The Political Chase

SC Gov and top GOP VP contender sways port authority deal to campaign donor

S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford is frequently mentioned as a top candidate for vice president on John McCain’s ticket. Democrats may agree Sanford, who is also a former U.S. Representative, is an ideal running mate for McCain, especially in future debates if ABC News’ journalistic standards become the norm.

Sanford made a big splash on the national scene in 2004 when he carried two pigs, literally, into the state’s capitol to taunt lawmakers over pork-barrel projects. While his pork-barrel antics may be easily dismissed as levity, Sanford may have trouble dodging recent allegations of improperly influencing a property deal between the S.C. Ports Authority and a Sanford donor.

Via The State:

Gov. Mark Sanford tried to persuade the then-chairman of the state’s Ports Authority to sell a piece of coastal property to a Sanford donor instead of another developer who’d submitted a higher bid, according to former S.C. Ports Authority Chairman Bill Stern.

Stern, who was testifying before a Senate committee today as a nominee for another term on the Ports board, told lawmakers Sanford asked him to reconsider Hilton Head developer Jim Chaffin’s bid for port property in Beaufort County appraised at $27 million.

Another developer bid $26 million for the property. Chaffin is a Sanford donor according to a report by the Associated Press. His bid was reportedly much lower.