South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) today endorsed Horry County Council Chairman Tom Rice in his contentious Tuesday runoff election against Lt. Gov. André Bauer for the GOP nomination for the state’s new 7th Congressional district.

“I and other members of the Reform Movement watched for years as Andre Bauer sided with the establishment and undercut the conservative agenda. Now he says he’s a conservative,” Haley wrote on her Facebook page. “Where was he when we needed help fighting the Obama stimulus? He was one of its biggest cheerleaders.”

“We don’t need another self-interested career politician in Washington,” she added. “Michael and I completely support Tom Rice — an accountant and tax attorney — as we continue to focus on jobs and the economy for this growing and important new district and our state,” she said. Michael Haley is the governor’s husband.

The winner of the GOP runoff will face the winner of the Democratic runoff between attorney Preston Brittain and economist and former Georgia state Rep. Gloria Bromell Tinubu.