“People have been making noise about the flag and calling for boycotts against South Carolina for well over a decade. Now she wants to placate businesses which haven’t had a problem with it to date? “
I think there will businesses who haven’t had a problem with it to date who will have a problem with it now.
The negative PR for supporting something that is largely seen as a symbol of slavery will be a too much of a distraction.
Probably the business leaders don’t have an opinion about the flag either way the same way they probably don’t have an opinion on gay marriage. They care about business and now the flag issue has become bad for business.
That negative PR existed when they decided not to remove the flag. It hasn't translated into any economic hardships. I don't think it will going forward.