End Of Sanford Blog

Well, looks like Sanfordblog.com has come to an end. I'm saving this on Sanfordblog.blogspot.com just in case Mark reconsiders running in 2008...

Sanford "Absolutely" Rules Out 2008 Whitehouse Bid

According to a new story in the Columbia State, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford has "absolutely" ruled out a 2008 Whitehouse bid.

"Sanford has said in the past that he was not planning to run for the White House, but he always had left the door cracked for a possible bid. His name has been mentioned by political observers handicapping the early, early race for the GOP nomination," writes the State. "That will not happen, Sanford said, and he plans to be South Carolina’s governor until 2011, should he be sworn in again in January 2007."

In his own words, Sanford says, "Should I get re-elected, I absolutely am serving all four years, because we just have some huge issues here in South Carolina that are just an immense challenge."

Sanford to push for protection against eminent domain

WIS10

(Aiken) December 5, 2005 - Governor Mark Sanford was in Aiken on Monday to emphasize the need for strengthening the state's eminent domain laws in the wake of a recently-defeated local TIF proposal.
Earlier this year, the governor vetoed S.97 because of his concern that it expanded eminent domain powers at the expense of private property rights. That same bill was almost used to create a TIF district that gave benefits to private developers.
Governor Sanford said that issue, combined with the recent US Supreme Court decision, Kelo v. City of New London, Connecticut, have illustrated the need for stronger eminent domain protections in our state, and that he will work with leaders in the General Assembly to promote that legislation in the coming year

Washington Times Mentions Sanford In New GOP 2008 Story

The Washington Times mentions Mark Sanford in a new story on potential 2008 GOP presidential candidates:

"Trust in government -- and that means lack of public trust in Republicans
-- and the Iraq war are the top concerns of the Republicans at this meeting, and
back home," said South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, a former three-term
congressman who is well-liked by conservatives.

Grover Norquist Mentions Mark Sanford In American Spectator Article On Possible 2008 GOP Presidential Candidates

Is South Carlolina Governor Mark Sanford Presidential material? Respected conservative activist Grover Norquist sure thinks perhaps so, mentioning Sanford in a new Dec/Jan American Spectator magazine article, "The Best And The Brightest: Looking Ahead To 2008."

"South Carolina's Governor Mark Sanford has carved out a national reputtion for vetoing spending bills (unlike others in this new century) and pushing school choice and tax cuts," states Norquist.

Senators Allen's Campaign Manager Is Heading South To Run Gov Sanford's Reelection Effort

There are a million ways to read this one. Or are there? The Times-Dispatch reports that Virginia Senator George Allen's campaign manager is heading south to work on Governor Sanford's 2006 Reelection effort.

RedState.org: Sanford Is Out

click here

Gov. Sanford seeks tax relief to spur economic growth in South Carolina

State Surpluses May Lead To Tax Cuts

AccountingWEB.com - November 22, 2005 - The U.S Bureau of Economic Analysis reports that state and local revenues are up 7.2 percent in the first three quarters of 2005. With state personal and corporate tax collections peaking, the question is what to do with their revenue surpluses in 2006. Strong revenue growth has New Mexico realizing a $1 billion surplus, Florida a $3 billion, and even California seeing a $3.4 billion surplus according to USA Today. States taxing energy production and real estate construction have seen windfalls also.

Check Out The Draft Sanford 08 Yahoo Group

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Sanford blasts back at liberal Time Magazine biased ratings. Cites Leftists tax hiking governors as the one Time loves to celebrate.

Governor reminds liberal media that CATO and National review rated him one of the top five best governors.


Sanford Defends Himself Against 'Time' Article

(Columbia) - The November 21st issue of 'Time' magazine names what it says are the nation's best and worst governors, after consulting with academics, political analysts and former governors. South Carolina governor Mark Sanford is named as one of the three worst.Sanford took it in stride. "At the same time that I get this ranking, I've been ranked by National Review as one of the best governors in the country. The Cato Institute put us in the top three in the nation as freshmen, top five in the country overall. And so I think it always is a matter of perspective," he says.

Time Magazine Says Sanford Is One Of The Worst Governors?

According to Politics1.com, Time Magazine has named Mark Sanford one of the nation's worst governors. Huh?

"The magazine is on newsstands Monday notes the state's loss of its Triple-A credit rating under the Republican governor's watch and his penny pinching habit of sleeping in his office while in the US House," reports WCIV-TV. "The article says critics within the GOP fear Sanford's thrift has brought the state's economy to a standstill and that business leaders are losing patience with him. Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer says the article appears to favor chief executives who raise taxes. He says that must please Time's editors while cutting taxes upsets them."

Here's RedState.org's rsponse.

Mark Sanford Ranks Above Bill Frist In Political Derby's 2008 White House Power Rankings

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Arizona Republic Interviews Sanford On Running For President. Sanford Says He's Not Campaigning In NH...

Arizona Republic Writer Robert Robb:

Sanford has been quoted in South Carolina as not being interested in
running for president. In an interview while here, he pointed out that if he
were to have a chance to win the nomination, he would need to be spending time
now in places such as Iowa and New Hampshire. And that, he said flatly, wasn't
going to happen.

Sanford Arizona Trip Fuels Talk Of 2008 Candidacy

From the South Carolina's Columbia State newspaper:

Sanford was in Phoenix on Tuesday and Wednesday. He gave a speech to the
Goldwater Institute, a conservative think tank, Tuesday night. Sanford raised
money for his 2006 re-election while he was there.
...
It is Sanford’s second major event in a key state in as many months. In
September, supporters held a fund-raiser for Sanford in Ohio, another key
presidential battleground state. The event was sponsored in part by the
Cincinnati Reds baseball team.

The vote in Ohio swung the 2004 election to President Bush over U.S.
Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass. Arizona is a bastion of conservatism that plays a major
role in selecting the GOP nominee.

Sanford also visited Iowa in July as part of a National Governors
Association conference. Iowa is traditionally the first state to select a
party’s presidential nominee.

Rasmussen Poll: Sanford Leads Likely Opponents

Some time ago, Rasmussen Reports released a South Carolina gubernatorial poll that somehow slid beneath my radar. It's from early August 2005, but the results are telling: the most conservative governor in America is doing well in his race for reelection.

First-term Governor Mark Sanford holds a solid lead over potential challengers
in his bid for re-election.

In the latest Rasmussen Reports survey, Sanford leads Frank Willis by a 52% to 31% margin and Tommy Moore by a 52% to 30% margin.

Willis is currently serving as Mayor of Florence. Moore is a state Senator. Neither challenger's name is recognized by half of the state's voters.

REDSTATE.ORG FEATURES SANFORD FOR PREZ ARTICLE

REDSTATE.ORG



Mark Sanford for President: Integrity and Aptitude and Electability.
By: draftmarksanford4president

The 2004 elections are scarcely off the lips and minds of the more informed of the populace, and the New Year is not here, yet the minds of many have already turned to 2008, where the figure of Hillary Clinton looms large on the horizon, to the Republicans a socialist specter and the Democrats a saving seraph come to redeem their party from oblivion. Already, the wretched partisans of the GOP have begun the drumbeat for the coronation of John McCain or Rudy Guiliani, the only men, they assure us, who have a prayer of beating Hillary. Coming in a close third, Jeb Bush can easily visualize himself as the third Bush to take his seat in the Oval Office. These are the men, the party hacks claim, alone can beat Clinton. Yet, let us consider these two men closer, in the light of sound, learned, reason.

Rumor: Sanford's Out Of State Fundraising May Foreshadow Presidential Campaign

AP:

The out-of-state money could be a sore spot for Sanford as he tries to
squelch rumors he's considering a run for president, Huffmon said.

"His team probably sees these rumors as hurting him," Huffmon said.
Out-of-state dollars could be seen by some as a sign he's looking at a national
bid and is less-than-committed to serving a full second term as governor,
Huffmon said.

True or not, his opponents can look at the out-of-state cash and say,
"Look he must have national aspirations," Huffmon said.

South Carolina State: Sanford-For-President Talk Still Has Legs

South Carolina State: Sanford-For-President Talk Still Has Legs:

Gov. Mark Sanford says he doesn’t have his sights set on the White House,
but hardly anyone believes him.

"This guy is serious about running for president," says Clemson
University political scientist Dave Woodard.

Talk of a possible Sanford 2008 presidential bid dominated the state’s
political rumor mill for months. The governor spiked that speculation with an
August appearance on WRHI’s popular morning radio talk show in Rock Hill.
...
One of the reasons Sanford is getting national attention is that he is seen
as a true fiscal conservative, unlike President Bush, who is not.

"They see someone like Mark Sanford, and this is what they thought Bush
was going to be," Huffmon says.

"A lot of stars are in alignment for his national exposure. He's good
looking; he's got a good pedigree, and he is a martyr for the cause. There are
probably a lot of people salivating over building a campaign around him."

Patrick Ruffini's 2008 Presidential Wire Of Stories On Mark Sanford

click here

Sanford Given Chance in Presidential Race

The Times and Democrat

Sanford given chance in presidential race

By NANCY C. WOOTEN, T&D Features Editor

An Internet tracking service for the 2008 presidential race placed South Carolina Gov. Marshall C. "Mark" Sanford Jr. at number 8 in its power rankings among Republican potential candidates.Through its use of wire reports, campaign staffer scuttlebutt and confidential tips from readers, the "Jockey" who handles rankings at PoliticalDerby.com said it felt "ashamed" that Sanford had too long been unranked and relegated to the "others receiving votes" category.