SC governor to campaign in Republican 7th runoff

FLORENCE, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is heading to the coast to campaign for a candidate in the Republican primary in the state’s new 7th congressional district.

Haley will appear Monday in Florence, Pawleys Island and Myrtle Beach with Horry County Council chairman Tom Rice. The retired lawyer is taking on former Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer in Tuesday’s runoff.

Haley’s endorsement is not a surprise. She accused Bauer of pushing allegations she had an affair during their 2010 gubernatorial primary contest.

Bauer has touted Republican endorsements of his own. Former GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee was in Florence on Thursday speaking on Bauer’s behalf.

Bauer finished first in the June 12 primary with 32 percent of the votes, while Rice finished second with 27 percent.