Sanford: "It's Up to the Voters and the Lord"

Mark Sanford was a busy man on Monday. He criss-crossed the First Congressional District on the last full day of his race against Elizabeth Colbert Busch in a manner that was enthusiastic without being desperate. The former governor was happy to talk politics with anyone who crossed his path and was more accessible than usual—at one point driving a reporter around Charleston County—which is saying something.

With his political life on the line on Tuesday, Sanford maintained a breezy confidence resulting from a belief he had done all he could do to win what is expected to be close race. At an end-of-day dinner with volunteers, Sanford thanked them for their support before saying, "It's up to the voters and the Lord."

The supporters were inclined to agree. They included a couple who had drove to Charleston from the Miami area to reach out to prospective voters. They told Patch the election was too important to sit on the sidelines.

At a stop on Daniel Island around lunchtime, Sanford visited Orlando’s Pizza on Seven Farms Drive. The restaurant’s owner, David Orlando, was happy to have the former governor at his business, but said he will be glad when the election is over.

Orlando said he stopped watching the television commercials that have deluged local viewers and he’s not even convinced they work. “I think they turn more people off.”

That being said, Orlando said he plans on voting for Sanford. “When he was governor, he made it easier for small businesses like me. Things were good back then.”

While Sanford was pursuing votes by foot, several of his former GOP rivals were doing so by phone. Teddy Turner, State Reps. Chip Limehouse and Peter McCoy, former Dorchester County Sheriff Ray Nash and Jonathan Hoffman were all working the phones on Sanford’s behalf.

Republicans were optimistic about Tuesday’s outcome, but were not about to predict victory. They believe that the Republican majority of voters in SC1 (three in five) combined with a concerted turnout effort will be too much for Colbert Busch.

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