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| Mark Sanford wins South Carolina election in dramatic political comeback | Mark Sanford wins South Carolina election in dramatic political comeback |
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| The former South Carolina governor Mark Sanford has staged one of the most remarkable comebacks in recent US political history, shrugging off a sex scandal and ethics violation to win a place in Congress. | The former South Carolina governor Mark Sanford has staged one of the most remarkable comebacks in recent US political history, shrugging off a sex scandal and ethics violation to win a place in Congress. |
| In his victory speech on Tuesday night Sanford made an inevitable comparison with Lazarus. He thanked God for giving him yet another chance. "I am one imperfect man saved by God's grace," he said. | In his victory speech on Tuesday night Sanford made an inevitable comparison with Lazarus. He thanked God for giving him yet another chance. "I am one imperfect man saved by God's grace," he said. |
| Sanford took 54% of the vote to Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch's 45%. His victory came four years after the public humiliation of being caught lying, claiming he had been hiking the Appalachian Trail while in fact making a secret trip to visit his mistress in Argentina. | Sanford took 54% of the vote to Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch's 45%. His victory came four years after the public humiliation of being caught lying, claiming he had been hiking the Appalachian Trail while in fact making a secret trip to visit his mistress in Argentina. |
| He was also fined $75,000 for state ethics violations, having used campaign finance to fund personal travel. | He was also fined $75,000 for state ethics violations, having used campaign finance to fund personal travel. |
| While most politicians would seek quiet retirement in such circumstances, the Republican has instead successfully resurrected his career. He managed to neutralise the sex scandal by appealing to the electorate for forgiveness and, in the end, Republicans preferred a vulnerable and battered conservative to a Democrat. | While most politicians would seek quiet retirement in such circumstances, the Republican has instead successfully resurrected his career. He managed to neutralise the sex scandal by appealing to the electorate for forgiveness and, in the end, Republicans preferred a vulnerable and battered conservative to a Democrat. |
| To chants of "Let's go Mark" at his victory party at the Liberty Tap in Mount Pleasant, outside Charleston, Sanford acknowledged the scandal, saying he had learned humility and been sent "angels" to help him in his campaign. | To chants of "Let's go Mark" at his victory party at the Liberty Tap in Mount Pleasant, outside Charleston, Sanford acknowledged the scandal, saying he had learned humility and been sent "angels" to help him in his campaign. |
| Referring to his own resurrection, he quoted a member of the public who said: "He looks a lot like Lazarus." | Referring to his own resurrection, he quoted a member of the public who said: "He looks a lot like Lazarus." |
| There are few comparable comebacks in recent US political history, the closest being the Republican senator David Vitter who managed to survive being caught up in the 2007 DC Madam prostitute exposures. | There are few comparable comebacks in recent US political history, the closest being the Republican senator David Vitter who managed to survive being caught up in the 2007 DC Madam prostitute exposures. |
| His opponent, Colbert Busch – a local businesswoman and sister of the Comedy Central star Stephen Colbert – fought a hard campaign in what is a strongly Republican district. The Democrats and unions poured in cash and her brother held fundraising parties. | His opponent, Colbert Busch – a local businesswoman and sister of the Comedy Central star Stephen Colbert – fought a hard campaign in what is a strongly Republican district. The Democrats and unions poured in cash and her brother held fundraising parties. |
| Sanford fought the campaign on promises that he would be a proponent of cutting the burgeoning US national debt. | Sanford fought the campaign on promises that he would be a proponent of cutting the burgeoning US national debt. |
| Republicans attending his victory party said the sex scandal had had little impact, with voters largely discounting it because he had quickly admitted wrongdoing at the time and asked for forgiveness. The ethics violations were also put aside because he had paid his fine. | Republicans attending his victory party said the sex scandal had had little impact, with voters largely discounting it because he had quickly admitted wrongdoing at the time and asked for forgiveness. The ethics violations were also put aside because he had paid his fine. |
| He won in spite of the Republican party withdrawing funding for his campaign, embarrassed by the transgressions and apparently believing he was not going to win. But angry local Republicans stepped in to fill the gap. | He won in spite of the Republican party withdrawing funding for his campaign, embarrassed by the transgressions and apparently believing he was not going to win. But angry local Republicans stepped in to fill the gap. |
| Judy McCann, attending Sanford's party, said she was outraged when the Republican party pulled funding and, though she said she was not wealthy, contributed directly herself. "I was very upset at when the RNC pulled the funds. They felt he was not going to win. I feel they just gave up." | Judy McCann, attending Sanford's party, said she was outraged when the Republican party pulled funding and, though she said she was not wealthy, contributed directly herself. "I was very upset at when the RNC pulled the funds. They felt he was not going to win. I feel they just gave up." |
| She had long been confident he was going to win because he is "a debt-fearing candidate", a repeated theme among his supporters. She did not think the sex scandal had mattered because he had admitted it, unlike Bill Clinton, she said. | She had long been confident he was going to win because he is "a debt-fearing candidate", a repeated theme among his supporters. She did not think the sex scandal had mattered because he had admitted it, unlike Bill Clinton, she said. |
| Another Sanford supporter at the party, Belk Daughtridge, a financial adviser from Charleston, said he had liked Colbert Busch as a businesswoman and a person of principle. "[But] it comes down to the devil you know and we do not know what we would get with her," Daughtridge said. Sanford would push to cut government waste, he hoped. | Another Sanford supporter at the party, Belk Daughtridge, a financial adviser from Charleston, said he had liked Colbert Busch as a businesswoman and a person of principle. "[But] it comes down to the devil you know and we do not know what we would get with her," Daughtridge said. Sanford would push to cut government waste, he hoped. |
| Daughtridge did not think the sex scandal and ethics violation were issues on the doorstep. "It demonstrated questionable judgement [on Sanford's part]. An error. He is probably not going to do that again," Daughtridge said. | Daughtridge did not think the sex scandal and ethics violation were issues on the doorstep. "It demonstrated questionable judgement [on Sanford's part]. An error. He is probably not going to do that again," Daughtridge said. |
| The special election was held after the appointment of the sitting Republican, Tim Scott, to the Senate. It had been written off by the Democrats until Sanford emerged from the Republican primary and suddenly they thought they had a chance. Only two weeks ago Colbert Busch was nine points clear in a poll but by Sunday that had been cut to one point. | The special election was held after the appointment of the sitting Republican, Tim Scott, to the Senate. It had been written off by the Democrats until Sanford emerged from the Republican primary and suddenly they thought they had a chance. Only two weeks ago Colbert Busch was nine points clear in a poll but by Sunday that had been cut to one point. |
| 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 stressed 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. | 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 stressed 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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