What Impact Will Mark Sanford's Baggage Have on Today's Special Election?

[jtbell]

Former South Carolina governor Mark Sanford (R) faces Elizabeth Colbert Busch (D) today in a special election for the House of Representatives seat whose district includes Charleston SC. The seat became vacant when SC governor Nikki Haley appointed its former occupant to the Senate to replace Jim DeMint, who resigned late last year to head the Heritage Foundation.

Polls apparently indicate a dead heat. A Democrat normally would not have any chance of winning in this heavily Republican state, but Sanford has a load of baggage which you can review from this previous thread:

www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=321741

Recently it came out that Sanford had entered his ex-wife's house (in her absence) in violation of a court order in Februrary to watch the Super Bowl with one of his sons. That matter is coming up for a court hearing this week.

http://www.wltx.com/news/article/232907/2/Sanford-Explains-He-was-Watching-Super-Bowl-with-Son (WLTX TV, Columbia)

Some commentary from cnn.com:

In South Carolina politics, two very different campaign styles

I'm in a different district, so I'm just a spectator, but I remember Sanford squabbling a lot with the Republican-dominated legislature while he was governor, vetoing spending bills and then the legislature overriding the vetoes. The Republican establishment doesn't like him much.

 

[Danger]

The Republican establishment doesn't like him much.

That's a point in his favour, but he's still running as one of them. On the other hand, Elizabeth Busch is Stephen Colbert's (the Colbert Report) sister and he's been publicly backing her, so she probably already has the support of anyone who matters.

 

[jtbell]

Looks like Sanford has been resurrected, with 54% of the vote.

Sanford completes political comeback in South Carolina race

 

[jim hardy]

Elizabeth Busch is Stephen Colbert's (the Colbert Report) sister...so she probably already has the support of anyone who matters.

only Colbert fans matter ?

 

[AlephZero]

only Colbert fans matter ?

I dunno, but I like the sneaky idea of having a democrat candidate called Bus(c)h. Maybe the more intellectually challenged republcans voted for the wrong person

 

[Danger]

only Colbert fans matter ?

To we non-Yanks who think of Republicans with derision, that's a resounding "Yes!"

And before anyone beaks off about that, you're perfectly welcome to deride my government in return. After all, we do it ourselves all of the time.