This is good. I hope he's a good solid challenger to Chucky.

Now, if a challenger for Lindsey Grahamnesty would emerge in South Carolina.

People are talking about newly elected State Treasurer Thomas Ravenel - son of the legendary "Cousin Arthur" Ravenel who represented the 1st CD in Congress for a decade, then came home and ran again for State Senate, from where he sought and found the funds for the new Cooper River bridge which not coincidentally now bears his name - challenging Graham in the primaries next year.

I don't know how Graham is holding on in his upstate base (a very conservative area), but Ravenel would run up large majorities in the Lowcountry and Grand Strand. His father is perhaps the most beloved politician in the state, and he is an attractive and conservative candidate.

Jim, thanks for the info on SC & Grahamnesty. I just don't see some of the things he's done going over very well in the Palmetto State.

Sounds like the possible challenger would be a good one. I had thought maybe Governor Sanford might run, although I understand he just got reelected Governor. Seems he's the type who takes care of the job he currently holds and doesn't look to bigger things at the time.

Mark Sanford would be great, but he won't run for Senate. He hates DC and loves SC - another sign of his good taste and high intelligence. When he was a congressman, he spent the first year sleeping in his office until he could find a decent cheap apartment. He refused to buy a home in the DC area because "I don't intend to live here."

He came home to SC nearly every weekend, essentially commuting to work in DC. His kids stayed in their schools and his wife stayed with them. When his third term was up, he honored his own commitment to "self-term-limit" and came back to SC. He was the last entrant to the GOP primary for Governor, coming out of political retirement due to public demand and beating a field of five other GOP heavyweights including a former Governor, then-current Secretary of State, etc.

Sanford regularly infuriates the legislature with his frequent vetoes, even though many of them are overridden. He once brought a couple of full-grown hogs to the State Senate floor to protest the pork in the budget.

I'm not against sending Sanford back to DC, but it should be to the White House, not the Congress.

Jim, again, thanks for the SC insight. I don't blame Sanford for hating DC.

The taking the pigs to the State Legislature was the first time Sanford was brought to my attention. I've been keeping an eye on him since then. I know he's very popular in SC. It's easy to see why.