Indian-origin Haley wins Rep Gov nomination in South Carolina

Lalit K Jha
Washington, Jun 23 (PTI) Indian-American Nikki Haley
Wednesday won the Republican nomination for the governorship
of South Carolina, a commanding victory that could elevate her
to become one of the prominent faces of the party and places
her one step closer to become the state's first woman
governor.
Haley, 38, overcame allegations about infidelity in
her marriage, ethnic slurs and questions about her religious
background. She had denied all the allegations against her.
"This is a really great night because South Carolina
just showed the rest of the country what we're made of," Haley
said, delivering a victory speech to supporters in Columbia.
"Haley rose in the polls by promising to break an
entrenched network that has dominated state politics for
decades. She portrayed the unsubstantiated charges of sexual
affairs as retaliation for taking on special interests," the
New York Times commented.
In the run-off to the primary elections, Halley
defeated Congressman Gresham Barrett. Haley got 62 per cent of
the total votes polled, while Barrett received 38 per cent.
The Indian-origin Republican candidate, a mother of
two, was endorsed by top party leaders including Sarah Palin,
the former Alaska Governor, and Mitt Romney, the former
Massachusetts Governor.
The victory, the US media said, elevated her to the
national stage and almost a certain win later in the year.
If elected in the November elections, Haley would be
the first Indian-American woman and also the first ever female
governor of South Carolina.
US media reported that Haley, who was born as Nimrata
Randhawa, starts as a favourite against Democrat Vincent
Sheheen as South Carolina has strongly favoured the
Republican. The state has never voted for a Democratic
presidential candidate since Jimmy Carter in 1976.
The Washington Post said the victory makes Haley not
just the front-runner for the office this fall but a likely
national GOP star.
Haley, who was trailing behind most of her Republican
rivals, started gaining ground and eventually won the
Republican nominations soon after she was endorsed by Palin
and Romney, both of whom campaigned in her favour.
"Even before Haley had officially become the nominee,
the Republican Governors Association had all-but-endorsed her
-- recognising that an Indian-American woman as their nominee
was a terrific national storyline," the daily said.
"Given Haley's background and the primacy of South
Carolina in the 2012 Republican presidential primary process,
she will almost certainly become a national figure in short
order," it added.
The Indian-American community hailed Haley's victory.
"This is a historic moment for the Indian American
community as we hail the victory of Nikki Haley, the next
Governor of South Carolina," Dino Teppara, Chairman of the
Indian American Conservative Council, said. PTI