Nikki Haley wins Republican govt nomination in South Carolina
Wednesday, 23 June 2010, 21:49 IST   |    1 Comments
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Nikki Haley wins Republican govt nomination in South Carolina
Bangalore: Indian American Nikki Haley has bagged the Republican nomination for South Carolina's gubernatorial elections to be held in November. The victory, the national 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 female and also the first ever female governor of South Carolina. The 38 year old overcame a series of allegations of extra-marital affairs, which she had denied, to win the nomination. In the run off to the primary elections yesterday, Haley defeated Congressman Gresham Barrett. 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. 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. Haley got 62 per cent of the total votes polled, while Barrett received 38 per cent. The Washington Post said the victory makes Haley not just the front-runner for the office this fall but a likely national GOP star.
Source: PTI
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