So much for Reagan's 11th Commandment

From The State, a glimpse of the piranha tank that is four candidates who all think the same things but want to seem different by any means possible. The last sentence of the clip suggests somebody needs to send the judge a copy of The Elements of Style for his next birthday.

SC judge nixes ads backing gov hopeful Nikki Haley

By JIM DAVENPORT

Associated Press Writer

A South Carolina judge on Wednesday ordered a political group spending heavily to promote Republican gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley to pull its television ads supporting her campaign.

Spartanburg County Judge James M. Hayes issued a temporary restraining order at the request of Haley primary opponent U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett and three donors to ReformSC. The Charleston-based political group first created to push Gov. Mark Sanford's agenda has been airing ads statewide that laud Haley as a conservative leader.

At issue are limits placed on how outside groups can advertise for candidates. The complaint alleges that ReformSC's ads are illegal because they promote a candidate rather than an issue.

The ad shows Haley speaking at a tea party tax day rally at the Statehouse last month. An announcer says that Haley is "South Carolina's new conservative leader for less government and more freedom." It asks people to support her efforts in the Legislature to require detailed recording of lawmakers' votes.

The order issued Wednesday tells ReformSC to stop airing the ads until a hearing can be held in the next 10 days.

"Plaintiffs will suffer irreparable harm if the Candidate's campaign is allowed to benefit from illegal and/or prohibited contributions," the judge wrote. "Given the shocking nature of the verified allegations ... this Court feels it lacks the ability not to act."