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DID YOU HEAR: Governor, speaker ‘porking' fun

COLUMBIA — Being nice, the speaker of the S.C. House initially made reference to the more generic term "farm animals."

But in the end, the host gave up altogether, abandoning any attempt to avoid use of that four-letter "p" word ("pigs"), as he and the governor got in a little good-natured needling during Tuesday's legislative press conference.

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford raised eyebrows and a bit of a stink last year when he showed up at the South Carolina Statehouse carrying two rather lively piglets in his arms as a protest of the state's $5.5 million "pork barrel" spending plan.

Although legislative issues were the focus of the Tuesday press session, the bantering came about as reporters tried to pin down the two Republican leaders about future political plans.

House Speaker David Wilkins was first asked if there might be an ambassadorship in his near future. Speculation, fueled by the planned visit of President George Bush — now canceled because of the funeral of the pope — has it that the speaker is the top choice to become ambassador to Canada.

"Every time things go well. ... This is the most successful session I've seen, I know, in my 11 years as speaker ... either the governor shows up with pigs or rumors start," Wilkins said. "It's just speculation."

Sanford, one of several governors mentioned as a potential national candidate in 2008, was asked if there might be a presidential campaign in his future.

"Absolutely not," he quickly replied. "I'm trying to survive the week."

Well, then came the next question, could the governor at least announce whether he'll seek re-election to a second term in 2006?

"We will officially make that announcement," Sanford conceded. "But the handwriting is on the wall."

The weekly press conference is sponsored by ETV and the S.C. Press Association.