COLUMBIA — On Tuesday, a source close to Gov. Nikki Haley confirmed that the governor has narrowed her list of possible U.S. Senate appointees to succeed the retiring Jim DeMint down to five candidates. The finalist that’s drawn substantial curiosity is Jenny Sanford, the ex-wife of former Gov. Mark Sanford.  Today I asked Haley, a former protege of Mark Sanford, about her relationship with Jenny Sanford.

Here’s what Haley said: “I’ve always stayed in touch with her, yes. We’d see each other from time to time at events and then we also have emailed back and forth.”

I followed-up by asking Haley if the pair talk policy.

Haley’s response: “At times I’ve asked her opinion on things, or if I see her somewhere I’ll just say, you know, ‘Do you have any advice for me, is there anything you see I’m doing right or wrong?’ I’ve always done that. I do that with any former governor that I see as well. And so she’s one of those people I look at. She’s lived it, she’s been through it. So she’s a confidante that I’ve always looked to to just say, ‘Tell me what I’m doing wrong, tell me what I’m doing right.’”