Blog | South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley makes more sense as vice president than Sarah Palin
As happens during every presidential election cycle, the political media explore scenarios about which “rising stars” would emerge as viable vice presidential candidates over the course of the campaign.
Already during this cycle, which has yet to officially get started for the 2016 race, S. C. Gov. Nikki Haley’s name has floated into the conversation as someone with the potential to become a factor.
Politically speaking, she already is. Not a few GOP candidates will want to kiss her brass ring as they court the voters of South Carolina through the all-important first in the South primary - then pretty much forget about us after that, given that South Carolina’s electoral votes are firmly in the Republican Party’s pocket.
Some political insiders are wondering if, despite her appeal - being the first Indian American and woman governor of a state as red as South Carolina - she might bring too much baggage on the national level.
Here is some of that speculation:
"Nationally her name is still really big," Shealy said.
But one consultant who has worked on numerous presidential campaigns and is gearing up for 2016 said Haley couldn't withstand the scrutiny that a vice presidential candidate has to face. He said the VP nominee has to be squeaky clean because no presidential candidate wants to risk their entire election on their number two.
"She looks really good on the surface," he said, pointing to her gender, ethnicity, and telegenic appeal. "But when you start to do the vetting, you wonder if the vetting that was done on her in 2010 is enough to keep her out of the VP consideration."
He points to rumors of an affair, which the blogger insists is true, and the ethics scandal that tainted her image.
"To go through all of that again, but on a national scale, I wouldn't wish that on her worst enemy," the consultant added.
I think she can weather that type of scrutiny, especially during a year in which many voters will be on the lookout for sexist rhetoric and politics as we get closer to the day the first woman leads the world’s most prosperous country. Hillary Clinton’s presence, on that score, will help offset any negatives Haley would face about the alleged affairs.
But is she a good choice? Should she be one heartbeat away from the presidency?
I don’t know that I would vote for her, but I believe she is a much better option than Sarah Palin ever was or ever will be.
This story was originally published January 27, 2015 at 10:14 AM with the headline "Blog | South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley makes more sense as vice president than Sarah Palin ."