Sex scandal gives NRI candidate boost in US governor’s race

Hit hard by a prominent Republican blogger’s allegation that he had an “inappropriate physical relationship” with Nikki (Randhawa) Haley, the Indian American Republican candidate in South Carolina governor’s race has bounced back into the campaign.

While Haley’s campaign experienced an increase in donations, the former Massachusetts governor and 2008 Republican Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney said to CBS News: “I stand four square by Nikki Haley”. The mother-of-two Haley, 38, had became front-runner in the race with the backing of 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin before the allegations of an affair hit the blogosphere.

The claims were threatening to derail her campaign to replace the disgraced former governor Mark Sanford, who fell from grace after he was forced to admit having an affair.

“I don’t put much stock in unsubstantiated blog posts that appear at the 11th hour, and neither should the voters of South Carolina,” said Romney, who endorsed Haley in the contested primary back in March.

Jindal puts book on hold
Louisiana’s Indian American Republican Governor Bobby Jindal has asked that the release of his forthcoming political book be delayed so he can focus on the Gulf Coast oil spill, according to his publisher.

The book — Real Hope, Real Change: New Conservative Solutions to Rescue America — was originally slated for a July, 2010 release. “Regnery Publishing is postponing the release of Jindal’s book at the request of Governor Jindal,” Marji Ross, president of the conservative publishing house was cited as saying by CNN.