Washington (CNN) – South Carolina gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley got two crucial endorsements in the final weeks of her Republican primary campaign from Mitt Romney and Sarah Palin – two potential presidential candidates with an interest in building support in the early primary state.
But according to new filings with the state ethics commission, another Republican heavyweight also swooped in at the last minute - apparently under the radar - to help Haley capture the GOP nomination: Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.
Jindal's campaign committee directed $3,500 to Haley, a fellow Indian-American, on June 16 – one week before Haley dispatched Rep. Gresham Barrett in the Republican runoff election.
Haley told CNN that Jindal called her to offer congratulations after her June 22 victory, but neither Jindal nor Haley's campaign announced Jindal's support during the campaign.
Another prominent Republican who had remained publicly neutral in the race, South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint, gave Haley $3,500 on June 25 – three days after she captured the nomination.
But it appears DeMint gave the same amount to Barrett just before the election. His $3,500 donation to Barrett is recorded on June 22, according to the ethics filings, the day of the runoff election.
DeMint - who has close ties with Barrett and shares his team of political consultants - had been rumored to be planning a runoff endorsement of Barrett but ultimately decided against doing so as it became clear Haley would win the nomination.
From CNN Politics
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He has really turned around his image since his pathetic performance after Obama's first State of the Union rebuttal. Jindal has looked very good trying to handle the Gulf crisis, much better than Obama has looked.
Was it his money or his campaigns money that was given? If it was the campaings it should be considered illegal. that money was given him to run, not to back other candidates. And if it was personal funds, then there should be laws agianst fundraising outside you district or state,
What does that say about DeMint that he abandons his friends at the first sign that they might lose.
Jindal is a fast talker with very fragment messages within his LENGTHY orations. This is quite typical of well educated, unsure, and ineffective people. I have work with many such people throughout my 40 years of corporate employment. This syndrome is quite typical of folks that are New Americans, but frequently from Pakistan, India, etc. Brilliant but ineffective. I know that he is a first generation American...but his parents are new Americans. Almost as if reading from cribe cards or a book. Loyal to almost a fault ...but weak at quick dicisions are substance. Not aggressive in thought are new concepts.
I am a Democrat, and Black. So what's the big deal Bobby supporting Nikki? You can ditch the ethnic undertone in this report, it won't fly. Politicians with the same ideology, or position for a specific cause support it each other all the time. Nikki won fair and square. Say something new CNN.
That's nice, but $3500 and no public endorsement a major news story it doesn't make.
Somebody get this guy a comb or give him a hair cut.
Guess you would call that double incentive......GOP and cultural heritage, both being factors, to the support.
Georgians look so good in comparison to SC.
Newt Gingrich is probably one of the few people capable of leading this country out of the Progressive/Communist quagmire we have been dragged into. The American people need to give the Republicans a super majority in both houses to make it happen. Obozo, Reid, Pelosi, Frank, all need to thrown out of office in order to save this country from their insane destructive policies.
This guys' mouth can't make up its mind which side of his face to speak from.