Colbert Busch Closes Campaign By Reaffirming Independence

The biggest criticism Mark Sanford has made of Elizabeth Colbert Busch, his Democratic rival for the First Congressional District seat, is that she will be little more than a rubber stamp for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. Sanford hammered home the point repeatedly in last week’s debate after spending an hour or so the previous week “debating” a cardboard cutout of Pelosi.

Sanford has linked Colbert Busch to Pelosi because a PAC supported by the former Speaker has donated large amounts of money to her campaign.

But Colbert Busch has pushed back on the notion that she is little more than a Pelosi puppet. She strongly disputed the suggestion at the debate. And when she was asked about it by a reporter on Monday, she did so again.

"No one tells me what to do but the voters of this district,” Colbert Busch said.

 The first-time politician spent much of her final full day as a candidate in Charleston, where she will need to do well in order to come out on top. Colbert Busch stopped at a senior facility in downtown Charleston and at her office in West Ashley.

At the senior facility, Colbert Busch discussed Social Security and the importance of taxpayers getting a return on their investment. Voters there had been visited by Sanford a few weeks earlier, but today they were explicit in their support of Colbert Busch.

Colbert Busch was joined on the “Elizabeth Means Business” bus by many of her family members, including husband Claus and son Robert.

Robert expressed pride for his mother at her stop downtown.

“(Running for office) is something she’s always talked about and she’s always wanted to serve, so we’ve been behind her the whole way, “ he told Patch. “She’s been amazing to watch.”

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