So we can replaced "disgraced former governor" Mark Sanford with Congressman Mark Sanford. The shifting narrative during this campaign has been fascinating to watch. It started with "who can beat Sanford." Then it shifted to can Stephen Colbert's sister defeat Mark Sanford. Then it shifted again to Elizabeth Colbert Busch will beat deadbeat dad Mark Sanford. Then it swung back to Sanford and the narrative shifted to say that this is a clown show that means nothing.
My antenna goes up whenever I see the professional Republicans and establishment hacks running from Sanford two weeks ago when he was ten points down. I mean, I understand his history was pretty terrible but the man won a highly publicized, highly contentious primary fair and square. To be so willing to let a deep red district go D because their sensibilities where hurt just shows how weak-spined they are.
When Sanford was in the dumps, the first politician of note to endorse Sanford was ex-Rep. Ron Paul. So Paul, who nearly every professional Republican either hates and/or envies were running away from Sanford, came to the rescue a true team player. His son followed shortly thereafter. This could prove to be an underreported aspect of this contest.
Looking ahead to 2016, Rand Paul is strong in Iowa and New Hampshire, but his first real test will be religious conservative South Carolina. The libertarians biggest enemy within the party right now are the social conservatives, it is manifesting itself on every level. Someone like Rick Santorum or Marco Rubio will look to South Carolina to jump start their campaigns and it could probably be the most important state in the cycle. Up until now Paul has one friend in the state, Sen. Tom Davis. Now he has another, more famous friend who owes him a lot. In presidential primaries, it pays to have friends.
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