Voters angry over smears, attacks on Haley

Whether they liked Republicans or Democrats in Tuesday's primary elections, many York County voters sure knew what they didn't like -- the nasty tone of the final few weeks of the campaign for governor.

Many -- especially on the Republican side -- slammed the allegations of infidelity and the racist epithets aimed at GOP gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley.

Voters in the Republican primary also expressed outrage at national Democratic politicians on issues ranging from health care reform to corporate bailouts.

Although York County Council races were especially spirited this year, the GOP contest for governor was the talk of Election Day.

Across the county, voters railed against claims by two men -- a political blogger and a lobbyist -- in the last two weeks that they had affairs with Haley, the front-runner in pre-election polling.

They also cited the words of state Sen. Jake Knotts, R-Lexington, who called Haley a "raghead" -- a racial slur that usually targets Arabs. Haley is a Christian of Indian Sikh descent. Knotts is a political ally of Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, who also was seeking the GOP nomination for governor.

Springfield precinct Republican voter Steve Hare of Fort Mill, who cast his ballot at Unity Presbyterian Church, said he made a late choice for Haley that was cemented by the attacks against her.

Democratic voter Michael Wilson at the same precinct, who voted for Vincent Sheheen for governor, said the tactics and slurs used against Haley were "offensive."

Republican voter Tawnya Vanterve at Springfield precinct voted for Haley after the attacks, saying others "tried to put her down as a candidate" in what she described as "dirty politics."

At Rosewood polling station at Covenant Presbyterian Church, James and Dede Johnston both voted for Haley. Sure, they cited her conservative views -- limited government, gun owners' rights and slashing spending.

But they also said the other Republican candidates for governor "looked like a joke" compared to Haley.

"We are going to get change from Obama in November, and this is the start of it," said Dede Johnston of her vote for Haley. "What those other candidates did to Nikki shows their immaturity."

At Oakwood polling station at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Republican voter Mildred Hancock said she voted for Haley, who Hancock said was "set up" by the last-minute infidelity claims.

"Why the week before?" Hancock asked. "Politics, that's why."

Sally Tucker is a Democrat, but she voted in the Republican primary so she could vote for incumbent County Council Chairman Buddy Motz. She also voted for Haley, although she expects to vote for a Democrat in November.

"They ganged up on her," Tucker said.

At India Hook precinct at Westminster Catawba Christian School, Matt Schavey said he voted for Haley, criticizing Bauer for "trying to back her up into a corner" with the infidelity allegations. The lobbyist who claimed he had a one-time sexual encounter with Haley resigned from Bauer's campaign after it came to light.

"That just bothers me, what was done to her," Schavey said.

Christina Schmittle, another India Hook voter who said she is "normally a Democrat," voted in the Republican primary so she could vote for Motz for County Council and because "there is a need for change up and down in government in the state."

Schmittle said she also voted for Haley, although their political views do not mesh totally.

"It is wonderful women are getting involved as candidates, and after these allegations came, she handled them well," Schmittle said.

Not all Republicans were turned toward Haley by the allegations.

Vernon Nine at the Waterstone precinct at Lake Wylie Lutheran Church, who voted for Gresham Barrett for governor, said he initially thought the last-minute affair allegations were "dirty politics." But he said Haley did not strongly rebuff the attacks.

Barbie Kolatis at the Steele Creek precinct said the allegations furthered doubts she had about Haley, and Kolatis opted for Bauer.

Republicans James and Sandra Gourley at the Oakwood precinct at Aldersgate United Methodist Church voted for Henry McMaster for governor because of his experience and "good politics." They said the allegations against Haley did affect their decision not to vote for her.

Sandra Gourley railed more about President Obama and other national Democrats than anything, saying spending and big government "just have to go."

But on the whole, outrage over the allegations against Haley seemed to outweigh anti-incumbency anger.

Jim Riley, who moved from central New York to Fort Mill after retirement, put it bluntly when he voted at the Steele Creek precinct at Church of Christ:

"I voted for the woman, Haley, because she's getting a snow job with all this stuff being said about her. That's just not right. She got my vote."

Voter turnout

Barely 1 in 6 registered voters in York County made it to the polls on Tuesday.

Several precincts had to tell voters to go to different precincts, with the addition of 16 new polling places that shuffled thousands of voters. Of the total turnout of 19,850 voters, 15,825 voted in the Republican primary versus only 4,025 in the Democratic primary.

As always, though, there were pockets of heavy voting activity.

Poll manager Mary Nelson, who has worked the Newport precinct for 21 years, said voters there are typically active, especially in the Wood Forest community.

"If there ain't nobody running but a dog catcher," she quipped, "they'll come out to vote."

— Shannon Greene and Kimberly Dick contributed

This story was originally published June 9, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Voters angry over smears, attacks on Haley."