State Dems say Haley's too busy debating herself to debate Sheheen

COLUMBIA - In the latest contradiction to her "transparency" theme, Mark Sanford's hand-picked successor Representative Nikki Haley refused to accept Vincent Sheheen's challenge to five Lincoln-Douglas debates yesterday.  This is the latest in a series of blows to Haley's campaign, which has seen her signature issue of transparency become a major liability.

South Carolina Democrats were not impressed with Haley's attempts to explain away her refusal. 

"It's no shock that Nikki Haley won't accept Vincent Sheheen's debate challenge," said South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Carol Fowler. "She's too busy debating herself.  She's for releasing tax returns until they're her tax returns.  She's for releasing e-mails until they're her e-mails.  She was all for school vouchers, and then said they were 'not a priority'.  South Carolina voters deserve honest leadership."