OK, this is just too pathetic for words (but I'll use some anyway):
Mark Sanford 'Debates' Cardboard Cutout Of Nancy Pelosi On Sidewalk
Congressional candidate and former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (R) held a mock debate with a cardboard cutout of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) Wednesday morning, on a sidewalk outside Medical University of South Carolina. Sanford said the Pelosi cutout was a stand-in for his opponent, Elizabeth Colbert Busch, because she is avoiding public appearances.
"My opponent continues to run a stealth campaign, avoiding public appearances and refusing to commit to televised forums for the benefit of 1st district voters," Sanford said in a press release. "Since Elizabeth Colbert Busch refuses to articulate her views publicly, we are left to draw inferences for what she stands for on the basis of the groups that have made substantial monetary investments on her behalf."
Yes, that's right. Sanford decided to use the tried-and-true "my opponent was too scared to debate the issues, so I'll set up an empty chair with her name on it" tactic used by both Republicans and Democrats alike from time to time. Nothing special about this gimmick, and it might actually help Sanford a bit if it weren't for two crucial points:
1. Colbert Busch is scheduled to debate him on Monday:
The two will meet Monday for a debate at The Citadel ahead of the May 7 special election for the U.S. House seat.
2. Nancy Pelosi is, as I'm sure Gov. Sanford knows, the incumbent Democratic representative from California's 12th District,
not his challenger for South Carolina's 1st District.
Then again, Sanford's grasp of geography seems to be a bit off anyway, since he's been known to mistake Argentina for Appalachia, and his ex-wife's house for his own.
Anyway, taking these factors into account, I'm starting to get visions of Clint Eastwood talking to an empty chair at last summer's RNC.
This is just...sad.