South Carolina Gubernatorial Primary Fraught With Sex Allegations and Political Attacks

WASHINGTON, June 4, 2010— -- Three days before South Carolina voters head to the polls for the state's gubernatorial primary, allegations of marital infidelity by a leading GOP candidate have dominated the political discourse, which could have unexpected repercussions for the race to replace outgoing Gov. Mark Sanford this fall.

For two times in as many weeks, Republican state Rep. Nikki Haley, a 38-year-old married mother of two, has denied ever having had an extramarital affair despite separate, unsubstantiated claims to the contrary. The Tea Party-endorsed Haley holds a double-digit lead over her closest rival, Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, in several polls.

2010 Election Maps: Follow the Senate, House and Governors' Races

On Wednesday, Larry Marchant, a paid consultant to Bauer, said he'd had a one-night stand with Haley at a conference in Salt Lake City in 2008 but could not provide proof to back up the allegation. He has since resigned from his post with the Bauer campaign.

Ten days earlier, political blogger Will Folks claimed an "inappropriate physical relationship with Haley" in 2007 and provided telephone and text records showing repeated contact with Haley at the time.

Haley has decried the late-race allegations as blatant, political attacks.

"I've been absolutely faithful to my husband for 13 years," she said during a televised debate in Charleston Wednesday. "This is just disgusting politics."

South Carolina newspaper The State and The Associated Press have reported political and business ties between Bauer, Marchant and Folks, but Bauer has denied having had any involvement in making the allegations. "I haven't gotten involved in anyone else's personal relationship," he said during the debate.

"As Nikki Haley rises in the polls, the good old boys in Columbia see their taxpayer-funded fraternity party coming crumbling down," said Haley campaign spokesman Tim Pearson. "They will say or do anything to hold on to their power."

Haley, a three-term state representative who has been viewed as the hand-picked heir to embattled Gov. Mark Sanford, caught many observers by surprise when she surged ahead in the polls last month, surpassing early front-runners -- U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett and state Attorney General Henry McMaster.