COLUMBIA - Gov. Mark Sanford brushed off a national report ranking him as one of the nation's worst governors as Democrats salivated over its potential use in the upcoming election campaigns.

In the issue of Time magazine that hit newsstands Monday, Sanford joins Ohio Republican Bob Taft, who pled guilty to taking illegal gifts, and Louisiana Democrat Kathleen Blanco, who botched the state's Hurricane Katrina response, as the three worst-performing governors in the country.

The news surprised supporters, who even mention Sanford as a future presidential contender, but not critics, who have hammered at the governor for months about his handling of the economy.

The governor's office was quick with damage control, leveling an attack on the magazine as liberal while questioning the methodology. It also pointed to other magazines that have ranked Sanford as one of the nation's best.

Still, it was evident that the report drew blood. Sanford typically responds through a spokesman, but this barb he answered personally.

"In this case, they picked five (governors) they like and three they don't," Sanford said. "It reminds me of what I learned a long time ago in politics: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

With the 2006 gubernatorial election looming, political observers deliberated how the issue would play with South

Carolina voters when they go to the polls next November.

South Carolina political observers, such as Scott Huffmon, a Winthrop University professor, said it has major implications for the election.

"I can see the Democratic ads now," he said. "I think it's possible it could have a notable impact, especially among self-proclaimed moderates. Swing voters are swayed by this type of thing."

Dave Woodard, a GOP strategist and Clemson University professor, agreed about the impact but said Sanford likely would weather the storm.

"I don't think it will be significant enough to cause his defeat, but his opponents will certainly use it against him," he said.

If anything, the widespread attention the article received hurt any national ambitions Sanford harbored. The report on Sanford was one of the top four "most e-mailed" articles on Time's Web site, beating out the reports about the other best and worst governors.

The 164-word brief on Sanford highlighted his frugal tendencies but criticized him for fighting with fellow Republicans, losing the state's pristine AAA credit rating and failing to attract a $500 million aerospace facility earlier this year.

"A growing chorus of critics, including leaders of his own GOP, fear that his thrift has brought the state's economy to a standstill," the Time article says. "Business leaders are losing patience with Sanford's vetoes of budget items like trade centers and tourism marketing. Even GOP bosses charge that he is worse at economic development than at grandstanding, as when he visited the Legislature last year carrying piglets to protest what he considered pork-barrel spending."

Sanford said most of the governors ranked as the best supported tax increases in the past. He pointed to his ranking in the April issue of National Review, a conservative-leaning publication, as "one of the best new governors in the country." Last year, the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, praised him as one of the top five governors.

Time said it "consulted political analysts, academics and former governors" for the article. A magazine representative did not return a call requesting more information about its methodology.

"It's obviously not a scientific study ... and much of it is opinion as opposed to fact," said Bill Moore, a political expert at the College of Charleston. "But Time magazine is not liberal."

Democrats quickly latched onto the report in numerous news releases Monday, saying it reinforces what they've been saying.

"Sadly, Time magazine has hit the nail on the head," said Joe Erwin, chairman of the state's Democratic Party. "Unfortunately, Governor Sanford has earned his rating, and families all over South Carolina are feeling the effects."

Sanford said he'd counter the charges with his accomplishments, such as a small-business tax cut and legislation that limits frivolous lawsuits. But he didn't waste time pondering the political implications. That, the governor said, "is up to the voters to decide."

Contact John Frank at (803) 799-9051 or jbfrank@postandcourier.com.