Black, Indian-American candidates win S.C. runoffs

COLUMBIA, S.C. - In a break from the state's racist legacy, South Carolina Republicans overwhelmingly chose Nikki Haley, an Indian-American woman, to run for governor and easily nominated Tim Scott, in line to become the former Confederate stronghold's first black GOP congressman in more than a century.

Six-term Republican Rep. Bob Inglis fell to prosecutor Trey Gowdy, making him the fifth House or Senate incumbent to stumble this year.

In North Carolina, Secretary of State Elaine Marshall won the Democratic nomination to challenge GOP Sen. Richard Burr in the fall. Attorney Mike Lee took a slim early lead in Utah as Republicans chose a successor to vanquished Sen. Bob Bennett. In Mississippi, voters tapped Republican Bill Marcy to face Rep. Bennie Thompson.

The victories by Haley and Scott, both favorites in November, offered clear signs of racial progress in the South.

Yesterday's runoffs and primaries were the latest cluster of contests to determine matchups for the midterm elections just over four months away. Already, 2010 is shaping up to be an anti-establishment year with angry voters casting ballots against candidates with ties to Washington and the political parties.

Perhaps no other contest illustrated that better than Haley's. A state legislator with the backing of tea party activists and Sarah Palin, she overtook the old-boy network.

"South Carolina just showed the rest of the country what we're made of," Haley said. "It's a new day in our state, and I am very blessed to be a part of it."

With her victory, Haley, 38, moved a step closer to becoming the first female governor in the conservative-leaning state. She also secured her place as a rising female star in the GOP, if not potential 2012 vice presidential candidate in the early primary state.

She stands as the front-runner in the race against the Democratic gubernatorial nominee, state Sen. Vincent Sheheen.

Scott, 44, also a state lawmaker, beat Paul Thurmond, the son of the former segregationist Sen. Strom Thurmond in the runoff after securing the backing of Palin, the anti-tax Club for Growth and several Republican leaders in Washington. Scott will face Democrat Ben Frasier, who also is black, in November.

Marshall beat former Army prosecutor Cal Cunningham, a blow to Democratic Party leaders in Washington who recruited him and spent more than $100,000 to boost his candidacy.