For political junkies, and the sort of folks who can't resist slowing down as they pass car wrecks, the sight of South Carolina Governor Mark Sandford revealing that he'd spent the better part of a week canoodling with his Argentinian mistress was riveting comedy-drama. So, too, were the ultra-sincere, equally awkward e-mails between Sandford and the woman published by The State, a South Carolina newspaper that broke the story - and embedded in a July 10 missive was a notable Colorado reference:
One, tomorrow leave at 5 am for New York and meetings. Will think about you on its streets and wish I was going to be there later in the month when you are there. Tomorrow night back to Philadelphia for the start of the National Governor's Conference through the weekend. Back to Columbia for Tuesday and then on Wednesday, as I think I had told you, taking the family to China, Tibet, Nepal, India, Thailand and then back through Hong Kong on world wind tour. Few days home then to Bahamas for 5 days on a friends boat for the last break of the summer. The following weekend have been asked to spend it out in Aspen, Colorado with McCain - which has kicked up the whole VP talk all over again in the press back home.
Yes, our fair state could have been the launching pad for a McCain-Sandford ticket had Sarah Palin not emerged as the Republican Party's Hail Mary -- but Sandford remained among the GOP's best and the brightest up until yesterday afternoon. Now? Not so much. If South Carolina's citizenry is unlikely to forgive and forget, however, betcha the folks in Aspen would welcome him back with open arms.
