COLUMBIA - As Gov. Mark Sanford rolls out his first budget proposal today - his road map for the future of South Carolina - some think the governor's political style threatens to derail his plans.

Sanford is scheduled to release his multibillion-dollar vision for how state government should operate at a 2 p.m. news conference.

But the Republican governor's handling of two recent events has added more strain to his relationship with the Republican leadership in the General Assembly. And that strain leaves many wondering about the prospects for his budget.

In December, Sanford unveiled a plan to allow public colleges and universities to become private institutions. Less than a day before his announcement, he called the presidents of several of the schools and told them of his intentions - for the first time.He did not call any of the top lawmakers whose approval would be necessary for the plan to become law.

That same week, it was learned Sanford had commissioned a public opinion poll Oct. 9 that asked questions about whether he is more popular than the Republican-controlled General Assembly and several of its leaders.

Some think Sanford's actions send a poor message.

"There's nothing worse than when you corner an animal," said Chip Felkel, a GOP consultant who runs an Upstate-based public affairs and business development firm. "And the legislature is an animal, to some extent.

"You don't deal with people this way, much less the General Assembly."

Sanford said its not his style to clear a path for proposals. Instead, he likes to propose bold ideas to create discussion.

Regarding the poll, he said he's not responsible for the questions and does not want to antagonize legislators.

But it wasn't the first time Sanford had drawn the ire of leaders of his own party, who control both houses of the legislature:

In March, Republican House leaders killed a cigarette tax increase to pay for Medicaid after Sanford threatened in his State of the State to veto the increase if it didn't have a corresponding income tax cut. Sanford then unveiled his own cigarette tax-income tax swap.

After Sanford's tax plan failed, the governor declared he would campaign for his plan during the summer in House members districts, including those held by Republicans. House Speaker David Wilkins, R-Greenville, urged him not to do so.

Now, Sanford's plan for privatization of willing schools has confounded many - including Wilkins, who has great power to decide what makes it through the House.

"I have not talked to anyone in the legislature who supports the idea," Wilkins said. Does he see any benefit to the plan? "No."

Bouncing ideas off people

Democrats have observed Sanford's dealings with the Republican leadership and shrugged their shoulders.

"I think he's well-intentioned," said Rep. Todd Rutherford, D-Richland.

"However, I think his intentions fall on deaf ears. [Republicans] just turn their backs on them."

Sanford, though, said he's very detailed in his thought processes.

He believes so strongly in the power of ideas that he finds benefit in proposing major changes to state policies and watching the debate that follows.

His idea, he said, is to throw ideas into the public domain and "see what sticks."

He is not interested in proposing a few "slam dunks" just to be able to say he has gotten legislation through the State House.

"A lot of people like to get everything prewired to win," Sanford said.

"My objective was to have a larger discussion about, 'Do we have a coordinated system?'"

And privatization is one aspect of his vision for higher education: He has proposed creating a board of regents to oversee the college system and eliminating duplication in programs and mission among the schools.

His methodology in this case is perfectly consistent with who he is, said state Sen. John Courson, R-Richland.

"His style is Socratic," Courson said, referring to the method of teaching through asking rather than telling made popular by the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates.

"He likes to bounce ideas off people and off the general populace, which is an interesting concept in governance."

Poll angers some

If his higher education proposal has left many scratching their heads, his poll has left some shaking their fists.

Sanford's pollster, Basswood Research, asked 500 South Carolinians 49 questions, including some that gauge Sanford's popularity and the popularity of Wilkins, Senate president pro tem Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, and Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer.

It also asks "Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: 'Mark Sanford is trying to change politics in Columbia, but the longtime politicians are standing in his way.'"

That question is designed to show Sanford to be more popular than the General Assembly as a whole, said House Majority Leader Rick Quinn, R-Richland, whose father is a Republican pollster. Sanford's poll makes it seem as if the governor plans to fight the House and Senate, he said.

"The poll inadvertently makes it seem like the governor wants to run against the General Assembly," Quinn said.

Wilkins said the poll is "unfortunate."

Sanford said he did not see the poll questions ahead of time and did not ask that those politically charged questions be included. He wanted to gauge public opinion toward the new income-tax plan he was preparing.

The plan, which he has since unveiled, would lower the income tax, increase cigarette taxes and apply sales tax to lottery tickets.

The poll includes questions related to his plan.

How to make it right

So what can the governor do to put this right?

"It's important that he state affirmatively that he wants to work with us," Quinn said. "I think he does want to get things done; and if he wants to get things done, he needs to put this thing to bed."

Quinn said Sanford has taken steps toward that goal. The governor recently held a breakfast meeting with the House leadership at the Governor's Mansion, Quinn said. Several people asked the governor about the poll.

Sanford gave the Republicans "his word he doesn't want to run against us," Quinn said. "He made people feel better about it."