Nikki Haley way ahead of rivals but can't avoid run off

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Jun 9 (PTI) Running to become South
Carolina's first female Governor, Indian-American Nikki Haley
overcame unsubstantiated accusations of extramarital affairs
and racial slurs to just fall short of the Republican
gubernatorial nomination, but won a spot for a run-off on June
22.
Surviving a turbulent primary campaign, Haley garnered
nearly 49 per cent of the votes - way ahead of her nearest
rival by more than 25 per cent- but couldn't avoid a run-off
falling short just by one per cent on the mandatory 50 per
cent of the votes.
Haley, a three time State law maker who has the backing
of the Tea Party and endorsement from former Alaska Governor
Sarah Palin will face Republican Congressman Gresham Barrett
in the run-off. The winner will be up against Democratic
Senator Vincent Sheheen in November.
38-year-old Haley a mother of two children faced a smear
campaign in her hunt to be the first woman of Indian descent
to don a Governor's post in an American state. She was pasted
with unsubstantiated charges that she had affairs with two
men.
She steadfastly denied the infidelity claims levied by a
political blogger and a lobbyist who worked for a rival
campaign. Haley was also target of racial slurs because her
parents are Sikhs who emigrated from India.
On top of these allegations, Haley had also to face being
called a "raghead"- a derogatory term used for people of West
Asian and Indian descent- by one opponent's backers.
But by her popular backing, she silenced these critics.
In the run up for the Republican nomination, Haley knocked
South Carolina's Attorney General as well as Lieutenant
Governor out of the race for which they had prepared for
years. It was Lt Governor Andre Bauer's supporter who had used
the slur words.
Waiting for the outcome of the polls, Haley said, "We had
no identity and no money, but boy, did we push back."
Her outstanding performance triggered off a jubilation in
her camp and the Indian American community across the US, who
have stood by her through the thick and thin of the campaign
din.
If she wins the run off on June 22 and the battle against
the Democrat opponent in November, Haley has a chance of being
second Governor of Indian-American descent after Louisiana
Governor Bobby Jindal.
Born Nimrata Randhawa on January 20, 1972 of immigrant
parents from Punjab, Haley is considered to be another rising
star of the Republican Party along with Bobby Jindal. She has
a major in accounting. (MORE) PTI