Topic: South Carolina

Mark Sanford Is 'Humbled' to Be in Congress

REUTERS

After winning a closely-watched South Carolina special election, Mark Sanford was sworn into Congress on Wednesday

By Elspeth Reeve

May 8, 2013

Mark Sanford's Scandal-Proof Formula: The Party Trumps the Sex, Every Time

The combination of Sanford's sex scandal and his opponent's relationship to a funny person wan't enough to overcome the fact that South Carolina's first congressional district is very Republican. The lesson, maybe even for Anthony Weiner: Don't have a sex scandal in a swing district. Just look at the math.

Comments | 1,618 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

May 7, 2013

Mark Sanford Is a Winner Once Again

The Associated Press and CNN have both called the special election for South Carolina's first congressional district for Mark Sanford, the once-disgraced former governor who's proven that even redemption has partisan leanings.

Comments | 5,963 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

May 5, 2013

Somehow, Mark Sanford Is Ahead in the Polls and Could Actually Win

Something strange and extraordinary happened to Mark "The Comeback Kid" Sanford over the past couple of weeks: He made a comeback — and a serious one at that.

Comments | 3,212 Views

By J.K. Trotter

Apr 30, 2013

Why AshleyMadison.com Wants Its New Poster Boy, Mark Sanford, to Win Big

An enormous new billboard in South Carolina features the serial philanderer just a week ahead of his special election. But the CEO of the extramarital "dating" site tells The Atlantic Wire that a Sanford victory would be a move toward cultural acceptance of cheating — or at least would help the site buy some Super Bowl ads.

Comments | 3,351 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Apr 29, 2013

The Sanford-Colbert Busch Congressional Race Is Getting Pretty Fierce

Former South Carolina governor Mark Sanford and sister of famous comedian Elizabeth Colbert Busch faced off in a brutal debate Monday night. But with just over a week left before the election, brutal is what it takes. 

Comments | 2,951 Views

Black Voters Are Key to a Colbert Busch Win in South Carolina

The Democrat is airing a radio ad accusing Mark Sanford of voter suppression ahead of the only debate pitting Colbert Busch against Mark Sanford on Monday night.

Comments | 786 Views

By J.K. Trotter

Apr 24, 2013

Cash-Strapped Mark Sanford Campaign Brings Cardboard Pelosi Out on the Trail

Exactly one week after GOP leaders pulled funding from his congressional run, the South Carolina Republican appeared at a bizarre event in Charleston Wednesday morning, during which he "debated" a full-color cardboard poster of the House Minority Leader.

Comments | 975 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Apr 22, 2013

Mark Sanford's Bare-All Apology Tour Isn't Working

Mark Sanford placed a full-page ad to explain why he was busted for trespassing on his ex-wife property, following many other explanations in his campaign for a political comeback. But his endless confessions work for Oprah's couch, not for politics.

Comments | 2,330 Views

The Appalachian Trail Ad Democrats Were Waiting to Air

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will launch a new television spot Friday features a figure hiking a mountain trail as the narrator intones, "Mark Sanford walked out on us, violated our trust ... maybe Mark Sanford should just keep walking."

Comments | 1,166 Views

By Connor Simpson

Apr 17, 2013

Mark Sanford's Trespassing Charge Just Lost Him a Lot of Campaign Money

The National Republican Congressional Committee announced they would not be contributing another cent to Mark Sanford's campaign in South Carolina Wednesday afternoon because of his trespassing charge.

Comments | 3,303 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Apr 16, 2013

What Was Mark Sanford Doing at His Ex-Wife's House?

Mark Sanford is headed back to court on Thursday to address an accusation that he trespassed at his ex-wife Jenny Sanford's home a couple months ago. This probably doesn't bode well for his comeback.

Comments | 8,253 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Apr 3, 2013

Who Is Stephen Colbert's Sister? (Aside from Being Stephen Colbert's Sister)

The first (and maybe only) thing most people know about Elizabeth Colbert Busch is that she's Stephen Colbert's sister, but if she's going to pull off beating Mark Sanford, the former South Carolina governor most famous for flying to Argentina to cheat on his wife, for a Congressional seat this fall, people are going to have to learn more about her.

Comments | 5,877 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Apr 2, 2013

Mark Sanford Is One Step Closer to Redemption

Less than two hours after the polls closed Tuesday night, the call came in: "Disgraced former governor" Mark Sanford had secured a primary victory and set up a May 7 special election against Stephen Colbert's sister. Boy, has this man come a long way since that time he went "hiking on the Appalachian Trail."

Comments | 534 Views

By Philip Bump

Apr 2, 2013

Lindsey Graham's Jamaican Country Club Worker Problem

Graham is taking friendly fire from The Daily Caller, which criticizes the senator's efforts to facilitate a country club's hiring of Jamaican workers on temporary permits. At its heart, the critique isn't about politics — or even necessarily the Senate's pending immigration deal. It's about jobs.

Comments | 1,244 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Mar 26, 2013

Stephen Colbert's Sister Is Polling Pretty Well Against Mark Sanford

Mark Sanford, famous for not hiking on the Appalachian Trail, is polling behind Elizabeth Colbert Busch, famous for being the sister of a guy who lampoons conservatives, in the race for South Carolina's conservative first congressional district.

Comments | 3,466 Views

By Philip Bump

Mar 20, 2013

Why Mark Sanford Would Beat Stephen Colbert's Sister, by the Numbers

It appears that a special election in South Carolina will be the contest everyone was hoping for, with Mark "I left my heart in Argentina" Sanford likely to take on Elizabeth "My brother is on TV" Colbert Busch. So: Who's going to win?

Comments | 2,245 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Mar 19, 2013

Elizabeth Colbert Busch Is One Step Closer to Capitol Hill

As expected, Stephen Colbert's older sister Elizabeth won the Democratic nomination in the race for South Carolina's first congressional seat. She's now darn close to being the first Colbert in Congress.

Comments | 1,725 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Mar 13, 2013

'Opposing Black Guy in the White House' Is 'Good Politics' for This South Carolina Medicaid Flip-Flopper

"It is good politics to oppose the black guy in the White House right now, especially for the Republican Party," said Republican South Carolina House Member Kris Crawford in an interview about how he supported a Medicaid expansion despite his party affiliation. Now just guess what he did next.

Comments | 7,686 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Mar 4, 2013

Stop Feeling Bad for Jenny Sanford

An affair destroyed former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's career, and it turns out he wanted his ex-wife to manage his comeback. What a jerk! Except, it's now time to dispose of the sad little Good Wife trope.

Comments | 12,721 Views

By J.K. Trotter

Feb 19, 2013

Mark Sanford Is Apologizing His Way to Congress

The former governor of South Carolina, who briefly disappeared in June 2009 to carry on an extramarital affair in Argentina, wants you to know he's sorry. Will that be enough to win?

Comments | 2,242 Views

By J.K. Trotter

Jan 18, 2013

Stephen Colbert's Sister is Running for Congress, but Will He Campaign for Her?

The giddy speculation about campaign theatrics might be misplaced. Even if a family face-off with Mark Sanford sounds "awesome."

Comments | 6,208 Views

By J.K. Trotter

Jan 15, 2013

Mark Sanford Is Running for Congress — and Marrying His Argentinian Lover

The decision to run "came out of the blue, for all the obvious reasons."

Comments | 2,005 Views

By Esther Zuckerman

Dec 28, 2012

Trimming the Times

The Death of a Drugged Pony, a Mayorless Town, and 2013 in Culture

A summary of the best reads found behind the paywall of The New York Times.

Comments | 2,192 Views

By Connor Simpson

Dec 20, 2012

Yep, Mark Sanford Is Actually Making a Comeback

The rumors were true. Mark Sanford -- the former South Carolina Governor who likes hiking and adultering -- is going to make a run for the soon-to-be-vacated House seat in his former state. 

Comments | 2,069 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Dec 11, 2012

Jenny Sanford Is on Nikki Haley's Senate Shortlist — and Stephen Colbert Isn't

The South Carolina governor is thinking about replacing Sen. Jim DeMint with the ex-wife of Mark Sanford, who was governor when he disappeared on 2009 to "hike the Appalachian trial" while actually cheating on her with an Argentinian.

Comments | 4,483 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Dec 10, 2012

The Surest Sign Yet That Nikki Haley Will Pick Tim Scott to Replace DeMint

The South Carolina governor released a statement saying that she doesn't want a temporary placeholder. That sounds like she's looking for someone a bit more permanent, like Rep. Tim Scott, whose district she'll be visiting for a press conference tomorrow.

Comments | 1,379 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Dec 10, 2012

One in Five South Carolinians Want Stephen Colbert to Take Jim DeMint's Senate Seat

If you already thought Stephen Colbert was way too qualified to take over Jim DeMint's vacant spot in the Senate, well, so do one in five South Carolinians.

Comments | 6,897 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Dec 7, 2012

Stephen Colbert Is Vastly Overqualified for Jim DeMint's Vacant Senate Seat

Stephen Colbert has launched a Twitter campaign to replace the departing senator. And the problem is not that Colbert isn't qualified. It's that he's too qualified.

Comments | 9,392 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Dec 6, 2012

Why Jim DeMint's Would-Be Successor Refuses to Be 'The Black Republican'

It's a little tricky to talk about this — the history Tim Scott might help start to re-write for the GOP as its only black Congressman turned Senator — without dwelling too much on the history of affirmative action... and South Carolina.

Comments | 3,403 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Dec 6, 2012

Is Jim DeMint's Heritage Foundation Job Kind of a Flip-Flop on Obamacare?

The South Carolina leader is quitting the Senate to run the conservative think tank that invented Obamacare. And if you take a look into his past, well, this guy really hates Obamacare.

Comments | 2,117 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Dec 6, 2012

Jim DeMint Is Leaving the Senate Four Years Early

One of the most conservative of conservatives leaders in the U.S. Congress and a founder of Washington's Tea Party movement will resign from the Senate to take over the Heritage Foundation.

Comments | 3,811 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Oct 10, 2012

South Carolina's Voter ID Upheld but Won't Be in Effect This Election

A panel of three federal judges ruled on Wednesday that South Carolina's voter identification law is not discriminatory and unanimously cleared the law, but since too little time remains between now and election day, the law won't go into effect until next year.

Comments | 138 Views

By Adam Martin

Aug 29, 2012

How Not to Reply to a Racist Email

As if we needed more racism in politics these days, a South Carolina lawmaker admitted in court on Tuesday that he had replied "amen" to a supporter's not-at-all subtle email comparing black people to "a swarm of bees going after a watermelon."

Comments | 1,622 Views

By Eric Randall

May 22, 2012

Union Leader's Nikki Haley Piñata Party Not a Smashing Good Idea

video of South Carolina AFL-CIO President Donna Dewitt smashing a piñata with the face of South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is going viral Tuesday, and though she tells The National Review's Katrina Trinko she doesn't regret the game, she probably should.

Comments | 5,690 Views

By Eric Randall

Mar 12, 2012

National Voter I.D. Law Fight Comes to Texas

While the voter identification laws passed in several states have become a national political debate, the Justice Department blocked Texas's law Monday for extremely local reasons.

Comments | 431 Views

By Eric Randall

Feb 7, 2012

South Carolina Sues the Government Over Voter I.D. Law

South Carolina's Attorney General Alan Wilson filed a lawsuit Tuesday after the Justice Department blocked South Carolina's controversial law requiring voters to present a photo I.D.

Comments | 2,933 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jan 20, 2012

Poll Watch

Romney Slipping in South Carolina and Nationally

Only a week ago, it looked like Mitt Romney might make history by winning Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina, which no candidate had ever done before. But now it looks like a different candidate will win each of the first three nomination contests, which has never happened before, either.

Comments | 2,802 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jan 20, 2012

What If South Carolina Threw a Primary and No One Showed?

In South Carolina, "Fighting over politics is sport," the New York Times reports today, but it's not a very popular sport.

Comments | 1,107 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jan 18, 2012

Poll Watch

A Sign of a Third Newt Comeback

Newt Gingrich's "suicidal" "kamikaze" "jihad" against Mitt Romney looks like it wasn't so suicidal after all: Romney's lead in South Carolina has shrunk by half. Here's our guide to today's polls and why they matter.

Comments | 645 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jan 18, 2012

Anti-Romney Populism Is Tough When You Want to Cut Romney's Taxes

Of course Mitt Romney's rivals for the Republican nomination want to take advantage of Romney's tendency to remind voters of things they hate about rich people -- like his confession that he pays 15 percent of his income in taxes -- but the platforms they're running on call for even lower taxes for people like Romney.

Comments | 5,053 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Jan 17, 2012

What They're Saying About Last Night's Republican Debate

Mitt Romney took the brunt of the attacks in last night's first South Carolina debate, with all the other remaining candidates looking to bring the front-runner back to the pack.

Comments | 4,746 Views

By Eric Randall

Jan 13, 2012

Calling All Inanimate Objects: Rick Perry Will Now Take Your Questions

Rick Perry perhaps jokingly called on a mannequin with a raised hand while taking questions at a South Carolina campaign stop, and a meme is ready to be born.

Comments | 3,986 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jan 13, 2012

Romney's Defense of Bain Doesn't Fit Into a Pithy Soundbite

Mitt Romney is trying to turn a weakness -- that people got fired when his Bain Capitol took over companies -- into a strength by saying he rescued household brands everybody knows and loves.

Comments | 1,305 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Jan 12, 2012

Stephen Colbert Is Teasing Us About Maybe Running for President

Encouraged by his hypothetical lead in South Carolina over third-place New Hampshire finisher Jon Huntsman and Mitt Romney-spurred Republican ennui, Stephen Colbert might just announce his bid for presidency tonight.

Comments | 862 Views

By Dashiell Bennett

Jan 11, 2012

Will New Hampshire Change Anything?

Mitt Romney's big victory in New Hampshire was decisive, but expected, which means it will take another 10 days — and another vote in South Carolina — before any more Republican contenders are driven from the race. 

Comments | 242 Views

By Alexander Abad-Santos

Jan 10, 2012

In South Carolina Poll, Stephen Colbert Leads Jon Hunstman

If you needed any more confirmation that Jon Huntsman doesn't stand a chance in South Carolina, the latest Public Policy Polling numbers show him trailing Stephen Colbert.

Comments | 8,023 Views

By Elspeth Reeve

Jan 5, 2012

South Carolina Will Be the Mean Primary

New Hampshire voters have made the despicable decision to make it really clear who they're going to vote for a year, meaning South Carolina has to keep the Republican primary interesting all by itself.

Comments | 993 Views

By Eric Randall

Dec 28, 2011

Is It A Great Day in South Carolina?

South Carolina, famously hot tempered state that spurred on the Civil War, is once again mired in the important political questions of our time: Is it a great day in South Carolina today?

Comments | 2,987 Views

By Eric Randall

Dec 23, 2011

The Justice Department Blocks South Carolina's Voter I.D. Law

The Justice Department blocked a South Carolina law that would require voters present photo I.D., saying it would discriminate against minority voters, weighing in today for the first time on one of several new state laws seeking to combat voter fraud.

Comments | 2,372 Views

By Adam Clark Estes

Dec 22, 2011

South Carolina Immigration Laws Set Aside by a Federal Judge

As the nation prepares for a Supreme Court showdown on immigration laws, South Carolina Federal Judge Richard M. Gergel set a precedent by blocking the harshest parts of his state's new laws.

Comments | 1,813 Views

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