Nikki Haley Visits SoCal, Supports Rep. Ed Royce

ANAHEIM: The Southern California Indian American community welcomed Nikki Haley, the Indian American governor of South Carolina, and the country's youngest, when she visited the home of Anaheim Mayor Pro Tem Harry Sidhu here Nov. 9 to show support for Republican Congressman Ed Royce.Speaking to about 250 supporters and dignitaries nearly a year after she joined Louisiana's Bobby Jindal as the only Indian American governors in the United States, Haley reminded everyone of her Indian heritage."I'm the proud daughter of Indian parents that reminded us everyday how blessed we are to live in this country," Haley said. During her brief visit to Southern California, the 39-year-old governor focused on promoting small businesses and reforming government to be "more transparent." "The success of an economy is when you take care of your small businesses. If you give businesses cash flow, if you give them profit margins, the first thing they do is hire people, they invest back into their business," Haley observed. Haley used the example of her parents building their business from the ground up as a model of American entrepreneurship and the need to run a more efficient government. It was her perspective on how small businesses co-existed with government that apparently compelled Haley to consider a political career instead of accounting, which she studied in college. "They started a business out of the living room of our home, and 30-plus years later it was a multi-million dollar company. But we know that's what the Indian American community did. We understand that you can come to this country, be as successful as you wanted to be, and nothing was going to get in your way," Haley reminisced. "I never had political aspirations, never thought about it. But what I noticed in the family business was how hard it was to make a dollar, and how easy it was for government to take it. My mom always said, 'Don't complain about it, do something about it'," she added.
So she did, serving five years in the South Carolina House of Representatives for five years prior to her election to the gubernatorial office in 2010. With her national-level stature, Haley hopes to provide some campaign support to fellow Republican Ed Royce, who represents northern Orange County, including Anaheim, in Washington, D.C., and is preparing to launch his electoral campaign, which coincides with the pivotal 2012 presidential election. After nearly 20 years in the House of Representatives, Royce is seeking his 11th term in office. Due to redistricting and the 2010 Census, the incumbent Republican will be running in the newly created 39th district, which straddles Orange and Los Angeles counties and includes Anaheim.
Royce, who is expected to face off against Rep. Gary Miller in the party primary in early 2012, said that Haley represents "a new form of leadership in the Republican Party" and will do both her electorate and the Indian American community proud. Royce also stated that the best way for Indo-U.S. relations to truly prosper is through bipartisanship. "Politics shouldn't be engaged when we are talking about the interests of the United States in terms of developing closer ties with our natural ally, which is India," Royce said. Taking a different spin, Haley said that the United States is an ideal home away from home for non-resident Indians, mostly because the environment here promotes their building brighter futures for themselves and their children.
"I am very proud of the Indian American community. My parents sacrificed so much to be here. I am one of four brothers and sisters, and we watched them work so hard just to have a better life for their kids," Haley said, pointing out that the NRI community in the United States has achieved virtually unparalleled success, more than any other American minority. Official contribution amounts to Royce's campaign were not released, but according to OpenSecrets.org, Royce's campaign has more than $3 million on hand and has already raised $1.03 million through Sept. 30 for the 2012 election.