U.S. Rep. Scott to President Obama: ‘Hit the road’

U.S. Rep. Tim Scott, a North Charleston Republican, delivered a two-minute speech at the Republican National Convention on Tuesday, telling President Barack Obama to “hit the road, Jack.”

The freshman African-American congressman from the 1st District spoke of growing up poor in North Charleston, raised by a single mother who believed in discipline. Scott said he was inspired by a small business owner who taught him the value of hard work.

For a link to video of Scott’s speech, go to the “Election 2012” page on thestate.com.

First gentleman gets a little VIP treatment

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and his wife, Ann, invited S.C. first gentleman Michael Haley to sit in their sky box in Tampa Tuesday night and listen to his wife, Gov. Nikki Haley, give her speech to the convention.

Michael Haley is scheduled to be deployed to Afghanistan with the S.C. National Guard in January. A first lieutenant, he will serve as a liaison officer between an agricultural-support unit and Afghan leaders.

Tuesday in Tampa, Gov. Haley was asked by reporters about her husband’s impending deployment. “He is so ready to go. He is so ready to serve,” Haley said.

The couple has two children, ages 14 and 10.

“As a mom, I have told my children that he is going so somebody else’s mom or dad can come home,” Haley said.

Haley also said that her children were not enthusiastic about her speech Tuesday night. “They said, ‘Mom you’re on national TV all of the time. What’s the big deal?’ And I said, ’Well this is a little bit different.’ ”

Loftis announces S.C. votes for nominee

South Carolina’s votes in Tuesday afternoon’s roll-call for the GOP nomination for president – 24 for GOP nominee Romney of Massachusetts and one for U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas – were announced by state Treasurer Curtis Loftis, who praised S.C. citizens – and Romney – as diligent, honorable and “god-loving people.”

The sole vote for Paul came from delegate Mike Vasovski of Aiken, an unsuccessful candidate for Congress in 2010. (State Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, a delegate who endorsed Paul leading up to the S.C. presidential primary, was bound by convention rules to vote for Romney.)

Romney finished second in South Carolina’s January primary behind former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

What will the S.C. delegates be doing?

The S.C. delegates’ schedule for the rest of the GOP convention includes:

Today: A breakfast with S.C. congressmen, a reception hosted by insurance giant BlueCross BlueShield and a “Southern states party” at Raymond James Stadium, home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Bucs

Thursday: A breakfast with an “unnamed special guest.” That night, of course, Romney formally accepts the GOP presidential nomination.