Sanford\'s South Carolina Campaign Begins with an Appeal for Second Chance

In a Congressional race with 16 Republicans, high name recognition is key. Though in the case of Mark Sanford, South Carolina’s former governor whose very public confession of marital infidelity seemed to end his national political aspirations less than four years ago, there can also be a downside.

As he runs in the special election for the state’s First Congressional District, Mr. Sanford has the dual challenge of reintroducing himself to voters as a fiscal conservative with a career of public service, while also addressing the scandal for which he is perhaps best known.

In his first ad, released Monday, Mr. Sanford touts his record of cutting spending, but quickly acknowledges what’s on the minds of many in South Carolina: “More recently, I’ve experienced how none of us go through life without mistakes. But in their ake, we can learn a lot about grace, a God of second chances, and be the better for it.”

Mr. Sanford’s political career appeared to be over when, after disappearing from the public eye for almost a week in June of 2009, he revealed in a news conference that he was having an affair with an Argentine journalist, and that he had used public money to visit her. Though he was not forced out of office, Mr. Sanford was censured by the State House of Representatives and left office when his term ended in 2011. He is now divorced and engaged to the woman, María Belén Chapur.

The open seat presents a unique second chance for Mr. Sanford. After the surprise resignation of Senator Jim DeMint in December, Gov. Nikki R! . Haley appointed Representative Tim Scott, a rising Republican star, to fill the vacancy. That left a hole in Mr. Scott’s district, and many have jumped in to fill it, including, on the Republican side, Teddy Turner, son of the broadcasting mogul Ted Turner. Because the large field makes it unlikely that one candidate would win a majority of votes in the March 19 primary, a runoff on April 2 seems probable â€" meaning Mr. Sanford could be banking on a second second chance.

There is recent precedent for a politician addressing personal failures before a return to the political stage. In 2011, Newt Gingrich discussed his infidelities with conservative media outlets ahead of his presidential campaign. In 2007, when he was thought to be considering a White House bid, Mr. Gingrich confessed in an interview with James Dobson, the Focus on the Family founder.

The tactic appeared to be fairly effective. Even Rick Santorum, in a 2011 interview with National Review, seemed ready to look past that aspect of Mr. Gingrich’s history: “I am not saying that it is not a legitimate question, but it’s not an issue with respect to the positions he takes.”

At the time, Mr. Santorum was setting up a contrast between someone who fails to live up to his own ideals and someone who changes his ideals, like, he said, Mitt Romney, who was seen as the front-runner in the still emerging Republican presidential field.

Now Mr. Santorum’s campaign manager, Mike Biundo, is working for Andy Patrick, a South Carolina legislator running for the House seat. But Mr. Patrick’s team has adopted a harsher tone against Mr. Sanford.

“Andy Patrick is a Christian man a! nd believ! es in repentance,” said Mr. Biundo, in a statement. “But he also believes past is prologue. Governor Sanford displayed a sad dereliction of duty in abandoning the people of the entire state of South Carolina, and his personal tour of redemption is now a disservice to the people of the Lowcountry.”

South Carolina Republicans forgave Mr. Gingrich for his personal failings: he won their primary in 2012. Mr. Sanford is hoping they will similarly forgive him.