Sanford Mocks Pelosi, Democrats Mock Him

On Wednesday in the First Congressional District Race, Mark Sanford "debated" a cardboard cutout of Nancy Pelosi in downtown Charleston. That might seem unusual since she isn't running against him. The Sanford campaign explained the logic via press release:

"Nancy Pelosi and other national Democrats have contributed nearly $1 million to her effort and we know what Nancy Pelosi stands for – she is anti-Boeing, pro-stimulus, pro-Obamacare and supports raising the debt ceiling. But because my opponent is refusing joint appearances  to answer questions about where she stands on the issues, all we can assume is that she is going to be a reliable vote for the Pelosi-Obama agenda, were she to be elected."

“Elizabeth Colbert Busch says she will be an ‘independent voice’ in Congress, if that is the case, why are Nancy Pelosi and liberal national Democrats contributing nearly $1 million to her effort? Would they be trying to buy this race to send an ‘independent’ voice to Congress, or a reliable liberal Democrat?  What are they expecting in terms of their return on investment? Would my opponent indeed cast her vote in favor of a return to the Pelosi speakership? These are questions for which she owes answers directly to the people of the 1st District.”

The press release also criticized Colbert Busch for declining to debate Sanford on television. The only scheduled debate between Sanford and Colbert Busch will be the .

A portion of Sanford's remarks are viewable in the accompanying video.

The Colbert Busch campaign responded with a press release of its own:

While Mark Sanford continues his desperate campaign to deceive voters, Elizabeth Colbert Busch is spending her time with real people who support her campaign – today alone, she’s meeting with a group of Republicans for Elizabeth Colbert Busch and a rally at Burke High School. She doesn’t have to resort to phony cardboard cutouts to talk with the people of South Carolina.

Laurin Manning, a Democratic strategist based in Charleston, had a little fun with Sanford and compiled some options from popular culture for Sanford to debate besides Pelosi. A slideshow of those options is also above.

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