Seeking the vice presidency is the furthest thing from Gov. Nikki Haley's mind, she told the audience at a Beaufort County Republican Party meeting at Belfair Country Club this evening.

"I have great love and the service I give South Carolina is just trying to thank the state that raised me. There are things I have wanted to do and there are still things I want to do in South Carolina," she said.

Among those goals is to continue seeking ethics reform, pushing for income disclosures for politicians and independent investigations into ethics complaints against legislators. 

"We have asked for it for four years and we haven't gotten it. This is the year because if they deliver before March, they won't have opposition. If they don't deliver before March, they will have opposition. That's what I need you to tell them," she said.

Haley said she is still against the proposal of a gas tax increase.

"We brought all these jobs to South Carolina for a reason - to create the economy we've created," she said.

She touted the creation of 75,000 new jobs in 45 out of 46 counties in the state by attracting big business like Boeing, Volvo and Mercedes Benz.

"We have so much going on in South Carolina. Why are we so anxious to raise taxes? What is it? Being the lowest in the country when it comes to taxes is a good thing," she said.

She still believes a long term plan is needed and that if the gas tax is increased, tax payers should receive a one percent income tax cut.

"If we have additional money, there are three places it should go. You either pay down debt, you give it back to the taxpayer or it goes to infrastructure," Haley said.

She wants to continue making strides in workforce development and education across the state as well as signing legislation in support of veterans, including not taxing military retirement pay.

Despite a year that delivered what Haley calls a "triple kick in the gut," to the Palmetto state, South Carolinians came together in a way that she said makes her most proud to be governor.

The initial "kick" occurred when a former North Charleston police officer fatally shot an unarmed black man named Walter Scott, which garnered national attention. Two months after the shooting, South Carolina announced it had passed the first body camera bill in the country.

"We took a tragedy and turned it into action," Haley said.

Then, in June, an armed man opened fire on a praying group of churchgoers at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston. Following the massacre of nine people, America watched as South Carolinians came together, vigils were held and the surviving victims showed forgiveness to the man accused of the murders, Haley said. The tragedy led to the removal of the Confederate flag from the Statehouse in Columbia.

"Then you take us to our third kick in the gut - a thousand-year flood," she said.

As flood stricken counties continue to mend, after heavy rains wreaked havoc across the state, residents across the state continue to give back, she said.

"The entire country now knows who South Carolina is. We're a group of people with love and compassion and openness and kindness. All of those things are very telling and I say that to thank you because everybody stepped up," she said.

Though she said she has no ambitions for a seat in the White House any time soon, she is keeping a close eye on the Republican presidential candidates. When asked which candidate she believes would best serve South Carolina if elected, Haley said it's just too soon to tell.

"I love policy, so I want the details. Don't tell me, yes, you want to secure the border - tell me how you're going to secure the border," Haley said.