Washington, Oct. 31 (ANI): South Carolina's Indian origin Governor Nikki Haley, who has often been viewed as a rising conservative star, has had far more success outside the state as the Lexington Republican has struggled to win new supporters in the US, according to critics.
Haley, whose support has grown in the business community, has failed to create a fan base inside South Carolina as she ended up alienating some former allies, made powerful enemies and damaged relationships with legislators who could have helped pass her agenda.
A list of the her bruised relationships extends from Tea Party elements and the libertarian Policy Council, both of which once championed Haley, to fellow Republicans, including House Speaker Bobby Harrell, McClatchy reports.
However, Haley's image of a young, minority woman, driven by the desire to reform her state, has allowed her to raise big bucks, much from out-of-state donors, and landed her a coveted speaking role at this year's Republican National Convention, the report said.
Haley arrived in office bruised, dogged by allegations of ethical scandals. While some of Haley's hires for the governor's office had experience in prior administrations, including Haley's attorney and her D.C.-based pollster-adviser, most of her team was young and had worked only on campaigns, not in state government, it added.
"It consisted of inexperienced people, almost a frat-boy mentality, who were giving her a lot of bad advice," said John Crangle, a longtime State House lobbyist and frequent Haley critic.
Haley repeatedly has said she has no ambition beyond South Carolina. But chatter continues that a win by Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, whom the governor has worked to elect, would open untold national doors for Haley, the report said.
But if President Barack Obama is re-elected, opinions are split on whether Haley can win re-election in 2014, it added. (ANI)
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