South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has declined to appoint a placeholder to succeed Jim DeMint, meaning the Palmetto State’s next senator can run for office in a special election in 2014.

"I do not want to tie the next U.S. Senator from South Carolina's hands regarding future office,’’ the first-term Republican governor said in a statement.

“While I am an avid supporter of term limits, I do not want the effectiveness of our state's new U.S. Senator to be undermined by the fact that he or she will automatically be leaving the office such a very short time after assuming it.’’

Haley said she believes South Carolina will be best served by “who will work hard day in and day out, and put him or herself before the voters at the soonest possible time.’’

Popular Television satirist Stephen Colbert, who grew up in Charleston, S.C., is the top candidate to replace DeMint, according to a poll released Monday. But the presumed front-runner remains U.S. Rep. Tim Scott, of North Charleston.
Warren Tompkins, a veteran GOP politicalconsultant who has advised DeMint, told The State newspaper, “Someone is going to get a head start on 2014.’’