(CNN) – South Carolina state Sen. Jake Knotts' use of a racial slur Thursday to describe gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley has drawn him a primary challenger.
Former Lexington County GOP chairwoman Katrina Shealy had already been plotting a run against Knotts in 2012, but she told CNN Friday that Knotts' "raghead" remark prompted her to make a very early entry into the race that won't happen for two years.
State senators serve four year terms in the Palmetto State.
The 2012 Republican primary will be a re-match of the 2008 race for the Columbia-area Senate seat, which Shealy lost in a runoff by a 57 to 42 margin.
"After the episode yesterday, I just kind of went ahead and threw it out there," Shealy told CNN. "The political climate out there is so ugly. I am sick and tired of the negative politics. We need to clean house and start over."
Shealy, an insurance underwriter, had the backing of Gov. Mark Sanford and his small government allies in the 2008 race.
From CNN Politics
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It must be in the genes,this pig even looks like Rush,the carnival barker from M.O
It was all a joke...Can't you take a joke? It was taken out of context.
Not a racist bone in his body.
Wow a fat red necked Carolina racist. Can this guy be any more of a stereotype? Does he have friends named Goober and Cleotus?
Well, let's see here another FAT OLD WHITE REPUBLICAN shooting off his racist mouth. Soooo typical
It doesn't surprise me when a Republican uses bigoted word or statement. They are just being themselves.
A red-neck politician in Carolina resorts to racsist slander?? Without a trace of that little voice called a conscience stopping him?
And that is news?!
Have you ever been to the Cracker-lackies?
They don't even think twice to declare in public that (with a smirk) "evolution is just a theory".
You go girl. The old white southern men need to go (from state government and from federal government).
This country needs each state to clean up it's act and get rid of the prejudice and hate. It's was past time for it to be over.
The white men don't know how it feels to be discriminated against, but women and people of color have felt it for centuries. STOP.
Looks like ol' Jake needs an introduction to Captain Situp. Fat bastage.
It almost doesn't matter who runs against him. These remarks are so disgusting he deserves to lose.
It's a shame we have people like Knotts in office.
Republicans have become an embarrassment to all of America. And yes, this is absolutely the right time to clean house and start over . . . with all republicans.
Chickens for health care, rag-heads, sex scandles, lies, fear, hate, racism . . . all courtesy of the GOP. This is what comes of letting Rush Limbaugh, conservative talk radio, and FOX NEWS rule the roost. Before the GOP can take back *their* country, *real* republicans would first have to take back their party from the bottom feeders who are now in control.
Somehow, I don't see it happening anytime soon.
Mark Sanford endorsment? That's a kiss of death!
Personally, I hope Shealy beats the dude from the "Family Guy"!
I wonder if Jake Knott would like to be referred to as a fat, dumb redneck. If the shoe fits...
hey look at that fat slob I guess he got upset when he was a fat little
boy and they would call him knott head
This is another Republican we do not need in
our party. If you can't act right then get out and
go home.
Have you ever seen what "ignorant" looks like, well you're looking right at it, Jack Knotts.
I'm going to have nightmares for the next few weeks behind this picture of "Bubba".
Doesn't he look like the Southern sheriff in that backwoods town in Mississippi or South Carolina that would 'string up' a Black man just because he looked at a White woman? And enjoy it?
If there is a face to prejudice, his comes awfully close.
What an unbelievable pile of garbage. not that i'm surprised. After all, he's a politician.
What do you expect from those rednecks. They are still fighting the Civil War.
South Carolina state Sen. Jake Knotts' went beyond the pale. He should resign.
should any of us be surprised that a fat, white, southern, right wing, over the hill republican wingnut would come out with such an offensive remark?
this is how he and his "ilk" communicate. they, my friends, are a big part of the problem and why we can't seem to move past this kind of rhetoric and sentiment. there is not room anymore for this kind of language. when will these guys ever learn??
Hey Boehner! One of your boys called your CURRENT PRESIDENT a raghead!!!!
Where's the respect?
Where are you Boehner?
Hello????
Let's weed all of these hateful idiots out of this country! How miserable must it be to be trapped in the past, angry at anyone that doesn't look and think like you. It must be a very lonely place. Palin, Hannity, Beck, Limbaugh, and O'Riley are doing their best to ignite hate all over the country. One idiot gets bold enough to spout off, and all of the Nazis chime in.
Darn good thing this country isn't going after fatties. This guy couldn't hide his racism under any of those chins.