Sanford dogged by past affair during debate
In a debate Wednesday between Republicans Mark Sanford and Curtis Bostic, who are vying for the GOP nomination in the race for South Carolina's 1st congressional seat, Sanford sought to shift the debate away from his past infidelities - despite accusations that he's a "compromised candidate" with a bad history with "trust."
"We will lose this and lose it because of this issue of trust," said Bostic, according to South Carolina's Island Packet newspaper. A "compromised candidate," he argued, is not what South Carolina Republicans need.
Sanford's legacy as governor was tainted following the 2009 discovery that he had secretly left the country to conduct an extramarital affair with an Argentine woman, who is now his fiancé. In launching his campaign to regain his old congressional seat in Charleston, which was recently vacated by Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., Sanford has repeatedly acknowledged his past indiscretions, but he insists they won't hold him back as a lawmaker.
"If you live long enough, you're going to fail at something. And I failed very publicly," he Sanford, per the Island Packet.
Sanford and Bostic are facing off in a runoff Tuesday for the GOP nomination. The winner will face Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Bush, the sister of comedian and Comedy Central host Stephen Colbert, in the May 7 special election .
