SC Governor Nikki Haley to Name Jim DeMint Replacement in Senate
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Renee Ittner-McManus(WASHINGTON) — South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley will name a new member of the Senate Monday afternoon, according to her spokesman, Rob Godfrey.
“.@NikkiHaley will announce an appointment to fill the vacancy created by @JimDeMint’s retirement during 12 PM Statehouse newser. TODAY.,” Godfrey tweeted on Monday.
Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., is stepping down to head conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation.
When reached by phone, Rep. Tim Scott had no comment about reports he would be selected.
South Carolina Republicans have speculated the Tea Party congressman would get the seat since DeMint announced his resignation less than two weeks ago.
If selected, Scott would be the fifth black Senator since Reconstruction.
Rumors suggested comedian and South Carolina native Stephen Colbert might be chasing the Senate seat, but Haley ruled out that possibility in a Facebook post 10 days ago.
“You forget one thing, my friend. You didn’t know our state drink,” Haley wrote, linking to a clip of her appearance on Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report, in which Colbert forgot the state drink was milk. “Big, big mistake.”
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