Henry McMaster Jr. Withdraws From South Carolina Ticket as Trump's 11th-Hour Endorsement Faces New Test
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 9
Henry McMaster Jr. Withdraws From South Carolina Ticket as Trump's 11th-Hour Endorsement Faces New Test
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 9
Summary
Henry McMaster Jr. said Friday he was withdrawing from consideration for South Carolina lieutenant governor, undercutting Donald Trump's public expectation that Pamela Evette would pick him as her running mate.
Trump had endorsed Evette about 10 days before the GOP gubernatorial primary and reinforced it with a tele-rally, but she had already said she would not name a running mate until after the vote.
The president's mention of Gov. Henry McMaster's son triggered backlash and speculation about political favoritism, which both the governor and Evette denied.
South Carolina Republicans vote in a crowded primary where no candidate is expected to clear 50%, making a June 23 runoff likely between the top two finishers.
The episode follows Trump's failed late endorsement of Randy Feenstra in Iowa, adding to questions over whether his primary clout still guarantees victories.