Sanford rules out 2008 run for president

AARON GOULD SHEININ, The State
Published December 13, 2005

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Governor Mark Sanford said he is committed to running for re-election.
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Gov. Mark Sanford "absolutely" will not run for president in 2008.

In a wide-ranging interview with The State newspaper in his State House office last week, Sanford said he would not be a candidate for president in the 2008 Republican primary.

Sanford will seek re-election as governor in 2006.

"Should I get re-elected," Sanford said, "I absolutely am serving all four years, because we just have some huge issues here in South Carolina that are just an immense challenge."

Sanford has said in the past that he was not planning to run for the White House, but he always had left the door cracked for a possible bid.

Political observers handicapping the early race for the GOP nomination have mentioned his name.

That will not happen, Sanford said, and he plans to be South Carolina's governor until 2011, should he be sworn in again in January 2007.

"Barring stroke, illness, unforeseen personal circumstance that incapacitates me, yeah, I'm here for the duration," Sanford said.

"So, yeah, like it or not, people have to put up with me for another four years, should I cross that bridge," he said.

Sanford has amassed a $3.7 million campaign war chest to help with his re-election effort.

Recent polls have shown that state voters still support Sanford, but not at the same levels of a year or so ago.

He is expected to face Prosperity physician Oscar Lovelace in the GOP primary and one of two Democrats -- Sen. Tommy Moore of Clearwater or Florence Mayor Frank Willis -- in the general election.

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