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| Former South Carolina governor Mark Sanford considers House run | |
| (1 day later) | |
| The former South Carolina governor Mark Sanford, who left public life two years ago after mysteriously disappearing to visit his then-mistress in Argentina, is poised to re-enter the political arena. | The former South Carolina governor Mark Sanford, who left public life two years ago after mysteriously disappearing to visit his then-mistress in Argentina, is poised to re-enter the political arena. |
| Acknowledging reports that he is seriously weighing a bid for the congressional seat he once held, Sanford wrote in an email late Saturday: "To answer your question, yes the accounts are accurate." He promised "further conversation on all this" at a later date. | Acknowledging reports that he is seriously weighing a bid for the congressional seat he once held, Sanford wrote in an email late Saturday: "To answer your question, yes the accounts are accurate." He promised "further conversation on all this" at a later date. |
| The two-term governor was a rising Republican political star before, in 2009, he vanished from South Carolina for five days. Reporters were told he was hiking the Appalachian Trail, but Sanford later acknowledged, tearfully, that he had been visiting María Belén Chapur, a woman he called his soul mate at a news conference that was held to announce his affair. The two were engaged earlier this year. | The two-term governor was a rising Republican political star before, in 2009, he vanished from South Carolina for five days. Reporters were told he was hiking the Appalachian Trail, but Sanford later acknowledged, tearfully, that he had been visiting María Belén Chapur, a woman he called his soul mate at a news conference that was held to announce his affair. The two were engaged earlier this year. |
| The opening for Sanford comes after representative Tim Scott was appointed to fill the remaining two years of senator Jim DeMint's seat. DeMint announced earlier this month he was resigning. | The opening for Sanford comes after representative Tim Scott was appointed to fill the remaining two years of senator Jim DeMint's seat. DeMint announced earlier this month he was resigning. |
| News that Sanford, 52, may be interested in the seat comes days after his ex-wife, Jenny, appeared to be dipping her toe into the state's political waters. She was reportedly on governor Nikki Haley's short list of candidates to fill the seat that went to Scott. Jenny Sanford later said she would think about a run for Scott's seat representing the coastal 1st Congressional District, the seat her ex-husband is now considering. | News that Sanford, 52, may be interested in the seat comes days after his ex-wife, Jenny, appeared to be dipping her toe into the state's political waters. She was reportedly on governor Nikki Haley's short list of candidates to fill the seat that went to Scott. Jenny Sanford later said she would think about a run for Scott's seat representing the coastal 1st Congressional District, the seat her ex-husband is now considering. |
| "I'd be crazy not to look at the race a little bit," she said Tuesday, before reports about her ex-husband surfaced. | "I'd be crazy not to look at the race a little bit," she said Tuesday, before reports about her ex-husband surfaced. |
| State Republicans said Scott planned to submit his letter of resignation from the house on 2 January, triggering a process of candidate filing and primaries leading up to a special election in May. | State Republicans said Scott planned to submit his letter of resignation from the house on 2 January, triggering a process of candidate filing and primaries leading up to a special election in May. |
| Mark Sanford knows the 1st District well. He was elected to the seat in 1994, when Jenny Sanford managed his first campaign. She was a close adviser for most of his career, in which he served three terms before voters elected him governor in 2002. | Mark Sanford knows the 1st District well. He was elected to the seat in 1994, when Jenny Sanford managed his first campaign. She was a close adviser for most of his career, in which he served three terms before voters elected him governor in 2002. |
| The former governor would bring name recognition and money to the race – two things which will be especially important due to the short campaign season and an open field. Whether voters are ready to welcome Sanford back to politics is another issue. | The former governor would bring name recognition and money to the race – two things which will be especially important due to the short campaign season and an open field. Whether voters are ready to welcome Sanford back to politics is another issue. |
| Sanford avoided impeachment over his trip to Argentina but was censured by the state legislature. He also had to pay more than $70,000 in ethics fines – still the largest in state history – after investigations raised questions about his use of state, private and commercial aircraft. | Sanford avoided impeachment over his trip to Argentina but was censured by the state legislature. He also had to pay more than $70,000 in ethics fines – still the largest in state history – after investigations raised questions about his use of state, private and commercial aircraft. |
| Scott will be sworn in 3 January to replace DeMint, who announced his resignation earlier this month to lead The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Scott, who will have to seek election in 2014, will become the state's first black US senator and the first black Republican US senator from the South since Reconstruction. Candidates for Scott's seat must file by the end of January. Primaries will be held in March, with the general election in May. State Republican Chairman Chad Connelly said that as of Friday, 14 Republicans had expressed interest. | Scott will be sworn in 3 January to replace DeMint, who announced his resignation earlier this month to lead The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank. Scott, who will have to seek election in 2014, will become the state's first black US senator and the first black Republican US senator from the South since Reconstruction. Candidates for Scott's seat must file by the end of January. Primaries will be held in March, with the general election in May. State Republican Chairman Chad Connelly said that as of Friday, 14 Republicans had expressed interest. |
| "Governor Sanford getting in would certainly alter the dynamics. That list would go down significantly," he said. Sanford has $1.2m left in his state campaign coffers. | "Governor Sanford getting in would certainly alter the dynamics. That list would go down significantly," he said. Sanford has $1.2m left in his state campaign coffers. |
| Longtime Republican activist and donor John Rainey, who convinced Sanford to run for governor after leaving congress, said Sanford's last six months in office, following his tearful press conference, had been his most effective. | Longtime Republican activist and donor John Rainey, who convinced Sanford to run for governor after leaving congress, said Sanford's last six months in office, following his tearful press conference, had been his most effective. |
| "He's finally learned how to do it," said Rainey, who was chairman of the board of economic advisors during sanford's tenure. "Mark now understands the necessity of and art of compromise. It's not my way or the highway." | "He's finally learned how to do it," said Rainey, who was chairman of the board of economic advisors during sanford's tenure. "Mark now understands the necessity of and art of compromise. It's not my way or the highway." |
| Rainey added that Sanford's engagement to Chapur could improve his standing with voters. | Rainey added that Sanford's engagement to Chapur could improve his standing with voters. |
| "Think of all that's happened since 2009. That's old news," he said. "Especially in the South, we're about redemption. I don't think he's got a problem." | "Think of all that's happened since 2009. That's old news," he said. "Especially in the South, we're about redemption. I don't think he's got a problem." |
| This article was amended, to correct an error in the headline, on Monday 24 December 2012 |