PoliticsMark Sanfordmark-sanford-congressPolitics

Elizabeth Colbert Busch Leads Mark Sanford By 9 Points, Poll Shows

Colbert Busch Builds Lead Over Sanford
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Senior Reporter and Polling Editor, HuffPost

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Elizabeth Colbert Busch has climbed to a 9-point lead over Mark Sanford in the race for South Carolina's 1st Congressional District, according to a survey released Monday by the Democratic firm Public Policy Polling.

Fifty percent of likely voters said they supported Democratic candidate Colbert Busch, while 41 percent backed Sanford, the scandal-plagued former Republican governor. Green Party candidate Eugene Platt earned 3 percent support in the poll.

Sanford's campaign recently suffered a setback when he was accused of trespassing at his ex-wife's home. He was subsequently dropped by the National Republican Congressional Committee, which announced it would not offer him financial support.

The results of the poll -- the first taken since those events -- suggest that his campaign has taken a hit. Colbert Busch's lead increased 7 points from a slight 2-point edge in a March PPP poll, which did not include Platt as a candidate. An earlier internal poll found similar results.

South Carolina's 1st district hasn't elected a Democrat since 1981, and President Barack Obama has just a 41 percent approval rating there.

But Sanford suffers from an even starker 38 percent favorable rating among the district's voters, while Colbert Busch is largely viewed in a positive light. Last week, the Cook Political Report, which tracks congressional races, recategorized the race from "leans Republican" to "tossup," citing the trespassing charges.

PPP used automated phone calls to survey 796 likely voters between April 19 and April 21.

The special election will take place May 7.

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Before You Go

Distinguishable Members Of Congress
Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.)(01 of14)
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Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) is rarely seen without one of her signature, colorful, wide-brimmed hats. She's even said she has hundreds of hats in her collection. (credit:U.S. Congress)
Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.)(02 of14)
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Boozman hears his constituents loud and clear. The Arkansas senator has some of the most distinctive ears in the House. CORRECTION: This slideshow originally identified Boozman as a member of the House. We have updated to reflect he is a Senator from Arkansas. (credit:U.S. Congress)
Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.)(03 of14)
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Though political opponents, including Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), have attempted to use Grijalva's mustache against him, he and his facial hair have risen above their enemies. (credit:U.S. Congress)
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.)(04 of14)
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Rep. DeLauro's short, dark hairdo makes her stand out. She's also known to wear some distinctive glasses and dynamic outfits. Some would even say she's a "hipster." (credit:U.S. Congress)
Rep. James Lankford (R-Okla.)(05 of14)
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Lankford's bright red hair stands out in the sea of salt-and-pepper congressmen. (credit:U.S. Congress)
Speaker Of The House John Boehner (R-Ohio)(06 of14)
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Boehner's striking blue eyes are perhaps the most unusual pair in Congress. Also, his skin is orange. (credit:U.S. Congress)
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.)(07 of14)
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Wasserman Schultz's curly blonde hair can't be missed. An October 2012 Vogue makeover called attention to the Florida representative's style.
Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.)(08 of14)
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King has made some eyebrow-raising remarks, so it's a good thing his brows are some of the most memorable in all of Congress. (credit:U.S. Congress )
Rep. Al Green (D-Texas)(09 of14)
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Most of the men in Congress opt for the clean-shaven look. While the few with facial hair favor the mustache, Green goes all out. (credit:U.S. Congress)
Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.)(10 of14)
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Rep. Duckworth is the first Asian-American woman elected to Congress in Illinois, the first member of Congress born in Thailand and the first woman with disabilities to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. For many reasons she's one of the strongest and most recognizable members of the House. (credit:U.S. Congress)
Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.)(11 of14)
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Noem is more than just a pretty face. Last year, after getting voted hottest freshman in congress, she brushed off the accolade, saying she'd rather the attention be given to her lawmaking skills. (credit:U.S. Congress)
Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.)(12 of14)
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Rep. Engel has donned the same mustache since he was first elected to Congress in the early 1990s, making his facial hair the most reliable and recognizable in the House. (credit:U.S. Congress )
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii)(13 of14)
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Gabbard stands out from the crowd as the first American Samoan and the first Hindu member of Congress. (credit:U.S. Congress )
Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass.)(14 of14)
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Kennedy looks strikingly like his famous family members and political predecessors. (credit:U.S. Congress)
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