In a surreal and surprising display of campaigning, Mark Sanford debates a photo of Nancy Pelosi, a symbol of Democratic leadership, because he's mad that Elizabeth Colbert Busch won't debate him more.
April 25, 2013

Mark Sanford debates Pelosi.jpg
Mark Sanford debates photo of Nancy Pelosi

Did you ever think that Clint Eastwood's empty chair routine would find an admirer from another GOP candidate? Well it has. It's not Mitt Romney since he's gone, or Rand Paul, but an unbalanced Mark Sanford. What caused this new meltdown from Mr. Appalachian Trails? Maybe it was because Republicans pulled his national funding over his unbalanced behavior towards his ex-wife:

Following revelations that his ex-wife accused him of trespassing on her property earlier this year, former South Carolina governor Mark Sanford (R) has lost the support of his national party.

Could be. I know he's not happy that Elizabeth Colbert Busch has jumped out to a nine point lead over him. That's probably it. But you know, he's very upset that Elizabeth won't debate him as many times as he wants, so what does he do? He gets jiggy with reality by hosting a press conference while debating a cut-out poster of Nancy Pelosi. You heard that right: Nancy Pelosi.

Republican Mark Sanford “debated” a poster of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi today as a means of calling out opponent Elizabeth Colbert Busch for not debating him in the 1st Congressional District race.“You can be all things to all people if you haven't said where you are on the issues,” Sanford said today in front of the Medical University of South Carolina.

The press conference was similar to what Clint Eastwood did at the Republican National Convention, when he debated an empty stool meant to depict President Barack Obama.

Democrat Colbert Busch's campaign issued a response afterward, calling the event part of Sanford's “desperate campaign to deceive voters.”

“Elizabeth Colbert Busch is spending her time with real people who support her campaign,” the note said, adding that today she is featuring a group of Republicans who support her and a rally at Burke High School.

“She doesn't have to resort to phony cardboard cutouts to talk with the people of South Carolina,” the response said.

Sanford has repeatedly pressed Colbert Busch for more debates. He also chastised the media for not being more pointed in pushing for more public face-offs. The two will meet for the first time, face-to-face, Monday at The Citadel. The Pelosi photograph poster stood about 5 feet tall. Sanford said a vote for Colbert Busch would also be a vote for Pelosi, the former House leader.

We knew this guy was desperate after he bought a bizarre full-page ad trying to explain his craziness, but I doubt this stunt will help him with the voters.

After the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) released a brutal ad last week that mocked Sanford's 2009 mistress scandal, the former governor took out a full page ad in Sunday's edition of the Charleston Post & Courier in which he likened himself to a soldier in the Battle of the Alamo and accused Colbert Busch and Pelosi of attempting to "buy this race."

This falls under the category of 'you can't make this sh*t up."

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