Add this one to the super-nitpicky file. And, you can blame my utter disdain for Gov. Nikki Haley while you’re at it. This isn’t the first time my hate jones for Haley has gotten the best of me and it won’t be the last. But I will be brief.
According to a report in today’s Post and Courier, Haley met with U.S. Rep. Tim Scott on Sunday, interviewed the Lowcountry politico, liked what she heard, and offered him Sen. Jim DeMint’s soon-to-be-vacated U.S. Senate seat. Schuyler Kropf reports:
Scott’s appointment came over four other finalists. Former South Carolina first lady Jenny Sanford of Sullivan’s Island had been among those in the running. On Monday she said Haley called her about 10:30 p.m. Sunday to inform her she was not getting the post. It was their first discussion of the job, she said.
Haley spokesman Rob Godfrey said the narrowing process “avoided a long parade of interviews with potential appointees.” Instead, the governor focused on records, statements and positions of the potential appointees, and on discussions with her circle of advisers, he said.
“Finally, she invited Congressman Scott to visit with her at the Governor’s Mansion yesterday (Sunday),” Godfrey said. “They had a fairly lengthy discussion, at the end of which, she offered him the position.”
However, the King Choad of RedState, Erick Erickson, tells a different story. In post today, Erickson writes:
Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina leaves the Senate on December 31st. Replacing him will be Congressman Tim Scott. Yesterday, Governor Nikki Haley made the announcement that she would choose Congressman Scott for the replacement.
Governor Haley and the future Senator called me Friday morning before the announcement was made. Governor Haley emphasized that Senator Scott would be as independent as Senator DeMint. In fact, Congressman Scott presently is in the House leadership and maintains a consistently higher Heritage Action rating than most members of leadership and, at 88%, is well higher than the House average.
Make of that what you will.
UPDATE: Erick Erickson has responded about the aforementioned discrepancy. Here’s what he says:
So, having dealt with a house eaten up with the stomach bug since Sunday, my days are all jumbled. I was called yesterday morning, which was a Monday, not a Friday, which is what I wrote and which sent the press into a tizzy. Typo people, calm down. If you’d cleaned as many buckets of four year old throw up in the past few days as I had, you’d be all jumbled up too. Sorry for the error. My fault entirely.
Make of that what you will, part two. Stay cool. Support City Paper. City Paper has been bringing the best news, food, arts, music and event coverage to the Holy City since 1997. Support our continued efforts to highlight the best of Charleston with a one-time donation or become a member of the City Paper Club.