Are Sanford's '12 Hopes On Life Support?
SC Gov. Mark Sanford (R), who quietly snuck off last Thursday to hike along the Appalachian Trail without notifying his wife, staff or other state officials, will head back to work tomorrow. That guarantees another day of this bizarre story. Sanford will resume his responsibilities, much to the chagrin of SC Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer (R), who has done his part to keep interest high, but questions about the governor's whereabouts will persist. And the secrecy with which he decided to skip town has raised questions about his disposition and judgment -- and sparked murmurs in political circles about his suitability for the '12 campaign.
Was he stressed? Traveling with someone else? Someone, clearly, who isn't his wife? Why wasn't he reachable? How is his state of mind?
We asked several strategists to assess if Sanford has damaged his '12 GOP nomination for president. Opinions were mixed. Three years is a long time, and many politicians tagged with far worse have rehabilitated themselves, but it's certainly not good news for Sanford that some are pairing his fate with that of Sen. John Ensign, the NV Republican and possible WH hopeful who admitted last week to cheating on his wife with a campaign staffer.
The experts:
Leonardo Alcivar, GOP strategist:
"Governor Sanford has served with principle and skill throughout his two terms. That is why South Carolinians seem more willing to take this Governor at his word than do national political observers on what, at best, is a staff related blunder. While lapses such as these can happen to politicians in the latter stages of their terms, many of us hope the Governor wastes not one more media cycle in providing a more reasoned explanation. "
Peter Fenn, Democratic strategist:
"Truly bizarre.....an AWOL Governor, and more important, an AWOL father on Father's Day. The explanations and timing just don't add up. Two possible Presidential candidates bite the dust in one week, Sanford and Ensign."
Stacie Paxton, former DNC spokeswoman who also worked in SC during the '04 WH campaign, now with Hill & Knowlton:
"At best it's on life support. His actions certainly don't scream family values. Voters may not understand the minutiae of policy, but they sure understand a husband disappearing for days without telling his family. Gov. Sanford's wife didn't do him any favors in her response. Sure seems like someone didn't want to run for the White House."
That's just a sampling.
So what's Sanford's real story? And will it matter?
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
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