Ex-South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford wins old House seat back after scandal

FoxNews.com ^ | 5-7-2013 | Associated Press

[servo1969]

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Former Republican South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford revived a scandal-scarred political career by winning back his old congressional seat Tuesday in a district that hasn't elected a Democrat in three decades.

The comeback was complete when he defeated Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch, the sister of political satirist Stephen Colbert. With 87 percent of the precincts reporting, Sanford had 54 percent of the vote.

Sanford, who turns 53 later this month, has never lost a race in three runs for Congress and two for governor. And he said before the votes were counted Tuesday that if he lost this race, he wouldn't run for office again.

"I think you can go back in and you can ask for a second chance in a political sense once," he said Tuesday after voting in the special election.

[Bronzy]

I’m not. The choice was clear...another vote for Harry or a conservative in the Senate.

[DallasSun]

I understand your sentiment. I just wish we had had a better candidate. And it would not have taken much to find one.

[Eccl 10:2]

Thank God Sanford won. I don’t even like the guy and I think he’s a cretin; but the amount of gloating from brain-dead, Liberal, Stephen Colbert fans would have been through the roof if his sister won.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

PTL, yes, yes, yes. The crap from the media and the legislation she would have introduced would have been vomitous.

People here may despise Sanford, and rightfully so, but him winning here is immeasurably better than the alternative.

[hinckley buzzard]

You won't have to wait, you will get lots of sanctimonious outrage from the bleeding deacons of FR.

[stormhill]

The choice was clear...another vote for Harry or a conservative in the Senate

Uhh...wait a minute. The Senate?

I don't think...

[Snickering Hound]

Bad night for the dems. They blew a lot of money on this one...

[jpsb]

That girl needs a new boyfriend! She is cute too.

[tanknetter]

Bad night for the dems. They blew a lot of money on this one...

Yup, they sure did. And their bitterness is already showing over it: “House Republicans’ outreach to women voters now has Mark Sanford as the face. Republicans now have to defend him and stand with him until Election Day,” said Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel of New York.

Howabout this: we'll have to take Sanford, but they have to take Dr. Gosnell ...

[stormer]

Bleeding deacons? Are you referring to those who refuse to support a politician who abandoned his wife and four young sons on Father's Day so he could go fornicate with some - let's see, what do you call a woman who willfully has intercourse with the husband of another woman - slut? Are you referring to those who refuse to support a politician who ignores the directives set out in a divorce decree and trespasses on his wife's property? Are you talking about those who refuse to support a politician who lied to and cheated the taxpayers that he had sworn to serve?

[HiTech RedNeck]

you act as if you actually thought spirit was real...

[Slings and Arrows]

Better the satyr than the statist.

[Former Fetus]

U.S. House of Representatives, District 1 (Vote For 1)

5 of 5 Counties Reporting

Mark Sanford (REP) 54.04%
Elizabeth Colbert Busch (DEM) 41.86%
Elizabeth Colbert Busch (WFM) 3.35%
Eugene Platt (GRN) 0.48%
Write-In (NON) 0.27%

[TiaS]

Glad he won — love happens and he is a very humble man. He would get my vote.

[rockinqsranch]

I think you have made a very good point with your post.

[therut]

The last two dAYS MSNBC KNEW she was going too lose so they started the mantra-——this says nothing about National races to come. Before that when she was ahead and they were all giddy it was a BIG race of things to come Nationally. LOL!!!

[RipSawyer]

The same bunch of rats who condemn Sanford defended Slick Willy the rapist against all charges. They are all idiotic fools who imagine that they are smarter than everyone else. As flawed as Sanford is I would still take him over any liberal in the country. At least Sanford is not actively trying to destroy America.

[Swanks]

Actually some of the smart conservative money in SC was torn here. Maybe better, since this seat has to run for re election in 2014, flush out Sanford with his baggage. Get a real conservative with no personal baggage, and smoke her in 2014. This district is very conservative no way she could win no way, in 2014. And she would have accomplished NOTHING in under two years. Now you stuck with Sanford, Y’all

[GamecockD]

Mark is not a loser. He will represent well and be a big asset in congress. I have known him many years and I do not believe he will disappoint.

[GamecockD]

Those tweets make this outcome even sweeter. You know the dems have to be really sweating 2014 now.

[mwl8787]

People in 434 other congressional districts have never heard of Mark Sanford, never will, and wouldn’t care less in any case. I’d like to see the Dems try to use Sanford to “nationalize” 2014. Regrettably, even they are not that foolish.

Had Colbert won, the MSM would have played up this “upset” for weeks, declared the House will go to the Dems in 2014, and immeasurably helped Pelosi raise a lot of dough for Dem candidates from coast to coast.

Anybody who thinks that losing this seat would have been a “victory” understands very little about American politics.