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2013-05-08 Home Front: Politix
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Mark Sanford Redeems Career, Heading To Congress
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[HOSTED.AP.ORG] In a story of political redemption, Mark Sanford is headed back to Congress after his career was derailed by scandal four years ago.
I am genuinely surprised.
"I am one imperfect man saved by God's grace," the Republican told about 100 cheering supporters Tuesday after defeating Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch to win back the 1st District seat he held for three terms in the 1990s.
...and by Dick Harpootlian...
"It's my pledge to all of you going forward I'm going to be one of the best congressmen I could have ever been."
"I'm gonna be a regular John C. Calhoun!"
On Wednesday, Sanford told NBC's "Today" show he thinks his record as a watchdog for taxpayers was more important than his personal redemption story.
His personal redemption story was actually the more interesting of the two.
"I think I have an incredibly strong track record with regard to watching out for people's pocketbook," he said.
That will be great, assuming he can keep his pants on in the future.
Although the race was thought to be close going into the voting, Sanford collected 54 percent of the vote against Colbert Busch, the sister of political satirist Stephen Colbert, in a district that hasn't elected a Democratic congressman in more than three decades. About 32 percent of the district's voters went to the polls. Green Party candidate Eugene Platt finished far behind.
Here's the data massage. Sanford collected 54 percent of the vote because a Publican hasn't been elected in the district in more than 30 years. And besides, only 32 percent of voters turned out. If it had been more it mighta gone the other way. And the Green Party guy probably pulled votes from the Dem ticket.
Um, no, the district has been red for a couple decades. Sanford had three terms there back in the 90s. Pubs there elected Tim Scott more recently. It's so red it's darned near crimson...
"Some guy came up to me the other day and said you look a lot like Lazarus," Sanford told the crowd Tuesday night, referring to the man who, according to the Bible, Christ raised from the dead.
What'd Lazarus look like?
"I've talked a lot about grace during the course of this campaign," he said. "Until you experience human grace as a reflection of God's grace, I don't think you really get it. And I didn't get it before."
If you're a Catholic you understand that thing about admission, contrition, and penance. Of the three Sanford's penance period is the most interesting. His wife divorced him, he's not allowed on her property, he married his mistress, and when he won the primary the RNC abandoned the campaign, convinced it couldn't be won.
While he credited his conservative credentials on Wednesday, he did not back away from his problems.
If I was him, I'd make it a point not to refer to it again. Having been absolved, he should go and sin no more.
"I let a lot of folks down back in 2009 and yet I've been on a remarkable personal journey since then and I hope my life will reflect that going forward," Sanford said.
Clear the airway, stop the bleeding, cover the wound...
Sanford, who turns 53 later this month, has now never lost a race in four runs for Congress and two for governor. And he said before the votes were counted Tuesday that if he lost this one, he wouldn't run for office again. 
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Posted by Fred 2013-05-08 11:35||
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Posted by Secret Asian Man 2013-05-08 18:45||
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