SC gubernatorial debate focuses on jobs, economy

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — In the first of two scheduled gubernatorial debates, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley touted the tens of thousands of jobs her administration announced, while her challengers blasted her numbers as not real.

Democratic Sen. Vincent Sheheen said roughly half of the announced jobs have shown up and many of the planned openings have fallen through. Independent Tom Ervin asked Haley to post the economic incentive packages given to lure companies to the state, saying she’s “given away the farm.”

Haley says she has the right approach to increasing residents’ prosperity.

Sheheen says the state needs to expand Medicaid eligibility under the federal health care law. Ervin says the state needs to increase the minimum wage.

Also on stage Tuesday were Libertarian Steve French and United Citizens candidate Morgan Bruce Reeves.