COLUMBIA, S.C. — Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has applied for Secret Service protection, according to media reports. The application was first reported by The Wall Street Journal. Haley’s campaign did not immediately comment on the reported application. Haley, who is running for the Republican nomination for president, has had increased and more visible private security with her at events recently. “When you do something like this, you get threats. It’s just a reality, and that’s OK,” Haley told reporters Thursday in Columbia. “Part of running for public life is that you’re going to …