Haley Wins GOP Nomination

Nikki Haley has won the nomination to run for Governor of South Carolina:

South Carolina state Rep. Nikki Haley clinched the Republican nomination for governor Tuesday night, sending an Indian-American politician into the general election campaign as a favorite to become her state’s first female governor.

The Associated Press called the race shortly before 8:30 p.m. Haley, whose campaign drew endorsements from national Republican heavyweights including former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, defeated Rep. Gresham Barrett, the runner-up in the first round of primary voting two weeks ago.

The runoff vote between Haley and Barrett was one of a string of primaries Tuesday weighted with symbolic significance, particularly for a Republican Party struggling to diversify its ranks and expand its reach beyond a historically white base.