The Singularity of Mark Sanford's Political Comeback

In the wake of his convincing Republican primary victory on Tuesday, it is tempting to attach any number of metaphors to Mark Sanford’s political comeback.

It is just as tempting to presume that his return to public life says something deeper about voters’ willingness to forgive politicians. After all, few politicians in the era of modern media have won an election after a scandal like Sanford’s. Yes, some, such as Bill Clinton and Elliott Spitzer, have rehabilitated their image. But it is rare to recover one's reputation enough to have been voted back into office.

Lest Anthony Weiner or John Edwards be mulling a comeback, there are a several factors that make Sanford’s second act a singular achievement.

First, the circumstances of the race benefited Sanford enormously. In a crowded field, his high name recognition and financial resources gave him a pronounced advantage, especially in a short race. He did not have to introduce himself to voters and potential donors as the other 15 candidates did.

Second, at the numerous forums and “town hall-type” events over the last eight weeks, Sanford was head and shoulders above his rivals. Because of his experience, he was able to speak with a depth on the issues in a way that the rest of the field simply could not. When talking about fiscal reform, Sanford often pointed to battles he had in the 1990s with House Leadership over his refusal to give in on certain principles.

Mostly though, Sanford’s comeback is due to Sanford himself.

When he was on the campaign trail Sanford was clearly relaxed and having a good time. He seemed like a man who was acutely aware that the political gods had granted him a second chance and he said as much, telling reporters how grateful he was for the opportunity. In his acceptance speech on Tuesday night, Sanford noted off the top how humbled he was by the support he’d received.

Which is exactly what you’d expect any politician to say in that circumstance, but with Mark Sanford it sounds genuine.

“You know,” Lin Bennett, the Charleston County GOP Chair said, ”Mark is a real person. A real human being. And when all that happened…those of us who’ve known him…we were heartbroken for him and his family…you know, there but for the grace of God…”

The feeling of disappointment rather than anger is the emotion most connected to the events of June 2009. Supporter after supporter has described their feelings about Sanford in much the same way Bennett did.

“Mark is genuine. He doesn’t put on airs,” said one longtime friend. “When he is talking about economics and policy that is really what he cares about and what he believes. He’s just saying things that have not been tested by focus groups.”

Does this mean that Sanford doesn’t try to spin reporters or dodge a potentially difficult question? Of course not.

But it’s clear that Sanford relationship with large segments of the Charleston area is deep, if quite complicated.

On the campaign trail over the last eight weeks Sanford did not shake hands with voters and quickly move through a crowd. The norm was for him to stop and talk for a minute or two, and just as often voters would say, ”I met you in 2006 at…” or “my brother lived next door to you…”

Sanford has been exposed in a way few public figures have. This is a man whose love letters to a woman besides his wife were published in the newspaper for everyone to see.

There are no secrets with Mark Sanford, and this is a reality he seems to have accepted, according to people who know him, and, if he wished to continue his political career, it was an acceptance that was required. Over the last eight weeks he hasn’t blamed the media or implied that he was treated unfairly, even though his Congressional candidacy has brought renewed scrutiny to his personal and public lives.

The owner of Molly Darcy’s in Charleston, which played host to Sanford’s victory party on Tuesday, is Tommy Snee. He is a new Sanford friend. A native Irishman by way of New York, Snee has gotten to know Sanford in the last few months and therefore did not go through the embarrassment and disappointment that some of Sanford’s friends endured.

“He made a mistake and he’s apologized enough and I don’t need to apologize for him, Snee said. “It’s not about that, it’s about the world I leave for my three-year-old daughter and the person who can go to Washington to look out for her future. There’s no question Mark is the most qualified person to do that.”

In Sanford’s remarks to the media on Tuesday he quoted at length from Civil War hero Joshua Chamberlain, a Civil War General from Maine who held off Confederate soldiers at the Battle of Gettysburg. After the war, Chamberlain became governor of Maine. One of his most famous quotes is:

“There is a way of losing that is finding.” 

Keep up with all of Patch's coverage of South Carolina politics by following us on Facebook HERE and Twitter HERE