Nikki Haley has said Hillary Clinton inspired her to run for political office, but don't let that mislead you; the Republican governor is solidly conservative. Haley is anti-abortion and has voted for bills promoting abortion restrictions, including a 24-hour waiting period bill and a pre-ultrasound bill. She has, however, supported bills that allow abortion to save the mother's life and exemptions from the mandatory ultrasound in the case of rape. On the topic of contraception, Haley told the women of The View in 2012 that "Women don't care about contraception. They care about jobs and their families." Although, it's not clear those are mutually exclusive, considering contraception can directly impact both your job and your family.
Though the Tea Party's support for Haley, who is pro-gun and pro small government, helped her win her state's highest office, she surprised that base when she endorsed Mitt Romney in 2012. They were hoping for Newt Gingrich. She delivered a headline address for Romney at the 2012 Republican National Convention.
