Mark Sanford May Ditch the Appalachian Trail for the Comeback Trail By Running For Scott's Seat

[Are_grits_groceries]

We haven't heard from Mark Sanford — the former governor of South Carolina, hiking enthusiast, and serial adulter — in quite a while, but according to Roll Call, Sanford is "studying" a possible run for the House seat to be vacated by Tim Scott, the Republican congressman whom Gov. Nikki Haley officially tapped Monday afternoon to replace Jim DeMint. From Abby Livingston at Roll Call:

Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford is being approached by local conservatives to run for Republican Rep. Tim Scott’s soon-to-be-vacant House seat — and is considering it — according to two sources in the state. Sanford previously occupied the same Charleston-based seat in the 1990s.

The Republican ex-governor is “studying” a run for the 1st District and making a political comeback, according to one well-placed South Carolina source. The report follows (real) speculation that Haley might choose Sanford's ex-wife, Jenny, to replace DeMint, and a (sadly unreal) effort by Stephen Colbert to replace him instead.

Sanford appeared as a commentator on Fox News throughout the campaign this year, in a surprisingly well received public comeback for a Republican star once thought to be a presidential contender, until he disappeared on a trip to "the Appalachian trail" that turned out to be a cover-up for a longtime affair. He proposed to his former lover in August.
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2012/12/mark-sanford-tim-scott-seat/60086/

From the sublime to the ridiculous is but a step
― Napoleon Bonaparte

SC has stepped so far from the sublime that we couldn't get back to it with a special GPS.
Just run Alvin Greene against him and complete the farce.

[mercuryblues]

1. could this be

why Jenny did not get the seat? I always suspected Haley was one of the women Mark "crossed the line" with. Jenny would have been tougher to beat than Scott in the election. It would have been fun if Jenny got the seat and Mark primaried her.

[Are_grits_groceries]

3. I don't think so.

Jenny Sanford backed Haley when she ran for Governor. That really helped Nikki.
She doesn't listen to anybody, but DeMint may have talked to her. If he gave Scott a thumb's up, I don't think she would ignore that.
In addition, when she backed Romney, the Tea Party was pissed off to the max. She has to find some group to support her because she will have a hard time running for any office. Apparently she has a large war chest, but when your approval rating is below 40% that ain't going to help.

[mercuryblues]

4. My initial thought

when jenny was announced for the short list was, you gotta be kidding me. Then I thought about it a few seconds. Jenny has ambition, is smart, a lot of people in the state love her, she would be hard to beat when election time came.

IMO the only thing Scott brings to the table is teanuttery. We'll find out at election time how far down the rabbit hole SC really is.

[Are_grits_groceries]

6. Jenny Sanford would be a formidable candidate.

She has TP credentials and I think a lot of people from all areas would give her serious consideration.
She is very smart and tough as nails. During the whole Markie Mark mess, a lot of people were impressed with her. She also got a lot of name recognition for free. That gives her a head start on many other candidates. They may be well known in some parts, but they will have to spend time and money to introduce themselves to voters.
J.Sanford also has a finance/business background. That would help her. In addition, she ran Markie's campaigns but stayed in the background. That gave her valuable political experince.

[Ken Burch]

2. Wouldn't it be great if Haley got confused and appointed Alvin Greene?

n/t.

[OldDem2012]

5. Maybe Allen West could move to South Carolina and REALLY turn that state into....

....a total political fiasco.

[Are_grits_groceries]

7. We are doing fine

without him thank you very much. Our homegrown mooks can do fiascos in a nanosecond. That's their stock 'n trade.