Sanford Unlikely to Get 2014 Primary Challenge

(Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images File Photo)

Rep. Mark Sanford, who was sworn into the House Wednesday, is unlikely to have a primary challenger in the coming cycle, or any cycle, according to Republicans plugged into Palmetto State politics.

The consensus among state operatives and consultants is that if former governor can avoid any missteps, he will have a lock on the 1st District.

Mark Sanford’s Winning Team #SC01 | Shop Talk

Sanford is coming back to Congress. (Mary Ann Chastain/Getty Images)

Rep.-elect Mark Sanford’s special election victory is a testament to his well-run, competent campaign organization.

The Republican’s personal baggage alone made this a competitive race — even in the GOP-heavy 1st District. It was further complicated by the low turnout and unpredictable nature of a special election.

This is the team that pulled it off: Full story

Mark Sanford Wins Special Election #SC01

(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Mark Sanford is officially coming back to Congress.

The former South Carolina governor defeated the Democratic nominee, Elizabeth Colbert Busch, on Tuesday night in South Carolina’s 1st District special election.

He defeated Colbert Busch 54 percent to 46 percent with 71 percent of precincts reporting, according to The Associated Press. Full story

Remainders: A Very Special, Special Election

Keep an eye on Roll Call and this blog for ongoing coverage of former Gov. Mark Sanford’s bid to come back to Congress via the 1st District special election. It could really happen on Tuesday.

Until then, here’s what you might have missed “At the Races” on Monday …

• #GASEN: GOP Rep. Jack Kingston raised more than a quarter-million dollars at a fundraiser for his Senate campaign to replace retiring Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga.
• #IASEN: Since Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, declined to run for Senate, Republicans are on the prowl for a new  candidate.
• #CA31:  Two of former Rep. Joe Baca’s, D-Calif., Democratic House colleagues are not backing his congressional comeback bid. The blood feud continues!
• #SC01: Polls close at 7 p.m. EDT Tuesday for the special election between Sanford and the Democratic nominee, Elizabeth Colbert Busch.

What we’re mulling on Monday …

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Mark Sanford Could Win on Tuesday #SC01

(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Could Mark Sanford pull off this special election on Tuesday after all? It’s more than possible.

Democrats and Republicans agree the former governor has half a shot at winning the 1st District special election Tuesday.

Only a week ago, operatives were preparing Sanford’s political obituary. But internal and public polls showed the race closing — and suddenly his return to the Palmetto State’s congressional delegation has become more than a possibility. Full story

Remainders: Conservatives Buy Airtime for Mark Sanford

• #IASEN: Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey will not run for Senate and has encouraged Republican Rep. Steve King to seek the open seat instead.
• #MTSEN: EMILY’s List President Stephanie Schriock confirmed her interest in a bid for Senate.
• #MISEN: Rep. Gary Peters, D-Mich. discussed his Senate campaign in an interview with CQ Roll Call.
• #MI14: Several Detroit-area Democrats are positioning to run for Peters’ seat including his primary foe from 2012, former Rep. Hansen Clarke.

What we’re mulling on Thursday…

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Tim Scott, More Republicans Come to Mark Sanford’s Aid #SC01

Scott was appointed to the Senate. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Only nine days ago, former Gov. Mark Sanford invoked the Alamo in a full-page advertisement in his local paper, pleading for reinforcements to his embattled special election campaign. The appeal might have worked.

The latest Republican to offer support is the man whose appointment to the Senate created the seat’s special election:  Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C. He’s one of several Republicans and conservatives who offered either verbal or financial support to Sanford in the last week Full story

Lindsey Graham Backs Mark Sanford #SC01 #SCSEN

Graham, above, backed Sanford. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., endorsed former Gov. Mark Sanford in the special election for South Carolina’s 1st District.

The endorsement from the Palmetto State’s senior senator came in the form of a series of tweets from Graham’s campaign Twitter account on Wednesday morning.

In Congress, @marksanfordwill vote to cut wasteful spending, eliminate debt & make gov't work for the taxpayer. We need him in Washington.

— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) May 1, 2013

Full story

Remainders: Larry Flynt Backs Mark Sanford

Polls close for the special primary for Senate in Massachusetts at 8 p.m. EDT. Check Roll Call tonight for results.

In the meantime, here’s what you might have missed “At the Races” on Tuesday …

#SC01: Larry Flynt — the publisher of Hustler — endorsed former Gov. Mark Sanford’s special election bid. He’s said he’ll donate the maximum to the struggling Republican’s campaign.

And in what will likely come as more welcome support, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and FreedomWorks PAC backed Sanford over the Democratic nominee, Elizabeth Colbert Busch. Meanwhile, House Majority PAC, a Democratic super PAC, targeted female Republicans in its final ad before Election Day.

#PAgov: GOP Gov. Tom Corbett’s terrible polling makes Republicans nervous about four suburban Philadelphia seats.

#GAsen: Republican Rep. Jack Kingston will hold two news conferences on Thursday — and all signs point to him announcing a bid for Senate.

#2016: Libertarian Gary Johnson sounded like “he’s up for another run” in a speech at George Washington University on Monday night.

What we’re mulling on Tuesday… Full story

Rand Paul, FreedomWorks Endorse Mark Sanford #SC01

Paul, above, endorsed Sanford. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

Updated 1:35 p.m. | Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., endorsed embattled former Gov. Mark Sanford’s bid for the 1st District special election.

“Mark has proven during his time in office that watching out for taxpayers and holding the line on spending are his top priorities,” Paul said in a press release from the Sanford campaign.

“What we absolutely cannot afford is someone like his opponent, who will be yet another vote for a return to the Pelosi speakership, for disastrous programs like Obamacare, and for more spending and debt,” he added. “I am pleased to endorse Mark and stand with him in this race,” he added.

Full story

House Majority PAC Targets Women With Closing Mark Sanford Attack #SC01

House Majority PAC, a Democratic super PAC, targeted GOP women in its closing spot for the South Carolina’s 1st District special election.

The woman featured in the ad identifies herself as a Republican before she laces into Republican nominee former Gov. Mark Sanford for the extramarital affair that led to his political downfall in 2009.

Sanford faces Democratic nominee Elizabeth Colbert Busch on May 7.

Full story

House Democrats Spend More to Defeat Mark Sanford #SC01

Israel is the DCCC chairman. (Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

House Democrats reported spending almost half a million dollars to defeat former Gov. Mark Sanford’s bid for South Carolina’s 1st District.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has now invested a total of $458,000 in the special election via independent expenditures, according to Federal Election Commission records filed Monday. That’s more than double its initial buy in the race.

Sanford, a Republican, faces Democratic nominee Elizabeth Colbert Busch on May 7.

Full story

Ron Paul Backs Mark Sanford #SC01

Paul made an endorsement Thursday in the South Carolina special election. (Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call)

Former Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, endorsed former Gov. Mark Sanford’s struggling special election campaign for South Carolina’s 1st District.

The support comes after a rough two weeks on the campaign trail for Sanford, and Paul acknowledges as much in his endorsement.

“If you’re anything like me, when you hear GOP establishment types coming out of the woodwork to defeat a fellow Republican, it certainly piques your interest,” Paul wrote in a letter of support published on conservative website FitsNews.com. ”Now, even the national Republican Party is pulling funding for his race!” Full story

Remainders: 867-5309/Jenny, Don’t Change Your Number

• #FLgov: Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla, is mulling a gubernatorial run in 2014.
• #PA13: This blog premiered a new series, “The Candidate,” that questions the scores of congressional hopefuls who visit the CQ Roll Call offices each cycle. The first victim? State Sen. Daylin Leach, a Democrat running in a crowded primary for Rep. Allyson Y. Schwartz’s seat.
• Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel touted his recruits in a memo to his caucus. Notably missing? Former Rep. Joe Baca, D-Calif., who is trying to come back to Congress via the 31st District.
• #GAsen: Former Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, endorsed Rep. Paul Broun in the GOP primary to succeed retiring Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss.
• #HIsen: Tensions from the 2008 Democratic presidential primary continue through the 2014 Senate primary. Several years ago, appointed Sen. Brian Schatz backed now-President Barack Obama and Rep. Colleen Hanabusa supported Hillary Rodham Clinton. Could Bubba or Obama campaign in the Aloha State first?

What we’re mulling on Thursday …

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Remainders: Big-Sky Dreams

What you might have missed “At the Races” on Tuesday …

• #MTsen: All eyes are on former Gov. Brian Schweitzer to see if he runs for the Democratic nod in Montana. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., suddenly announced his retirement Tuesday morning, and soon after a top Democratic official confirmed that Schweitzer was already considering the race.
• #HIsen: Rep. Colleen Hanabusa will likely challenge appointed Sen. Brian Schatz for the Democratic nomination in 2014. Notable timing here: Hours earlier, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee indicated it would support Schatz.
• #SDsen: Democrats remain divided over who should run for the open Senate seat: U.S. Attorney Brendan Johnson or former Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin. Neither has announced a campaign yet. Meanwhile, former Sen. James Abourezk joined the “Draft Brendan Johnson” movement.
• Shop Talk: A top GOP ad-maker, Nick Everhart, was fired from Rex Elsass’ firm via an email late on April 20.
• Shop Talk: A former campaign manager for Sen. Joe Manchin III has joined the new Democratic consulting firm Mack-Sumner. That firm sound familiar? Earlier this year, conflicting interests split Kevin Mack’s longtime partnership with Jim Crounse and the direct-mail firm Mack|Crounse Group.

Full story