The Mark-Sanford-for-president buzz won’t die.

It keeps rearing its head in the strangest places.

Now there’s an extensive “Draft Mark Sanford for President — 2008” Web site.

Sanford’s people insist they have nothing to do with it.

The owner is Sean Wisnieski, a 19-year-old political science student at Frederick Community College in Frederick, Md.

In a disclaimer, he says the site does not “necessarily reflect or represent” the governor.

Sanford says he’s “amused,” “curious” and “flattered” — but a run for the White House is the furthest thing from his mind.

Often, politicians get carried away by the “bright lights” and take their eyes off the prize.

Not Sanford.

He says he plans to stay focused on the task at hand, and that is being governor for two more years.

The site has an online petition urging Sanford to run. Thousands have visited the site, Wisnieski says, and 65 registered voters have “signed” the petition. Slightly more than half are South Carolinians.

Others who have lent their support are from California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Virginia, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Some sent messages:

• “Mark would make a great president.” — Sally Holmes of Pelion

• “President Bush has really alienated Republicans such as myself with his big government actions and spending while running on a limited government platform. It’s time for a Republican president who walks the walk. ... Go Sanford.” — Ross Lancaster of Carrollton, Texas

• “Any American worried about rising budget deficits and the partisan rancor in Washington should support Mark Sanford for president.” — Aaron Howard Kaplan of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Sanford does have support outside South Carolina, says Katon Dawson, S. C. Republican Party chairman. He says Sanford donors — many outside the state — have contributed huge sums of money to the state GOP. “They have been kind to us.”

And all , Dawson says, would support Sanford in any endeavor — including a run for the presidency. But right now, “our minds are focused on getting Sanford re-elected” governor in 2006.

Polls show Sanford with an extremely high job approval rating in South Carolina. No serious challenger has emerged.

And the political connections Sanford has made across the country are impressive, says Dawson, who met many of those people in New York during the Republican National Convention in August. Sanford generally kept a low profile in New York, remaining behind the scenes doing some networking here and there.

Sanford is different. He gets his kicks crunching budget numbers and talking policy. He doesn’t tolerate small talk. He is not afraid to speak his mind.

He’s also a bit quirky, a trait that seems to have appeal to many voters.

Whatever he has, Dawson says, “it resonates outside South Carolina’s borders.”

Much of Sanford’s political journey has come about through happenstance, Dawson says. “He has been at the right place at the right time with the right people helping him.”

Sanford’s associates deny the governor has asked others to promote a presidential candidacy.

The Draft Sanford Web site says it is looking for a “proven leader for conservative values in the White House,” not a Republican — like President Bush, many write — who expands government as much as Democrats. “We need a leader who is going to say, ‘No.’”

That’s Sanford.

MORE ONLINE

• To view the “Draft Mark Sanford for President” Web site, go to www.geocities.com/draftsanford.