SC Gov. Nikki Haley wants GOP presidential candidates' positions on Boeing plant

The Republican presidential candidates gathered for Thursday's debate in South Carolina should announce their positions on the fight between the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and Boeing over a plant the company wants to build there, Gov. Nikki Haley (R) said.

Haley told audience members at the Peace Center in Greenville, S.C., that they should make sure the candidates say whether they agree with the NLRB that Boeing should not be able to build a new plant in South Carolina rather than labor-friendly Washington state, according to Slate.

The NLRB has sued to block Boeing's plans to build a plant in South Carolina, a right-to-work state, saying the company made the decision in retaliation for strikes at its facilities in Washington. Boeing had planned to build 787 airplanes at a plant in Charleston, S.C., instead of in Seattle.

Thursday's debate, sponsored by Fox News and the South Carolina Republican Party, is the first for the 2012 presidential campaign. Most major potential candidates are skipping the forum, however. Former Govs. Mitt Romney (Mass.), Jon Huntsman (Utah) and Sarah Palin (Alaska), along with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.), Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and business mogul Donald Trump, will not be in attendance.

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Rep. Ron Paul (Texas), former Sen. Rick Santorum (Pa.), businessman Herman Cain and former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson will all attend. 

Pawlenty has used the NLRB decision to argue that President Obama is too friendly with labor unions.