Nikki Haley's New Ad Focuses on Conservative, Pro-Family Image in Wake of Affair Allegations
The day after a South Carolina blogger alleged he had an extramarital affair with GOP gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley, the up-and-coming politician is out with a new campaign ad that emphasizes her "pro-family" conservative values and her alliance with former GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
"I am a woman that understands that through the grace of God, all things are possible," Haley says in the ad, which features a constant track of applause in the background. "It's no longer about electing Republicans, it's about electing conservatives."
Palin is featured in the ad, lauding Haley as "a strong, pro-family, pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, pro-development, conservative reformer."
Haley is hoping to succeed Mark Sanford as South Carolina governor, and recent polls show Haley leading her GOP primary opponents, Attorney General Henry McMaster, Rep. Gresham Barrett and Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer. But just two weeks before the June 8 primary, Republican blogger and former Sanford aide Will Folks alleged he had an "inappropriate physical relationship" with Haley several years ago, before he was married.
Haley said she "emphatically" denies Folks' claim. She rebuffed reporters' questions about the alleged affair Monday evening with her husband at her side.
Meanwhile, Folks said Monday night that Barrett's campaign pressured him to come forward with his allegations of the affair, WISTV reports. Folks, in his blog post initially revealing the alleged affair, wrote that a "network of operatives has made it abundantly clear that in the process of 'taking down' Rep. Haley, they will also stop at nothing to humiliate me." He reportedly said Monday night, "All of my sources pointed their fingers directly at the campaign of Gresham Barrett."
Barrett spokesman Luke Byars categorically denied that allegation, WISTV reports.
"Mr. Folks seems to be full of allegations lately without any proof," Byars said.
Folks also asserted in a blog post Monday night that he has phone, text and e-mail records that prove the relationship existed. He has yet to make them public, however.
So far, there is no evidence to prove the alleged affair, and Palin and other South Carolina Republicans have expressed their skepticism of Folks' claims.
The Charleston Post and Courier reports that Folks has been a controversial figure in South Carolina politics: In 2005, he pleaded guilty to a domestic violence charge, and he has previously blogged about Haley, calling her "hot as hell." Cheves Lignon at the blog Frum Forum points out that Folks' blog is known for the Carolina's Hottest Lawyer Contest.
