mitt romney-- it's funny, we hear a lot about sarah palin that she was sort of the boost here for nikkihaley. and at the same time, mitt romney was the one who came out early when she was fourpth in the polls, endorsed her, raised money for her. he was the person in the last weekend before the election campaigning with her. certainly he's, i'm sure, going to be look to remind her of that in 2012. a lot of people are going to be coming into that state in the next couple of years-- republicans coming in there, looking for support, and certainly somebody like romney hoping that he can cash in there. >> woodruff: adolphus belk, at a time like this, how much awareness, consciousness is there in south carolina among the electorate about the fact your state is so early in the presidential picks? coming around every four years, and was that a factor? >> well, south carolina has been particularly impactful when we look at the role the state has played in the republican presidential primary. the person who has won the primary in south carolina has gone on to win the republican nomination going al

. >> with mitt romney region mitt romney and sarah palin, now one of your -- with mitt romney and sarah palin, now one of your competitors is the one you are most proud of. how can you explain that slip? >> the difference i showed with mcmasters is that he had been in office for a long time. they have done this all their lives. i am an accountant and small business person who wants to show government the value of the dollar. attorney general mcmasters handled himself with incredible respect throughout the campaign. i got to know him very well, but he handled himself with respect, always nicely throughout the campaign. i was thrilled to have his support, and i look forward to him campaigning with us on the campaign trail. >> what do you say to voters who are so disenfranchised with the political process, and they feel as though candidates change their talking points as a matter of convenience? >> i did not change my talking points. he has been in public office since 1986. it has been a long time he has been in office, but in very much appreciate his support -- i can very much appreciate

is best we can tell it seems that it is meant romney ern but h is the autho of romney care which is sort the spanish civil war before world war ii. this enormous metaphor call problem in health ca reform to be the author of something that bark obama insist washe model. he tries fell lately to exain why a it has nothing too with his own romney care. and in the odd way but it mitch daniels seems to be fiing that space and if there ever be aomen or a bean counter presidency, it ses to me we're headed there in 2012 and that should help que a few g.o.p. candidates. with them so extremist an melodramatic and the end of the worlasreenwood, ron paul was a shocking quiet guand the ds to if you ha filled a guy who knows how to talk the talk to emerge that of what you would think in the e of obamaould not be astark as ronny or timawlenty but maybe that is what people are hungerg for. >> also miomn is simultaneously the august front runner for the republican nomination but i feel there is way he could possibly win spi regulaclinton hahis problem. and i guess john thu is meioned but he isoomed rehab

romney and they said this is what happens when you are in the day. the funds have not stopped ringing with positive calls. we have run out of yard signs and bumper stickers. i will lead the way i have always led which is not to sit there and please the guys at the state house but make sure i am working for the people of this state. that is what they want. i have gone against the assembly on several things. that will not stop me from fighting. >> having run against the governor's son and members of the legislature and against the establishment all my life, they always supported somebody else. they have gone after every bit of my personal life. i do not know what else is left. [laughter] >> maybe they can find something. [laughter] >> i am sure they will try. >> for the record, andre bauer is a good guy. >> it has no place in south carolina. south carolinian is to serve better and expect more. unfortunately, character does matter. might that to me early on it is the only thing that matters. if there has ever been a time when we need leaders of both rep

. >> so in light of your endorsements with mitt romney and sarah palin, now this is one you are most proud to have. they do not see how you can flip a switch in a matter of days. >> the attorney general had been in office for a long time. what i ahalfve always said that they have done this for their lives. i got to know him very well. he handled himself always respected, always nicely through the campaign. i was thrilled to have his support, an unfortunate and campaigning with us on the campaign trail. >> rebuttal, what do you say about those some disenfranchised -- those who feel so disenfranchised? >> i did not change my talking points. he has been in office since 1986. i can very much appreciate his support. he had great supporters behind him. he had a huge following that appreciate his experience and what he did as an attorney general, so it is still a great win for me. i think south carolina is running in a new direction of fresh faces and fresh forces, and that is what i am trying to do. >> one more question. let's look at an advertisement. >> gresham, you may be what to vote f

. >> in light of your endorsement with mitt romney and sarah palin, now one of your competitors is one of the endorsements you are most proud to have. what do you say to voters who say that they do not understand how you could flip the script and a matter of days? >> the commercial showed the differences between us. the difference i showed was that he had been in office for a long time. what i've always said about my opponent is they have done this all their life. henry mcmastera that, and of themselves with incredible respect to run the campaign. i got to know him very well. he handle themselves respectfully and nicely to route the campaign. i was thrilled to have him. i look forward to having him campaigning with us on a campaign trip. >> as a follow up, what you say to the voters who are so disenfranchised and feel as though that candidates change they're talking. as a matter of convenience? >> i did not change my talking points. he has been it in public office since 1986. i can very much appreciate his support. great supporters. he had a loyal following it was appreciate id what he

mitt romney back to her. unless there is a major upset, she will win. she wouud be favored to win in -- in south carolina, the favorite, unless ssmething emerges that is very conroversial. but she has withstood the punches. host: what are the other office reading the races right now? are there certain outcomes today? certain shake ups? there are many other prairie steep into august. guest: they are nervous. votes that can come back those for thee2008 bailout, the tarp votes, the healthcare vote -- if you did not vote and you are democrats, have reason for concern. jim was in a runoff today and expected to beat the retired schoolteacher. it into theerunoff even had only spent a amounttcompared to his $7500000 spent. win. expected to even though it is a very district, he voted no on health care. the republicans do not have a credible challenger. so, if you can get past this hurddegetmatheson will likely be reelected. we saw with video cameras, the electorate issangry. most incumbents are still winning. blanche lincoln survivvd, but arlen specter lost. the

mitt romney back to her. unless there is a major upset, she will win. she would be favored to win in the general -- in south carolina, the favorite, unless something emerges that is very controversial. but she has withstood the punches. host: what are the other candidates for office reading from the races right now? are there certain outcomes today? certain shake ups? there are many other prairie steep into august. guest: they are nervous. the big votes that can come back to you are those for the 2008 bailout, the tarp votes, the healthcare vote -- if you did not vote and you are democrats, you have reason for concern. jim was in a runoff today and was expected to beat the retired schoolteacher. she made it into the runoff even though she had only spent a small amount compared to his $750,000 spent. he is expected to win. even though it is a very conservative district, he voted no on health care. the republicans do not have a credible challenger. so, if you can get past this hurdlegetmatheson will likely be reelected. we saw with video cameras, the elec

she will be in charleston and hilton head on friday, campaigning with mitt romney, as well as with jenny snaford. -- sanford. that should give her a bump. >> we want to take a look at some of the campaign ads. >> we said no to bailouts in washington. we said no to inside dealmaking in the back room politics. most importantly, we said yes to south carolina not just being republican but becoming conservative and reminding elected officials who is they work for. i am a woman of god who understand that threw him all things are possible. >> it is a rough time. of course, you are a military man, small businessman. you are honest, conservatives. you've created jobs. you made south carolina from again. ok, now go get them. >> you mean for governor? >> what kind of impact are these ads have been? then jeff -- >> i think what they learned from the initial primary, there is quite a lot of outreach for nikki haley. instead of being a backlash, at the end of the day, she came home with 49% of the vote. one of the bear campaign focuses has been to remain positive, claiming that he is a man of characte

thht is why you see a lot of national leaders like mitt romney and sarah palin involved. host: tim scott, who would be the first black republican in congress since 2003, will represent what district? what district in south carolina are we talking about? guest: i do not have the district in front of me right now. host: but the fact that he will be the first african-american republican -- what does that mean? guest: it is very considerable. j.c. watts was the last -ppepublican in the house. it is significant for the party. now this is someone they can point to and have on television to show diversity. they began to do that the with michael steele. this is an obvious, physical symbol that people can point to and say that this is diversity. host: in south carolina, in the fourth congressional district, what happened there? guest: the third house incumbent lost this year. if you include the party switcher in alabama and in west virginia, he becomes the third incumbent to lose. he was defeated because people did not think he was conservative enough in this district. this is ano

mitt romney and sarah palin, and they said that this is what happens when you start to lead. it will not get any better for you just fight your way through. i am proud to say that the phone has not stopped running out of positive calls. everyone had been incredibly supportive. i will lead the way i alt -- i always have led. i will work for the people of the state. that is what the people of this date 13 i've gone against the general assembly on a lot of things if they do not like that that is not going to stop me from fighting. all continue to do that despite the attacks. >> 37 to 3 >> having run against the governor's son and members of the legislature and against the establishment all of my life, they've always supported someone else, they've gone after every bit of my personal life out there. i don't know what else is left. >> maybe they can find something. >> i am sure they will try. >> andre bauer is a good guy. i deplore what is happening to her. it has no place in south carolina. south carolina deserves better and expects more. but unfortunately character does matter.

mitt romney will be campaigning with you tomorrow. he endorsed or campaign early on. he is a presidential contender for 2012. it asked to be his running mate or even to serve in his administration, would you consider it? >> no, right now, i am running for governor of south carolina because i believe i can bring true change. i have always talked about joining the movement. i do not want it to be about a person. i wanted to be about the people of this state and mining officials who they work for. these positive distractions, while their flattering, it is not what we are thinking about. we are thinking about making a true difference for the peoppe of this state and turning around and walking away. -- not turning around and walking away. >> we know you have advocated for nuclear energy in congress. voters are looking for results. please name three of your most significant accomplishments since being elected in 2003 to represent the third district. >> i thought you were going to ask me about fred thompson. i am scratching and clawing to make the gubernatorial race. let me

he would add eight -- to the ticket to mitt romney or pawlenty, who already have a good grasp of the economy. host: anthony collings from the caucus state of iowa. south bend, indiana. independent line on c-span open phones. caller: good morning, susan. thank you very much for c-span. how you guys can put up with some of the questions and answers you have to field. host: you know it is a lot of fun. caller: as far as general see anyal -- i don't way how season general will has a chance to cancel the stick in "rolling stone" or at least clean that up and did nothing to even let his bosses know that the article has beennpublished, this has been a mistake. i think it is possible that he felt that the civilian establishment was going to make it virtually impossible for him to accomplish the military job. becoming a scapegoat -- general mcchrystal gave general petraeus the opportunity to force the issue in afghanistan and washington. his general petraeus can hold it his own with the media and the politically correct community. this could be an excellent stepping stone to elected office if

. >> the next question is about mitt romney who will be here tomorrow. he endorsed your campaign early on. if you are asked to be his running mate, would you consider it? >> know. right now, i am running for governor for south carolina because i think that i can bring true change. just like i said i was not want to be part of the-distractions, there are positive distractions, but that is not what we are thinking about. we are thinking about making a true difference for the people in the state. that is a firm note. >> voters are looking for results. please name three of your most significant accomplishments since being elected in 2003 to represent the third district. >> i thought you were going to ask me about fred thompson. i am scratching and clawing to make a gubernatorial wringer. and being part of the bush tax cuts was a big thing. making sure that people can keep their own tax money, that is a good thing. getting the national lab status down in that neck of the woods and making sure that nuclear sure to programs are first and foremost on my mind, es