When people stop laughing at SC, it means we have become Alabama.

State Rep. Nikki Haley- a longshot Lawn Jockey Caucus candidate for SC governor and Yoda Sanford's Young Luke-says when she s governor SC will stop being the butt of jokes:

Not accepting the status quo, S.C. Rep. Nikki Haley, R-Lexington, said that is a characteristic that distinguishes her from the other Republican candidates to succeed Mark Sanford as governor in 2010.

A state House member for the past five years, Haley is going up against some well-known names - among them Third District Congressman Gresham Barrett, Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer and S.C. Attorney General Henry McMaster.

Haley recognizes that South Carolina has taken a political beating throughout the nation and not just for Sanford's extramarital affair debacle.

"The jokes will stop when I become governor," Haley said during a meeting with the Aiken Standard editors Monday. "I will talk about real reform and look at where we are today. In the future, we'll look at the rankings and quality of life changes, and every state will look at what we did."

A staunch supporter of Sanford's push for government reform, Haley admitted she is disappointed with the governor's predicament. But the reform movement shouldn't be curtailed "because of the sins of one man," she said. If elected, Haley also would take a different approach than Sanford did with the S.C. General Assembly.

"The governor was reactionary, waiting until actions were taken," Haley said. "I don't back down from a fight. I would work with them (legislators) on the front end. We need consensus, whether it's to agree or disagree. I will insist that the Legislature work with me on the issues."