Governor Attends Tea Party Rally

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina tea party tax day protest is bringing South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and Minnesota Rep. Michelle Bachmann to the Statehouse steps.

Monday’s protest promises to give Bachmann the largest audience she has seen in South Carolina on two swings through the state. She is courting South Carolina support ahead of a decision whether to run for the GOP presidential nomination.

She wraps up a four-day visit with the tea party rally at the Statehouse.

Bachmann also is courting the support of Haley who is popular with tea party activists. Bachmann will meet with the governor Monday as other candidates in waiting have done on trips to South Carolina.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All rights reserved.)