BAMBERG, S.C. — With the South Carolina Republican presidential primary fast approaching, Nikki Haley returned to her hometown Tuesday, one month after an EF2 tornado hit downtown Bamberg.
Haley said the tornado put a strain on Bamberg. "This little town has been through so much,” Haley said. “That's the first thing I thought, they've been through so much."
About fifty people came out to see her, including Hunter Williams, a high school student in Bamberg who will be a first time voter. Williams says he hopes after this election, things will be more affordable.
"I want these prices to go back down gas," Williams said. Diesel, you know truck drivers out here with diesel to go into those trucks, you know it's costing businesses more.” I want the prices of everything in the stores to go down to because we got families out here on the streets, they can't get anything to eat. And mainly just supporting the small communities and businesses that are working hard."
Doug Busbee, who traveled from Wagner, said he wants to see more unity.
"I think number one and most of all, you must be able to be trustworthy, have mental capacity to understand the whole picture of what's going on in the world, not just see what's going on around you but see what the whole picture is,” Busbee said. “And then third and finally, be able to bring everybody together, be able to treat everybody fairly and bring everybody together under one tent because torn up and divided we are weak, we are susceptible."
Haley said she wants to focus on bringing Americans together.
"Now, think about it, you're running for president of the United States. Your job is to bring people in, not push people out,” Haley said. “This is not about who's part of your club, this is about how you get everybody together to strengthen our country."
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Bamberg resident Susan Collins said she would like to see campaign promises being fulfilled in the White House.
"I believe if the right candidate would get in and don't let the system change them once they are voted into office and continue to stand on what they have promoted during their campaign, that would really mean a lot,” said Collins. “Because a lot of the times once they're voted, we see they don't stand for what they once said. And for somebody to hold true to their word once they are elected, to pull through with what they had said they would pull through with. That's really important to me."
Haley is leaving South Carolina to travel to Texas for a campaign rally at Gilley’s Dallas South Side Music Hall.
The South Carolina Republican Primary is set for Saturday, February 24, 2024.