South Carolina politics...

...has a new sex scandal involving State Representative Nikki Haley, who is running for governor. Whatever.

The more interesting story here is that after an endorsement by Sarah Palin, Haley vaulted into the lead for the Republican nomination:

For months, Ms. Haley, who has two children, was regarded as a long-shot candidate opposed by a congressman, the attorney general and the lieutenant governor. But she has won support from the Tea Party camp, and after a visit and endorsement from Ms. Palin on May 14, Ms. Haley’s political fortunes soared.

As Kathleen Parker noted on the Chris Matthews Show, if Palin can have that kind of an impact on a local race, she can win a primary there. And since South Carolina votes shortly after Iowa and New Hampshire in 2012, it could put the former governor into the lead for the nomination.

I still say the race is hers to lose.