AUG. 6, 2010 — When a fish sees a shiny metal thing, it gets distracted to the exclusion of anything else.

So it is for the mainstream media covering South Carolina politics this year. The shiny metal thing – unknown Democratic senatorial candidate Alvin Greene – apparently is so distracting that the media can’t get their fill, even though a 5-year-old can predict with confidence he will lose in November.

Meanwhile, what’s going underreported are stories about a race that really matters – the governor’s race. In an attempt to refocus the media, here are 10 questions for the GOP candidate, Rep. Nikki Haley. Next week, we’ll have questions for the Democratic candidate, Sen. Vincent Sheheen.

1. Tax returns. Sen. Vincent Sheheen has made 10 years of his tax returns public. Rep. Haley, you haven’t.   With transparency being one of your big campaign issues, when will you reciprocate and come as clean with your personal financial records?
2. Consulting income. You did not disclose $42,500 in consulting income from the engineering firm Wilbur Smith Associates for work done from 2007 to 2009 until being pressured during the GOP runoff. Some of that income was not listed on state ethics reports, according to published reports. Have you been paid any other contractual fees for consulting services since 2007 and, if so, what are they?

3. Emails. In the primary election cycle, there was a big media stink about whether you had “inappropriate relationships” with at least two men, which you have vociferously denied. One of the people involved has released emails about the allegations. You have not released emails by claiming protection of the state’s open records laws. Clemson professor Dave Woodard, a longtime conservative political consultant, has strongly suggested that the emails should be released, noting in a July talk: “Because if they prove her innocence, why not release them? It is very clear to me that Margaret Thatcher would have released them. She was fearless in what she did.” So the question is, when will you release these emails? And if you won’t, why?

4. Legislative record. The Wall Street Journal has characterized your work in the General Assembly as a “thin legislative record.” What’s your greatest legislative accomplishment?

5. Governing. Many say it may not be “hard” for you to get elected in South Carolina this year because of your “star power” and that the state leans Republican. But based on your experience and resume, what specifically shows people you can actually govern, and not just rattle sabers?

6. Comportment. Since being elected to the House in 2004, you’ve been involved in some well-known feuds with House Speaker Bobby Harrell.   Other legislators say they have a difficult time getting along with you. Predictions are that if you become governor, legislators may generally ignore you like they have Gov. Mark Sanford. Why should voters believe you will get along with legislators as governor when they say they don’t get along with you in the House?

7. Difference. When you were elected to the House, you were a full-fledged backer of the libertarian ideals of Gov. Mark Sanford. Since his well-publicized 2009 affair, you’ve spent considerable time distancing yourself from Sanford and from mainstream Republicans. How would you be that different from Sanford as governor?

8. Aides. Will you pledge now to not hire any of the current or former aides to Gov. Mark Sanford if you are elected governor?

9. Medicaid. If elected governor, it is very likely that the first crisis you may have to deal with is a shortfall of up to $400 million in Medicaid funds – if Congress doesn’t, as expected, pass funding extensions this fall. What will you do – kick off thousands of South Carolinians from Medicaid coverage or something else?

10. Out-of-state donors. Your most recent campaign disclosure report shows that you raised 25 percent of $542,727.70 from out-of-state donors, including $38,500 from the Free and Strong America PAC and 10 of its affiliated groups. Your main opponent, Sen. Vincent Sheheen, raises about 2 percent from out-of-state donors. It may look to some that outsiders are sticking their noses into Palmetto State politics and trying to buy a governorship. Why is this not true?

The Haley campaign did not answer any of the above questions or return phone calls.

Andy Brack, publisher of Statehouse Report, can be reached at: brack@statehousereport.com. Next week: Some questions (and maybe some answers) from Sen. Vincent Sheheen.