Nikki Haley Wins in Landslide

State Rep. Nikki Haley easily won her run-off for the GOP nomination for South Carolina governor yesterday, beating Congressman Gresham Barrett.  She has become the first woman to win a major party's nomination for Governor.  She sloughed off dubious allegations of marital infidelity and a particularly ugly campaign accusing her of not being Christian enough.  She's a Methodist, but apparently that's not enough for some Republicans, including State Rep. Boss Hogg Jake Knotts who actually said 

"Have you ever asked her if she believes in Jesus Christ as her lord and savior, and that he died on the cross for her sins? Have you ever asked her that?"

Apparently that's a requirement for office now.  Haley was criticized by at least one county GOP chair and prominent preachers for (horrors) attending annual Sikh religious services with her Indian immigrant parents and for participating in both Methodist and Sikh ceremonies when she married her husband, Michael.  How dare she honor her parents and her heritage!  Knotts is a particularly loathsome creature who called Haley and President Obama "ragheads" in a radio interview.  He's also a close ally of French Lieutenant's woman Governor Andre' Bauer, which is telling.  You are known by the company you keep.

Nikki is a conservative, Sarah Palin endorsed Republican, make no mistake.   She will run against Democratic State Senator Vincent Sheheen in November.  Her website make no mention of gay issues, but I would not look to her to be our friend.  Don't interpret anything I've said as indicating I support her, but I do think it's interesting that she's making a few Christianist heads explode.