The State's got an article out today showing Gresham Barrett's outfundraised Nikki Haley by $75,000 in the runoff, suggesting the SCGOP business tribe isn't that into Haley.
More striking, however, is the breakdown of Barrett's contributions and contributors: way bigger on average than Haley's, and heavily weighted toward DC-area political PACs run by other politicos and big business, including banking interests. Ports and maritime interests also like Barrett. All of his big business supporters are the types who scream about government interference in markets but rely on government regulation, exemptions, and public facilities like ports to maintain their positions.
Haley's support is more grass-roots by far. Among her big donors, Mitt Romney- given the socon disbelief in fear of the same Others- sees Haley as his only SC beachhead for 2012. She's also at the trough of The Club for Growth, which believes government ought to do little about anything, the better for big businesses the flourish and everybody else to treasure their freedom.
It's apparent the net result of this election will be that if either Haley or Barrett win, nothing will get done. If Haley wins, nothing will get done because of her Sanfordian confrontationalism and the legislative grandees' childish urge to put upstarts in their place. If Barrett wins nothing will happen because his interests are exactly in line with the grandees of the legislature and big business in agreeing that nothing should be done: for them- things are pretty good as is.
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