Catherine Templeton, Governor Hopeful, 'Proud' Of Confederacy, But Backs Flag Removal

COLUMBIA, SC — Catherine Templeton, a Republican hopeful to become South Carolina's next governor is "not backtracking" in her support to remove the Confederate battle flag from the Statehouse grounds, but said she's proud of the Confederacy.

Hours after speaking to a grassroots GOP gathering in the conservative Upstate, Catherine Templeton told The Associated Press on Tuesday night she's "proud of the Confederacy." But Templeton said she still stands by a 2015 document expressing support for then-Gov. Nikki Haley and state lawmakers for removing the flag in the wake of the massacre of nine black worshippers at Charleston's Emanuel AME Church.

Killer Dylann Roof "took our symbol and turned it into hate, " Templeton said, but noted she's proud of the state's history and won't apologize for that. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Gov. Henry McMaster is also running in 2018. His campaign declined to comment.

By MEG KINNARD, Associated Press

Photo credit: Bruce Smith/Associated Press