Friday, Jun. 26, 2009

Calls for Sanford to quit muted

Proximity to 2010 race, economy color observers’ opinions

Gov. Mark Sanford returned to work in Columbia on Thursday, telling television reporters he had no plans to resign as questions mounted about his ability to lead.

A Republican national committeeman, an Upstate newspaper and the governor’s former spokesman called for Sanford’s resignation. Early polls show a majority of state residents think the governor should step down.

But a flood of calls for Sanford’s resignation from the state’s political class might not materialize because of the impact such a move would have on next year’s race to replace him.

“It’s (Sanford’s) decision to make right now,” said former S.C. GOP chairman Katon Dawson, though he said of the camps working behind the scenes, “These are competitors working here.”

Few opponents in the Republican field want to give Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer a test run before 2010 to prove himself in a potential field of U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett, state Sen. Larry Grooms, state Rep. Nikki Haley, Attorney General Henry McMaster and Furman University political scientist Brent Nelsen.

Democrats think they can use Sanford as an albatross if he remains in office.

Analysts said Sanford’s resignation could be a blessing — or a curse — for Bauer.

“Andre has to build an administration from scratch in the middle of the toughest economic times we’ve seen,” said Dick Harpootlian, a former S.C. Democratic Party chairman.

Dawson called it a “Schick razor that’s a double-edged sword.”

Perform well and it could be a ticket back in 2010. But Dawson, too, noted Bauer would have to build a staff from scratch.

Scott Huffmon, a political scientist at Winthrop University, said influential lawmakers with whom Sanford has disagreed might want to consider whether they prefer an “emasculated” Sanford or an energetic and ambitious Bauer.

“It depends how much they want the man’s head,” Huffmon said.

But Sanford showed no signs of wanting to quit, even scheduling a cabinet meeting today.

But his staying in office could pose problems for state Republicans.

Sanford painted himself as a family man, fluent in the Bible chapter and verse, who once urged Bill Clinton to resign the presidency after his affair with an intern was exposed. Likewise, Sanford supported then-House Speaker designate Bob Livingston’s decision to resign after admitting to an affair in 1998.

“He did the unnecessary but probably right thing,” Sanford told The State at the time.

Sanford’s faults could carry over to other candidates.

“I think Democrats would love to have Mark Sanford on the ticket to linger over the Republicans,” Huffmon said.

Democratic pollster and strategist Carey Crantford said Sanford’s approval ratings among South Carolinians held steady at around 70 percent for most of his two terms.

But his approval rating began trending downward several months ago when the governor said he would refuse stimulus money, Crantford said.

“The man who had made his political bones saying he would fight for the little guy ended up standing in the way of the little guy who wanted money for jobs and schools,” he said.

Crantford, who plans to conduct a new poll later this week, said the governor’s behavior hurts the state overall.

“It’s bad news for a state that’s trying to attract industry, a state that’s trying to right its economy,” Crantford said. “These high-profile flash points leave a scar that state leaders must deal with.”

Dawson said 2010 is still a good way away, and voters would choose Republican ideals to improve the economy and business.

But this week’s revelations have shaken the political playing field.

“Does this throw a monkey wrench in the plans?” Dawson said. “Absolutely.”

Staff writer Gina Smith contributed to this report. Reach O’Connor at (803) 771-8358.

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