Indian-American Governor of South Carolina state Nikki Haley launches gubernatorial re-election campaign

Indian-American Governor of South Carolina state Nikki Haley has launched her re-election campaign after officially filing her bid this week.

With several distinctions to her credit, besides being the first Indian-American woman governor, the first woman governor of her state and at 42 being the youngest active governor in the US, Republican Haley, 42, is pitted against Democratic state senator Vincent Sheheen, who she narrowly defeated in the last election.

"This administration has worked hard as we possibly can to improve the lives of all people. I represent all people. I fight for all people. And we have done that by putting all these jobs in rural counties," Haley told reporters after filing her re-election nomination.

Her re-election has the support of Indian-Americans from across the country; several of them have planned fund raising campaign in the run up to the campaign.

"The entire Indian-American community is proud of her. In the four years of her administration in South Carolina, she has proved herself beyond doubt. She is one of the best governors at present," said Sampat Shivangi, from Mississippi.

In Washington this week to attend a Congressional meeting of Indian-American physicians, Shivangi would be hosting a fund raising for Haley in his home town next month.

Over the weekend, Haley spent time in California including a visit to Google's headquarters in Mountain View.

Haley was born to an Indian Sikh family. Her parents are immigrants from Amritsar in Punjab.