GREENVILLE, S.C. - The automotive research park Clemson will finally get to build could also put a door on the political doghouse Republican Gov. Mark Sanford built for himself in the Upstate.

That deal is expected to lead to a Clemson University graduate automotive engineering school as the centerpiece of an eventual $2.6 billion mixed-used project and thousands of information-based jobs.

But earlier this year, Upstate Republicans felt like Sanford squashed that economic plum by questioning how former Gov. Jim Hodges had put together the deal with a Florida developer and campaign contributor.

Cliff Rosen, was a key backer of Democrat Hodges' losing re-election bid last year. Sanford thought the deal gave Rosen too much control of future development at the project.

Throughout the year, he remained reserved about the project's future.

For instance, Sanford would talk of a deal, "if it happens," leading to facilities in Greenville. And when Commerce Secretary Bob Faith suggested in August that the deal was imminent, Sanford chilled the optimism.

Along the way, Sanford took on a tightly knit political and business community that sets a goal and rallies toward it. "If somebody steps in the way of that, y'all are going over that obstacle," Sanford said. "This isn't a community that rolls over. I can't tell you how, at a profound level, I was hurt by this politically up here." he said.

Others can and do assess the damage.

While Sanford was justified in looking at the initial proposal, Rep. Lewis Vaughn, R-Taylors, says "the problem I had was with the way it was done in public and the rancor that was going back and forth." Vaughn has said Sanford frittered away precious political capital through his intervention and the prolonged negotiations.

State Sen. Verne Smith, R-Greer, said it's still too early to tell if Sanford is out of the Upstate's political doghouse.

"It's according to how it turns out and how great a thing it is. If it's a much greater proposition than we ever heard of, it'll go a long ways in healing the political rifts which took place - and they were substantial," Smith said.

Sanford felt the heat. "I've gotten really burned up here," Sanford told The Greenville News Tuesday as he unveiled the deal.

Still, Sanford says, "we were right to put the brakes on what was a poor deal" and the 10 months of often intense negotiations were needed to "make sure the taxpayers were not left out."

Sanford said the final deal means a cash difference of $23 million, plus another $111 million from potential added value to the 250-acre site on Interstate 85. It will assure that Clemson, and not the developer, controls who will go into the park and how the buildings and grounds look, thanks to new architectural guidelines, said Sanford and Clemson.

Sanford feels some vindication, but says "there is still residual political unease."

Information from: The Greenville News