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| South Carolina voters cast their ballots with special election 'too close to call' | South Carolina voters cast their ballots with special election 'too close to call' |
| (4 months later) | |
| South Carolina voters began casting their ballots Tuesday in a special congressional election seen as a test of the public's willingness to forgive scandal-ridden politicians. | South Carolina voters began casting their ballots Tuesday in a special congressional election seen as a test of the public's willingness to forgive scandal-ridden politicians. |
| Mark Sanford, the former Republican governor, was expected to retire quietly from public life in 2009 after he was caught lying in public about an affair, saying he was walking the Appalachian Trail while secretly visiting his mistress in Argentina. | Mark Sanford, the former Republican governor, was expected to retire quietly from public life in 2009 after he was caught lying in public about an affair, saying he was walking the Appalachian Trail while secretly visiting his mistress in Argentina. |
| But as weeks of campaigning draw to a close in the too-close-to-call race for a seat in the House of Representatives, Sanford is hoping that his pleas for forgiveness – and the Republicans' core support – will see him score a surprise victory over his opponent, Elizabeth Colbert Busch, the sister of the comedian Stephen Colbert. | But as weeks of campaigning draw to a close in the too-close-to-call race for a seat in the House of Representatives, Sanford is hoping that his pleas for forgiveness – and the Republicans' core support – will see him score a surprise victory over his opponent, Elizabeth Colbert Busch, the sister of the comedian Stephen Colbert. |
| Staff from both camps predicted the race, being fought in Charleston and the surrounding area, is so close it might even have to go to a recount on Friday. Colbert Busch was nine points clear of Sanford two weeks ago in a poll by Public Policy Polling, but the last poll from the same organisation had Sanford one point ahead on Sunday. | Staff from both camps predicted the race, being fought in Charleston and the surrounding area, is so close it might even have to go to a recount on Friday. Colbert Busch was nine points clear of Sanford two weeks ago in a poll by Public Policy Polling, but the last poll from the same organisation had Sanford one point ahead on Sunday. |
| Colbert Busch, after her last campaign stop on Monday, said: "We are going to win. We are not giving up. We are wide open, full throttle." But Sanford has scheduled campaign stops up to the close of polls at 7pm in an effort to squeeze out any potentially decisive voters, abandoning the tradition of leaving the day clear for volunteers to get voters to the polls. | Colbert Busch, after her last campaign stop on Monday, said: "We are going to win. We are not giving up. We are wide open, full throttle." But Sanford has scheduled campaign stops up to the close of polls at 7pm in an effort to squeeze out any potentially decisive voters, abandoning the tradition of leaving the day clear for volunteers to get voters to the polls. |
| Last-minute efforts are significant for Sanford. The district is historically strongly Republican, having given Romney an 18-point lead over Barack Obama in November, and the special election is being held to replace Tim Scott, a Republican appointed in December to the US Senate seat vacated by Jim DeMint. Generally, turnout in special elections is usually low, about 25%, and given that the district is so strongly Republican, Colbert Busch would benefit from a low turnout. Early turnout was good on Tuesday morning, election officials reported. | Last-minute efforts are significant for Sanford. The district is historically strongly Republican, having given Romney an 18-point lead over Barack Obama in November, and the special election is being held to replace Tim Scott, a Republican appointed in December to the US Senate seat vacated by Jim DeMint. Generally, turnout in special elections is usually low, about 25%, and given that the district is so strongly Republican, Colbert Busch would benefit from a low turnout. Early turnout was good on Tuesday morning, election officials reported. |
| Democrats, keen to secure a win in such a strongly Republican area, have been pouring money and volunteers into the race. Caroline Brouwer, originally from Charleston but now living in Washington, returned last Friday to work as a volunteer for the Colbert Busch race. | Democrats, keen to secure a win in such a strongly Republican area, have been pouring money and volunteers into the race. Caroline Brouwer, originally from Charleston but now living in Washington, returned last Friday to work as a volunteer for the Colbert Busch race. |
| "It's pretty tight," she said, adding the sex scandal has helped Colbert Busch. "If the Republicans had a better candidate, Elizabeth would not have a chance," she said, crediting Colbert Busch with fighting a strong campaign. | "It's pretty tight," she said, adding the sex scandal has helped Colbert Busch. "If the Republicans had a better candidate, Elizabeth would not have a chance," she said, crediting Colbert Busch with fighting a strong campaign. |
| Volunteers report that on the doorsteps they are finding a mixed reaction to Sanford's sex scandal. Some – many of them Republicans – say they will not vote for a liar, while others are prepared to forgive. | Volunteers report that on the doorsteps they are finding a mixed reaction to Sanford's sex scandal. Some – many of them Republicans – say they will not vote for a liar, while others are prepared to forgive. |
| Another Colbert Busch supporter, Karen Torrent, described reminding one Republican woman that Sanford had been fined $74,000 in ethics violations as a part of the scandal, having used campaign funds for his personal travel. The woman was indifferent, saying he had paid the fine and that was an end to it. | Another Colbert Busch supporter, Karen Torrent, described reminding one Republican woman that Sanford had been fined $74,000 in ethics violations as a part of the scandal, having used campaign funds for his personal travel. The woman was indifferent, saying he had paid the fine and that was an end to it. |
| Another female Republican voter, asked about the scandal, retorted that Bill Clinton had lied and got away with it. | Another female Republican voter, asked about the scandal, retorted that Bill Clinton had lied and got away with it. |
| Campaigners have made the election about the scandal. One Democratic group has been running a television ad in which a woman Republican says: "I used to be for Mark Sanford, but not any more. He skipped town to be with his mistress on Father's Day." | Campaigners have made the election about the scandal. One Democratic group has been running a television ad in which a woman Republican says: "I used to be for Mark Sanford, but not any more. He skipped town to be with his mistress on Father's Day." |
| Whereas a pro-Sanford group responded with newspaper ads listing women who support him reading: "Given the choice before us, we can't let the perfect be the enemy of the good." | Whereas a pro-Sanford group responded with newspaper ads listing women who support him reading: "Given the choice before us, we can't let the perfect be the enemy of the good." |
| In a televised debate last week, Colbert Busch focused mainly on what she portrayed as Sanford's poor record in helping bring business to the area, though she managed a few barbed references to the scandal. | In a televised debate last week, Colbert Busch focused mainly on what she portrayed as Sanford's poor record in helping bring business to the area, though she managed a few barbed references to the scandal. |
| Sanford, in turn, played to party loyalty, stressing that his opponent was being backed by big donations from the Democratic party and the unions, and repeatedly mentioned the Democratic leader in the House, Nancy Pelosi, a hate figure for many Republicans. | Sanford, in turn, played to party loyalty, stressing that his opponent was being backed by big donations from the Democratic party and the unions, and repeatedly mentioned the Democratic leader in the House, Nancy Pelosi, a hate figure for many Republicans. |
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