BY SCHUYLER KROPF
Of The Post and Courier Staff
Republican Gov. Mark Sanford wants Democratic state Senate candidate Justin Kahn of Charleston to pull a TV ad that includes a photo of the two standing side by side.
Sanford said the picture is deceptive because it gives voters the impression he supports Kahn when he actually backs his opponent, incumbent Republican Sen. Glenn McConnell. "It suggests a relationship that doesn't exist," Sanford said of what he called Kahn's unauthorized use of his image.
Kahn said the commercial is meant to convey that he can work with politicians from both sides of the political aisle. The ad also features him with Charleston's Democratic Mayor Joe Riley.
Sanford and Kahn disagree about what happened when the photo was taken. Sanford said he was at The Citadel speaking to doctors about capping liability lawsuits. He praised McConnell as an advocate for change.
When the talk was over, Sanford was in a hurry to catch an airplane, but a female standing nearby asked if she and a friend could take a picture with the governor, he said. Sanford said Kahn was a stranger who posed with him but didn't introduce himself. The governor quoted Kahn as asking, "Why didn't you talk about me?" during the speech. "I didn't know who 'me' was," Sanford said.
Afterward, an associate told the governor the man was Kahn, the Democratic trial lawyer challenging McConnell in Senate District 41.
Kahn said Monday that he introduced himself to Sanford that day but couldn't remember if it was before or after the picture was taken. "I said I looked forward to working with him next year," Kahn recalled. Kahn has no plans to pull the ad. "What I'm trying to convey is I'm willing to work with leaders regardless of party."
Sanford said Kahn didn't identify himself before, during or after the photograph was taken. He said he doesn't mind members of the public taking his picture but is protective when his image goes for unauthorized political purposes.
"We can't make anybody do anything," Sanford said. "But if he had asked me if he could run this ad to run against Glenn McConnell, I would have said no. It creates in the minds of voters something that isn't there."
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