TV ads to back Sanford’s stimulus stand

A nonprofit group with close ties to Gov. Mark Sanford will spend $230,000 on television ads defending Sanford’s opposition to some federal stimulus money.

Sanford will appear in the ads, sponsored by Carolinians for Reform. The group was founded by a handful of Sanford campaign donors and aims to educate the public about the governor’s positions. Sanford frequently has appeared in ads by similar groups that support his agenda.

Sanford said the ads, which begin airing today, are meant to clear up “confusion” about his position. Opponents, including lawmakers and the Democratic National Committee, have tried “to frighten a lot of teachers and law enforcement,” Sanford said.

Sanford has opposed using $700 million of $2.8 billion in federal stimulus money, which will come directly to the state, to balance the state’s education and law enforcement budgets. Sanford wants an equivalent amount of money to be used to pay off state debt or he won’t apply for the $700 million.

In the ad, dubbed “Price,” Sanford warns about the future impact of stimulus spending.

“Many families are struggling with challenges we’ve not seen in our lifetimes,” Sanford says in the ad’s script. “The truth is, more tax dollars will be spent in our state this year than ever before. But there must be a stopping point. Going further into debt will not solve a problem that was created by too much debt.”

That “more tax dollars” reference could raise the hackles of lawmakers. They have criticized Sanford’s use of broad numbers — such as combining all state and federal spending in South Carolina to say more tax money will spent — and his avoidance of the impact of cuts on the state budget. For example, much of the increased federal education money going to the state must be spent on existing programs and cannot be redirected to teacher salaries or other operating costs.

For his part, Sanford has been critical of school officials and lawmakers who, he says, intentionally use misleading budget numbers to create panic.

The group that is paying for the ads has been the subject of controversy.

Sanford directed more than $100,000 left over from a 2006 national governor’s conference, held in Charleston, to Carolinians for Reform. The convention had received a $150,000 state grant.

After state Sen. Jake Knotts, R-Lexington, discovered the transfer, Carolinians for Reform returned the money to the state. Sanford said there was nothing illegal or wrong about sending the money to the group though it did create an image problem.

Knotts said Thursday that Sanford has created a similar image problem by opposing the stimulus.

“People are just not interested in destroying the public school system,” Knotts said of the potential impact of budget cuts. “They don’t want to hear about letting people out of jail.”

The Democratic National Committee also jumped in, accusing Sanford of using the stimulus issue to plot a run for president in 2012. Sanford has denied he is running for president, but will not rule it out.

“If I had rejected $700 million for schools and public safety, I’d feel the need to go on TV and defend myself, too,” said Democratic committee spokesman Hari Sevugan. “But that doesn’t excuse Governor Sanford for putting his political ambitions ahead of the needs of South Carolinians.”

Sanford thinks a silent majority of South Carolinians support him, but some polls have indicated otherwise. In the past few weeks, Sanford has canvassed the state and appeared multiple times on cable news shows to defend his position.

“People are frightened as they are based on the misinformation that’s out there,” Sanford said. “We’ve got to play some catch-up ball.”

Reach O’Connor at (803) 771-8358.