Gov. Haley and her allies clash in legislative endorsements

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) – While 39 legislators face primary challengers Tuesday, the spotlight will be on Republican Senate races that pit GOP Gov. Nikki Haley against many of her longtime allies.

With two years left in her tenure, Haley is spending her time and political capital trying to oust several Republicans she sees as obstacles, including the state’s most powerful lawmaker, Senate President Pro Tem Hugh Leatherman of Florence.

A Haley political group is backing her opposition campaigns with hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of ads. As of its last IRS filing in April, the group had raised $515,000 from six donors _ five of them from out of state.

Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Henry McMaster has endorsed the incumbent senators.

And support from the state Chamber of Commerce also clashes with Haley.