard work, we can realize it," Sheheen wrote. "Thank you for coming together to move South Carolina forward. Together, we can repair our fractured state and build one South Carolina because, as Luke wrote in his gospel, 'a house divided cannot stand.' We've been divided for too long."

Carol Fowler, state Democratic Party chairwoman, said the Republican primary has been a fight between a 'barrel of snakes.' She thinks the controversy will benefit Democrats.

Karen Floyd, chairwoman for the state Republican Party, said the GOP will come together when the 'rough and tumble' primary is over. 'What doesn't kill us, makes us stronger.'

Barrett escaped most of the controversy surrounding the Republican contest. Barrett is the 3rd District U.S. Representative for South Carolina.

Runoff rules

State law requires candidates to get more than 50 percent of the primary vote to win. If no one does -- a likely outcome in crowded races -- then the law calls for a runoff two weeks later between the top two vote-getters.

Any runoffs this year will be held June 22.

Those who voted Tuesday in the Republican or Democratic primary may vote only in the same party's runoff; they can't cross over and vote in the other party's. Registered voters who didn't vote Tuesday may vote in either party's runoff.