Big negative. Most of the nation (myself included) views political lobbyists with as much enthusiasm as they view johns for hookers. And this would cut across political lines.
I agree. Despite the fact that I am from Mississippi and I really like Gov. Barbour, IMHO Haley has too much baggage from being a lobbyist to be a credible candidate for President.
Heck, Ronnie Musgrove (Haley's Democratic predeccessor as Gov. of MS) almost beat Haley by constantly repeating the phrase "Washington lobbyist Haley Barbour" in the last election cycle. Of course, this tactic promised to be doubly or triply effective on the national stage.
I only mentioned Haley's past to make a point about him not being a "hayseed" Southerner. It's hard to imagine a true "hayseed" having so much success in the cutthroat legal culture inside the Beltway.