Sanford's Would-Be Successor Denies Affair

A political blogger claimed today that he had an affair several years ago with a married Republican vying to become the state's first female governor. Rep. Nikki Haley vehemently denied the allegation, made in a post on Will Folks' blog that contained no proof. Haley called the claim a "disgraceful smear" planted to derail her campaign, which has gained steam from high-powered endorsements, including Sarah Palin and Jenny Sanford.

"I have been 100% faithful to my husband throughout our 13 years of marriage. This claim against me is categorically and totally false," Haley, a 38-year-old mother of two, said in a statement. "It is quite simply South Carolina politics at its worst." Folks is a political consultant who now runs FITSNews.com, a conservative site that features occasionally insightful commentary, thinly sourced stories of state political intrigue, and photos of women in bikinis. (More Mark Sanford stories.)