Why Sanford vs. Colbert Busch Could Be Competitive: 538
Former Gov. Mark Sanford won a runoff election this week, securing the Republican nomination for South Carolina’s First Congressional District. He will face the Democratic nominee, Elizabeth Colbert Busch, in a May 7 general election.
The First District, which runs from Hilton Head Island in the south to north of Charleston, is solidly Republican, and typically a Congressional race in the conservative Lowcountry would provide little suspense: Republicans have held the seat since 1981.
But this election is not typical. Mr. Sanford enters the general election with significant personal baggage, having spent six days in 2009 in Argentina with a woman who was not his wife while telling his aides he was “hiking the Appalachian Trail.” (He and the woman are now engaged.) Ms. Colbert Busch, meanwhile, is an accomplished businesswoman with deep ties to the district’s business community. She is also the sister of the comedian Stephen Colbert. The odd matchup, in turn, takes place in an off-year special election. Special elections usually mean low turnout, and low turnout often means a Republican-leaning electorate. But special elections can also provide surprising results.
A number of well-informed observers think the election could be competitive.
http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/05/why-sanford-vs-colbert-busch-could-be-competitive/?hp
= new reply since forum marked as read
It was a bit of surprise on the august NYT website...
That little shock aside, it's an interesting article. I'm watching that race more closely now. I'm looking forward to learning more about Colbert Busch. 
Was driving through S. Carolina during pre-primary time, saw lots of Sanford (and other) signs, and don't recall any for Colbert Busch. Had lunch/dinner at a place in Charleston where also had conversations with locals, and sorry I wasn't more 'up' on fact that it was/is her home territory; sure would have talked her up!
