Sanford Scandal Divides SC Republicans

California's GOP nominees for US Senate, governor share contentious history

(NEWSER) - Gubernatorial nominee Meg Whitman and US Senate hopeful Carly Fiorina are the first women to fill those roles for the California Republican party, which means they're often treated as a unit despite their numerous differences and contentious history. "It's like—OK, we've got two gals running now, they must have been putting their makeup on in the bathrooms together," a B-school professor tells the LA Times , which proceeds to help prove her point. "Would we assume the same if one were a man or both were men?" More»

Nothing but 'disgusting politics,' she says

(AP) - Here we go again: A South Carolina lobbyist resigned from a rival political campaign yesterday and then became the second man to claim he had a tryst with Nikki Haley . Lobbyist Larry Marchant says he and Haley, who's running for governor, had a "one night indiscretion" in a Salt Lake City hotel room in June 2008, but admitted he had no proof to back up his allegation. "You can't have any evidence on a one night affair," he says. More»

SC governor hopeful Nikki Haley denies blogger's claim

(AP) - A political blogger claimed today that he had an affair several years ago with a married Republican vying to become the state's first female governor. Rep. Nikki Haley vehemently denied the allegation, made in a post on Will Folks' blog that contained no proof. Haley called the claim a "disgraceful smear" planted to derail her campaign, which has gained steam from high-powered endorsements, including Sarah Palin and Jenny Sanford. More»

SC first lady dishes on confessional press conference: 'way too long'

(NEWSER) - Jenny Sanford continues to offer tantalizing glimpses into her relationship with South Carolina governor and soon-to-be ex-husband Mark Sanford and the fallout of his affair. Sanford sat down with Good Morning America and provided NPR with an excerpt of her new book, Staying True. Some quips and revelations:

• The confessional press conference: Sanford continues to make short work of questions about why she didn't appear with her husband when he announced his affair. "I don't know what I would have stood by him about," she tells NPR.

Andre Bauer refuses to back off remarks about welfare recipients

(NEWSER) - Mark Sanford is no longer the most embarrassing politician in South Carolina: His lieutenant governor, Andre Bauer, is in hot water after comparing government assistance for the poor to "feeding stray animals." Said Bauer, who is running to succeed Sanford as governor: "You're facilitating the problem if you give an animal or a person ample food supply. They will reproduce, especially ones that don't think too much further than that." More»