Keeping Track: Gov. Nikki Haley's Endorsement Scorecard

Gov. Nikki Haley has made no secret of her intent to influence this November’s elections. That extends across all levels of government. Here’s a look at who she’s backed so far.

• She endorsed Mitt Romney last December. By all accounts, the race between Romney and Pres. Barack Obama is a virtual dead heat.
• Haley also supported Pat McCrory in the North Carolina Governor’s race. McCrory appears to be on his way to victory in the Tar Heel State.

Here in South Carolina, where polling is less well-known for local races:

• Haley endorsed political newcomer Tony Barwick for Senate District 35 in Sumter County. The seat has been historically Democratic, but Barwick is looking to reverse tradition and is thought to have a chance to do so.
• Haley has also backed 20-year incumbent Larry Martin in Senate District 2. Martin is expected to receive a stiff challenge in the Pickens County race from petition candidate Rex Rice. The two are debating tomorrow on Easley Patch.
• Along the coast, the governor is supporting Georgetown County Solicitor Greg Hembree against Democrat Butch Johnson in House District 28. The seat came open with the retirement of Dick Elliott after twenty years of service. Given that Hembree has outraised Johnson $21,000 to $200 the seat seems likely to go into the Republican column.
• The Movement Fund, a 527 created to help raise money for candidates who support Haley’s “conservative reform agenda”, has contributed money for advertisements backing DeeDee Vaughters in her Senate 26 race against nine-term Democrat Nikki Setzler. The fund has also helped pay for mailers in the Senate 23 race where petition candidate Katrina Shealy is facing Haley nemesis Jake Knotts.

In the primary season, Haley endorsed Lee Bright in Senate District 10 and Tom Rice for the new Congressional seat in the Grand Strand area. Both men won.

Haley has also called 2012 the “year of the petition candidate” on several occasions, but she has yet to formally endorse one such candidate, though Shealy, as mentioned above, received advertising support.