Donors help Haley after affair allegation
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/05/25/art.nikki.youtube.jpg caption="Nikki Haley's campaign has experienced an increase in donations."](CNN) - South Carolina gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley received a much-needed fundraising boost Monday after a blogger claimed to have had "an inappropriate physical relationship" with the Republican, her campaign told CNN.
"Nikki had more online donations yesterday than any other single day of the race," a Haley adviser told CNN. "The public knows an unfair personal attack when it sees one."
The adviser would not offer details on how much Haley has raised.
Regardless, any cash infusion is good news for Haley, who has trailed her three GOP rivals in fundraising for the duration of the campaign and just started airing two statewide television ads.
Haley has few staff, and has relied on outside groups and endorsements from national conservative figures like Sarah Palin to earn media exposure.
The allegation of the affair, made Monday by South Carolina conservative blogger and political consultant Will Folks, led to national headlines and threatened to derail Haley's campaign. But it also rallied conservative activists to Haley's defense.
Palin urged her Facebook followers to dismiss the accusation and Erick Erickson, the editor of RedState.com and a CNN contributor, told his readers to donate to Haley's campaign. On Tuesday afternoon, Erickson started an online "moneybomb" to help "combat the sleazy smears" against Haley.
Haley's opponents for the GOP gubernatorial nomination are Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, Attorney General Henry McMaster and Rep. Gresham Barrett.
On Tuesday, Haley's campaign said the candidate is determined to stay focused on the "issues that truly matter" in the gubernatorial race.
"For the past year now, South Carolinians have been subjected to much more frenzied media sensationalism than they ever wanted," campaign manager Tim Pearson said. "Nikki is determined not to contribute to that. She addressed these allegations forthrightly yesterday, not only in her initial statement, but also in both the Greenville Chamber of Commerce debate and at a media availability with reporters."
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Of course she'd get big donations. Since she had an affair she is now their new hero. Wen Democrats fool around they step down (except for Clinton) When Republicans do they get re-elected. The party of family values...oops, I meant hypocrisy.
But she hasn't actually said she didn't diddle Folks.
I agree it's private, none of my business, but if she's going into politics and if she diddled some guy while cuckholding her husband, and that information gets out, she should be honest about it.
Look what happened to John Edwards.
Can't wait to see the e-mails though.
What's going on in South Carolina? They claim to be Christian, isn't adultery still a SIN?
PS. holier-than-thou-Sarah Palin is supporting Haley? Now that's funny!
Typical Republican – adultery, corruption, lies, and all the while telling us how "Christian" they are!
Sorrry Republicans – we know you have no values, no character, no integrity, and not a single solution to any issue America is facing.
You are wasting our time and we need real leaders who love this country more than their own power and wealth.
We will be sure to vote NO to rid our nation of traitors to the People this November.
We have had more than enough of your lies, scandals, racism, and nutjob extremism. Rand Paul IS the essence of the Republican Party and that is very scary when you look at his hate speech and ignorance.
All of this is only making Haley more popular. The dems might as well give up on this one. She will be the next governor of SC.
So not only is she alleged to have done something stupid, she turns to Sarah Palin for an endorsement on top of it...yeah, that's quite the intelligent move. Turn to a woman who charged her own state per diems for her family's travel and her own travel while she worked from the governor's mansion in Alaska...yep, there's a beacon of honesty for ya'.
Grifter Queen SP told me too and I'm just like all her other dumb marks.
I really have not made up my mind about this. She lost me when on the campaign trail. She has stated she has voted yes or no on certain things. When asked why the record states the opposite she tried to dismiss those votes as “preparatory.”
Innocent until proven guilty ... The reason why so many rush to judge this woman is because the GOP and its candidates have shown time and again just how hypocritical they are, especially when it comes to things like "family values."
Hey thanks for the story CNN....I'll be donating to Nikki Haley as well.
Here's the trouble with these super-self-righteous types:
Instead of actually trying to lead virtuous lives, they just flap their lips about it and then get mad when they get caught with their shorts down (pun intended).
Does anyone see the irony in having a person who backed Mark Sanford be acused of infidelity?
"the candidate is determined to stay focused on the "issues that truly matter" in the gubernatorial race"
Republicanese for "yep, it is true, we did the big nasty" but I am going to ignore it and hope there are no tapes!
If there is proof, then I will fall back on the tearful family apology and how this 'human failure has drawn me closer in my walk with Jesus", that is a sure winner with the redneck "christians".
P.S. If your republican "disco stick" is lying why have you not slapped a lawsuit for slander on him, Nikki? Surely, you want your day in court to clear your name, right?
Can't wait to see her tearful apology on national TV once the evidence comes out. That "liar" accusation is going to look pretty stupid right about then.