Former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford has announced his plans to make a political comeback.
Sanford, who resigned as governor for the state back in 2009 following an extramarital affair with an Argentine woman, is making a bid for the House of Representatives. Sanford is now engaged with his mistress, Maria Belen Chapur.
From 1995 to 2001, Sanford served as the representative for South Carolina's 1st Congressional District and now wants to win it back.
"I am running because our country's future is at stake if we don't get our hands around runaway government spending in Washington," said Sanford. "And given our nation's long-term financial problems, we need more who have shown themselves to be leaders in standing up to the big spenders, regardless of party."
The seat is set to be vacant as Tim Scott was appointed to the Senate by current governor Niki Haley.
Sanford was spoke to National Review Online and said voters should look beyond the issues that have plagued his life and review his record in office.
"Don't judge any one person by their best day, don't judge them by their worst day," Sanford said. "Look at the totality, the whole of their life, and make judgments accordingly."
The media are already speculating on what Sanford is expected to face.
The Washington Post's Sean Sullivan said Sanford will face challenges.
"His personal life is sure to come up in the race, and may not sit well with some conservatives," wrote Sullivan. "And if he finds himself in a one-on-one runoff, his past may fall under increased scrutiny. For these reasons, he is certainly not a lock. But it's hard to look at the other characteristics of the race and not conclude that the former governor has a fair shot (and perhaps better than a fair shot) of winning back his old seat."
The Hill newspaper reported Sanford could be a front-runner for the congressional seat but "not a shoo-in."
"Most South Carolina Republicans expect Sanford's name recognition to carry him through an initial March 19 vote and into a GOP runoff election in early April," said the paper. "The true test will be whether the opponent who makes it into that runoff against Sanford will have the money and name identification to beat him in a two-week sprint to the final vote on April 2."
The seat is set to be vacant as Rep. Tim Scott was appointed to the Senate by current governor Nikki Haley after Sen. Jim DeMint resigned.
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