By The Huffington Post News Editors

By Harriet McLeod
CHARLESTON, S.C., April 4 (Reuters) – Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch kicked off her general election campaign for South Carolina’s open congressional seat on Thursday, her sights set on beating former Governor Mark Sanford after he clinched the Republican nomination this week.
Colbert Busch, the sister of television comedian and political satirist Stephen Colbert, handily won last month’s Democratic primary. But she kept a low profile as 16 Republicans battled for a spot in the special election on May 7.
Sanford, 52, prevailed despite a 2009 scandal that had seemingly doomed his political career. As governor, he tried to hide an extramarital affair with an Argentine woman by falsely telling aides he was hiking the Appalachian Trail.
In an interview with WTMA radio after his primary runoff win on Tuesday, Sanford said his Democratic opponent for the seat he held for three terms before becoming governor was undefined on the issues.
“Right now in essence, we’re running against Stephen Colbert. It’s going to be tough running against a comedian who is well liked and has ties to the Lowcountry, but ultimately issues define a race,” said Sanford, referring to the coastal region in South Carolina where the race is taking place.
Sanford’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Colbert Busch, 58, hit back with a statement detailing her work history, which included serving as director of sales and marketing for the Orient Overseas Container Line shipping company.
She is now on leave as business development director for the Clemson University Restoration Institute in North Charleston to make her first run for office.
“I was disappointed to hear about Mark’s comment,” she said. “He has known me and my work for years…If those successes can’t convince Mark that a woman is capable of leading, I don’t know what will.”
Stephen Colbert weighed in on the race Wednesday night on his Comedy Central show “The Colbert Report.” …read more

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