Sanford, Colbert Busch square off in SC debate

(AP) Sanford, Colbert Busch square off in SC debate
By BRUCE SMITH
Associated Press
CHARLESTON, S.C.
Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford and Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch have begun a spirited debate in the race for the state’s vacant 1st Congressional District seat.

Sanford, a Republican, stressed his efforts to rein in spending. Colbert Busch reminded Sanford that he used taxpayer funds to “leave the country for a personal purpose” _ referring to the extramarital affair with an Argentine woman he had while governor. Sanford didn’t respond.

Colbert Busch cited her business experience Monday night and criticized Sanford for voting in Congress against harbor dredging and building a higher bridge for the Port of Charleston. He countered that she must not have been too bothered by it too because she gave $500 to his gubernatorial campaign.

The Democrat responded that Sanford had told her he supported trade and dredging. She then turned to him and said, “You didn’t tell the truth.”

The special election is May 7.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford and Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch, after sparring from a distance for weeks, finally face off in a debate Monday in the pitched race for the state’s vacant 1st Congressional District seat.

The two meet Monday evening at The Citadel in a debate sponsored by the Patch news service, the South Carolina Radio Network and Charleston television station WCBD. The debate is being cablecast by C-SPAN.

It’s their first joint appearance in the campaign that began after then-U.S. Rep. Tim Scott was appointed to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by fellow Republican Jim DeMint. Sanford and Colbert Busch won their respective party primaries _ Sanford after a GOP runoff. They are now vying along with Green Party Candidate Eugene Platt in a May 7 special election in the district, which runs from northeast of Charleston south to the resort of Hilton Head Island.

Sanford’s public career was sidelined in 2009 after he revealed he had an extramarital affair with an Argentine woman to whom he is now engaged. More recently, his ex-wife Jenny accusing Sanford in a court complaint of repeatedly trespassing in her home. The revelation prompted the National Republican Congressional Committee to pull its support from Sanford’s campaign. Mark Sanford has said he watched part of the Super Bowl at the beach house with their 14-year-old son because he was concerned about the teen watching it alone.

For weeks now, Sanford has been trying to make a political comeback, hammering Colbert Busch, a businesswoman and the sister of political satirist Stephen Colbert, for not debating more.

Sanford has accused her of running what he called a stealth campaign, fueled by out-of-state money and that the voters don’t know where she stands on the issues.

Colbert Busch has been busy with her own aggressive campaign schedule, her campaign has said.

But she said she doesn’t think the campaign will turn on the debate.