S.C. contingent notebook

NEW YORK — Barring more bad tropical weather bearing down on South Carolina, Gov. Mark Sanford is expected to be in the Big Apple this week — but not to test the waters for a future presidential campaign.

Rumors about a White House bid have followed the Charlestonian almost since the day he was elected as the state’s chief executive.

“I don’t know where that all got started,” Sanford said on the eve of the Republican National Convention.

His plans are to seek re-election in 2006, he said.

Much remains to be done back home, he said — tax reform, government restructuring and the sale of state properties.

“Things come slow generally in politics, especially when you’re trying to change things,” he said.

So is there a higher office in Sanford’s future?

“I haven’t thought about it,” he replied, acknowledging that talk of running for president comes up sporadically. “That’s the last thing on my mind.”

Sanford seemed to leave the door open just a bit: “My life in politics has been a series of accidents.”

DeMINT’S PRIORITIES

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Jim DeMint will be cutting out of the convention two days early — and for good reason.

He and his wife, Debbie, are celebrating their 31st wedding anniversary Wednesday.

“I need to be at home more than I need to be in New York with the president on that day,” DeMint said.

Sounds like he knows who his real boss is.

FIDDLING WHILE NEW YORK BURNS

South Carolina’s 88 delegates, alternates and guests got the surprise of their lives Sunday when they arrived in town for the GOP convention.

New York, the host city, welcomed them by giving each person a free ticket — valued at $55 each — to the musical “Fiddler on the Roof.”

“I can’t believe this,” said state Sen. Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence, a guest of the delegation.

The S.C. delegates were assigned to the third balcony — the nosebleed section.

Hmm...

Wonder where the delegations from such battleground states as Pennsylvania and Michigan were seated?

You guessed it — the prime orchestra seats.

THANKS FOR THE PLUG, SENATOR

Upon arriving at the theater, the delegates found a red canvas bag on their seats, compliments of The New York Times. Inside was a T-shirt with “The New York Times” emblazoned across the chest.

State Sen. Mike Fair, R-Greenville, asked whether he could swap his for a T-shirt from The State newspaper.

A LAST HURRAH

Charles Appleby of Florence, at 81 South Carolina’s oldest delegate, says this is probably his last convention.

“My health is good. And my interest is still good, and I still have a little bit to contribute,” he said. He has attended every GOP convention since 1980.

“If it weren’t in New York City, I wouldn’t go. I like New York.”

A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME

Newspaper columnist and South Carolina native Armstrong Williams, a featured speaker at the S.C. delegation breakfast, said he is often identified as a “Republican operative.”

Wrong, he said.

Williams, whose column appears in The State, insisted he’s a member of the media, but one with an opinion or two.

“I don’t try to be balanced or fair,” he told delegates.

A FULL DANCE CARD

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., continued to lecture the party on the need to recruit more black members and voters.

Speaking at the delegation breakfast, he said the Republican Party can never reach its potential in South Carolina until it taps into the talent of the whole state.

“I don’t care about the color of your skin; I want to know about the content of your character,” Graham said, paraphrasing slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

Graham is in big demand at this convention. All the major networks have featured him talking about the condition of the GOP and President Bush’s chances Nov. 2 against U.S. Sen. John Kerry, the Democratic nominee.

He also has scheduled meetings with The Washington Post editorial board and the Newsweek board.

Asked about a possible run for the White House himself down the road, he says only The State newspaper and the National Journal are pushing that.

Notice how he didn’t close the door?