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'On the Record' - On the Trail: Mitt Romney supporter Gov. Nikki Haley says she and the residents of her state need a partner in Washington
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It is the first in the south primary South Carolina and a pop metal state will be a key test for the GOP candidates front runner governor -- -- -- already campaigned there and a fight for the state socially conservative voters.
May be his biggest challenge yet.
So what are South Carolina voters really looking for and will the -- have to do anything differently to get their -- stuff.
And he he.
Hello governor.
-- -- -- I don't -- -- is -- governor and I know even Doris said governor Mitt Romney but I want matches are big picture questions out about your state.
How was your state to -- about -- -- different from New Hampshire and I want to thank.
Yeah I think -- Find that the issues that affect South Carolina are the issues we're facing all across the country it is jobs spending and the economy.
People want another elected officials remember who would as if they work for people want -- -- -- government understands the value of a dollar they want to know that there's a president.
It's gonna go in Washington takes the chaos it's Washington DC and get people back to work those -- the issues at South Carolina cares about the issues that this country cares about it.
You know we noticed the generalize about states and people say that -- New Hampshire is more -- for instance but -- your status farm -- conservative which -- so does have a bigger risk for some of the more moderate members of your party if you think that that's the is that a -- generalization about your state.
We haven't.
That spending caps matters they understand that keeping your fiscal house in order matters they understand that jobs in the economy and allowing the private sector to work.
Matters and that is why we've been -- campaign when governor Romney the last couple updates in South Carolina we started a couple weeks ago.
And we're getting the message out that here is a man who is taken broken companies and fix them here's a man who took a failed Olympics.
And made it a source of pride for our country and here's a man that went into the state of Massachusetts cut taxes nineteen times.
Balance their budget.
With an 85% Democrat legislature we need somebody that has not had anything to do with Washington.
He fits that mold he fits the issues in south Carolina's responding.
How the Tea Party in South Carolina -- in this isn't new to this election cycle and last election cycle in the -- you're mid turn them curious is.
Is it Tea Party is -- an influential element of the vote this time -- so.
Carolina the tea party's always gonna be influential but what people need to understand about the Tea Party is.
They are combination of Republicans Democrats and independents -- had enough -- Washington.
They are tired of the old Washington that doesn't listen to the people they're tired of the spending that -- control.
They want to see their friends and their families get jobs again and so that's what you're saying with the Tea Party they do care about the value of -- dollar they do care about conservatism and so they are always gonna have a strength in South Carolina and and the country.
-- -- -- population South Carolina have any sort of feeling of what's hot what percentage Republican wants democratic and what would fall that -- that category independent.
I think it's about.
5545.
Is what we've always kind of assumed it is it's about it at 10% higher Republican population now -- five million now -- just gained a new congressional seat.
It's -- South Carolina has changed a lot but it still people that love their country loved their military.
And want to -- Washington bring us back to the country that -- -- -- and -- looking for a strong president but they're looking for somebody with courage.
They're looking that set for somebody that's gonna bring pride back to this country.
And they're not gonna subtle and so we're excited about that.
The -- -- huge crowds have been getting at South Carolina the energy and South Carolina has just been amazing the last couple days away campaign and so we're excited about what's gonna happen.
In terms of the strategy he think that -- governor Perry's decision to it Leslie stand that raised some people wonder whether get out of Iowa does he cut into senator Rick santorum's.
Voted in -- if you -- the race -- that -- BSN Rick Santorum going to be governor.
Romney -- go to speaker Gingrich to -- I I I don't know exactly what that is I'm not a political analysts on not gonna try and do that what I can tell you -- that we've got good candidates in the field and now is the time where they are really listening to the issues.
They're paying attention to what they're saying.
And I think what you're saying is the polls in South Carolina all the polls that came out today show governor Romney in first place.
And I think it's because his message is resonating and we are gonna continue to see all the candidates by hard work -- can see all the candidates.
To give their -- Give their talking points and and really meet the people and shake their hands and that's what they should do that there is no candidate it's gonna have an easy ride and South Carolina.
-- coming to South Carolina you've got to work you've got to work by shaking hands you've got to work but.
Proving that it's not what you say it's going to be what you do and results matter to the people in South Carolina.
What do you think his change and I even doors to governor -- resisted the -- -- -- but he came in fourth last time in 2008.
And now he is doing well in the polls released noticed a fleeting this seems -- rather have polls seemed rather fluid.
But what do you think is the difference this year from four years ago.
For governor Romney there.
People have seen the trauma of President Obama.
They had seen what happens when you really go to the extreme they've seen what happens when you vote for somebody based on.
The personality that they have they don't want that anymore.
They've seen in the state of South Carolina how we tried to protect Boeing jobs in the NLRB and -- Obama continued to try and take them away.
They have seen the fact that we're strong right to work state and they're trying to push the president Obama's trying to push the unions then.
They have seen the fact.
What all these mandates are doing and what we're seeing with governor Romney if this isn't.
A man -- city's gonna come in the South Carolina and the very first day -- he becomes president he's gonna give a waiver to the people of our state every other state and he's gonna repeal mandatory health care this is a man that understands we're fighting illegal immigration reform and the Department of Justice is telling us no.
We're fighting to make sure that we get voter IDN South Carolina and the Department of Justice is telling us now.
And and governor Romney is saying we police say should have the right to make those laws themselves we don't think government should get in the way.
South Carolinians and the rest of the country are feeling what happens when you have a heavy handed president that thinks government the answered all things.
And they're fighting back and they're fighting back -- -- the people across this country.
Have seen it what President Obama has done to it and they know we can't afford to have it for four more years.
Any interest to be you know and the vice president donned a -- candidate on the ticket.
I and very blessed to be the governor of South Carolina there is no interests -- -- to be.
Vice president or to hold any -- that position I'm doing this because -- a partner in Washington I'm doing this because I know that the hardest part of my job.
Being governor is.
Is dealing with the federal government I just want something that's gonna allow me to sell my -- I just want -- -- allow me to bring more jobs in my state.
And grow our economy through the private sector and I know that governor Romney will help a state that.
-- my husband Charleston they know it's a great place to vacation and a beautiful little town that this abzug he'll plug your state there governor thank you.
Thank you Democrats -- it's great to be with --
