Whoa! Nikki Haley might be in real trouble: Glenn McConnell Assumes SC Lieutenant Governor’s Office

[Are_grits_groceries]

Powerful S.C. Senate President Glenn McConnell has surrendered his leadership position in the State Senate for the political impotence of the South Carolina lieutenant governor’s office – an unexpected move that will no doubt have seismic repercussions across state government.

Defying conventional wisdom, McConnell has chosen not to temporarily relinquish his leadership post in the State Senate in an effort to avoid succeeding former Lt. Gov. Ken Ard, who resigned Friday morning in the wake of a criminal probe into numerous ethics violations.
<snip>
Now he is the state’s 89th Lieutenant Governor – inheriting a part-time, mostly ceremonial office with limited authority.

His departure leaves three voids: The Senate President Pro Tempore position, the chairmanship of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the District 41 State Senate seat. Needless to say, politicos are scrambling to fill all three of those vacuums.
<snip>
His decision has also sparked a flood of rumors about the seriousness of the various scandals surrounding S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley. Does the man known around the State House as “The Wiz” know something we don’t?
http://www.fitsnews.com/2012/03/09/glenn-mcconnell-assumes-lieutenant-governors-office/

The only reason most people think McConnell would make this move is because he thinks Haley won't survive until the end of her term.

I wonder what those cloven-footed GOP politicians are up to?

[sharp_stick]

1. South Carolina politics

are a bloodsport and fine entertainment for those of us able to watch from a distance.

Love that Haters gonna hate graphic btw.

[Catbird]

2. And it's another great day in South Carolina!

Although Nikki Haley might not think so this time. Background: Governor Nikki Haley instructed state agencies to answer the phone with "It's a great day in South Carolina" and received a lot of well deserved ridicule for this directive.

[SCantiGOP]

3. It was a plea deal

Some comments in local news sites are crap like 'well, unlike Democrats he took responsibility for what he did and resigned.' BS!! He pled and was given a $5,000 fine, 5 years probation and 300 hours community service. Otherwise, had he tried to hold onto his office and fight it, he was facing 5 years in jail if he lost.
And, everything I have been hearing supports the OP's contention. Why would you go from the most powerful politician in the state to a ceremonial post where you have less real power than a first term Democrat. The fact that he might just slide into the Governor's office in a few months is a very tidy answer.

[GoCubsGo]

4. This could get fun!

I am not a big fan of McConnell, and I don't know if he'll be much better than Haley in the grand scheme of things. But, it's great that turd Ard is gone. He lasted a whole 13 months.