COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Gov. Mark Sanford
said the upcoming election played no role in his crafting of Wednesday's
State of the State address, but political observers and his challengers
contend his "safe" speech shows he's in full campaign.
"It was a pretty safe speech and a pretty safe agenda, nothing to
terribly upset or terribly excite anyone on either side," said Todd
Shaw, a political science professor at the University of South Carolina.
"It was pretty much of a speech of no change here."
Earlier Wednesday, Sanford said "immediate electoral gratification"
does not drive his thinking.
Scott Huffmon, a political science professor at Winthrop University,
said Sanford took a much more pragmatic approach to this State of the
State.
"By leaving out the detailed specifics, he left the door open for
negotiating," he said. "He didn't box himself into a corner. The more
details you put forward, when that doesn't happen, opponents can point
to you and say you've failed. ... I don't think there's any doubt the
upcoming election hovered in the back of his mind as he planned the
agenda he'd put forth."
Shaw noted that Sanford's several references to civil rights icon
Rosa Parks was probably to deflect the criticism he received for not
having flags lowered after she died.
Dr. Oscar Lovelace, Sanford's Republican primary challenger, called
the governor's speech "very disappointing."
"I think Gov. Sanford is long on rhetoric and short on results,"
Lovelace said.
By not laying out specifics on issues such as property taxes, and
instead thanking the Legislature for their hard work, Sanford comes
across as a follower, not a leader, Lovelace said.
"He didn't come across as a chief executive officer of our state,"
Lovelace said.
Tim Shock, spokesman for Democratic opponent Sen. Tommy Moore,
D-Clearwater, said he agreed with Sanford on one thing.
"He said South Carolina needs to go in a new direction in job
creation," Shock said. "I agree. South Carolina needs a new governor."
Senate Democratic Leader John Land gave the Democrats response.
"Tonight the governor made it clear that this is an election year and
he's desperately wanting your vote," the Manning representative said in
a response taped before Sanford's speech.
"The sad fact is that the Gov.'s election-year gimmicks are just too
little too late," Land said. "It's kind of like what the folks in my
part of the state would say: 'When it it's all said and done, there's
been more said than done.'"
