Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich is hoping that a win in the upcoming South Carolina primary election will help him contend for the nomination, and an endorsement Tuesday from South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Ken Ard should give his campaign a boost before the election on Saturday.
Mr. Ard is the highest ranking public official in South Carolina to endorse Mr. Gingrich. Although the Lt. governor enjoys popularity in the state, he is currently under investigation by a grand jury in South Carolina regarding a probe into whether he violated campaign finance laws during his 2012 election campaign.
Unlike in other states, the Lt. Governor and Governor of South Carolina run independently. It will be interesting to see how much of a boost Mr. Ard’s semi-endorsement will give to the former House speaker.
Although Mr. Ard is popular in the Palmetto state, recent polls have shown that South Carolina Republican Governor Nikki Haley’s endorsement of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has done little for Mr. Romney’s popularity among South Carolina voters.
“That’s not an endorsement, that’s me telling you for what it’s worth who I’ll be voting for,” said Mr. Ard in an interview with CNN Tuesday. “I think South Carolina and its voters are too independent to listen to many endorsements. When I vote Saturday morning it will be for Newt Gingrich.”
Mr. Ard’s comments echo those of U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), who said Monday that he would not be endorsing any of the remaining Republican presidential candidates ahead of Saturday’s election. However, over the past week Mr. DeMint has praised Mr. Romney while scolding Mr. Gingrich for his criticism of Mr. Romney’s investment practices with Bain Capital.
Although, unlike Mr. Ard, Senator DeMint did not specifically state that he would be voting for Mr. Romney on Saturday.
Other popular elected officials in South Carolina that candidates have sought endorsements from include U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) an U.S. Rep. Tim Scott (R-S.C.). Mr. Scott recently hinted that he may endorse one of the candidates prior to Saturday’s election. Mr. Graham has not commented much on the Republican primary race, and has not hinted at who he would endorse, or if he will endorse a candidate.
Mr. Ard introduced Mr. Gingrich Tuesday, during the former House speaker’s campaign stop in Mr. Ard’s hometown of Florence County. Mr. Gingrich gave a speech to workers at the Carolinas Hospital System location there.
Mr. Gingrich is hoping that his performance during the Fox News presidential debate Monday night and the “vote” from Mr. Ard will help give his campaign some last minute momentum leading up to Saturday’s election.
