Republican South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley will deliver the GOP response to the State of the Union address on Jan. 12, 2016, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced Tuesday. It will be President Barack Obama's final address.
"Nikki Haley has led an economic turnaround and set a bold agenda for her state, getting things done and becoming one of the most popular governors in America," Ryan said in a statement, according to USA Today. "In a year when the country is crying out for a positive vision and alternative to the status quo, Governor Haley is the exact right choice to deliver the Republican Address to the Nation."
In a statement, Haley said, "This is a time of great challenges for our country, but also of great opportunities. I intend to speak about both."
Haley, who was elected in 2010, has developed a national profile in serving as the youngest governor in the country and the first woman in South Carolina's history elected to the post. She was boosted in the national spotlight in July for successfully removing the Confederate flag from the grounds of the South Carolina statehouse. That, along with her strong approval ratings and staunch conservatism, has earned her a spot on the short list for potential vice president candidates in Republican circles, according to National Review.
"Nikki Haley is a proven leader and committed reformer who believes deeply in the promise of the country we all share," McConnell said, the Post and Courier reported. "Not only has Governor Haley fought to bring opportunity and prosperity to the people of her state, but she’s also demonstrated how bringing people together can bring real results. Governor Haley knows the American Dream and wants to see every American share in it, and we’re pleased that she will be delivering this year’s Republican Address."
The opposition party's response has typically been reserved for rising stars in politics. However, in recent years, it has also been a source of embarrassment, NBC pointed out. When Obama delivered his first address in 2009, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal was mocked for his awkward delivery. In 2013, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) took what became an infamous sip of water on camera that has become a running joke for the 2016 presidential candidate. And Gov. Bob McDonnell (R-Va.), who gave the response in 2010, was convicted on felony corruption charges in 2014.
