If not VP, what's next in Sanford's future?

Now that Gov. Mark Sanford isn't even a long shot for John McCain's running mate, what's next for the maverick politician who has demonstrated a far better rapport with the voters than the Legislature?

The personal and philosophical clashes that have marked the disputes between the governor and many of the key lawmakers in his own majority party are expected to continue, or get even testier. Despite the frays, it's also still possible the governor could wind up making further inroads with his government reform agenda.

But will he decide when his second term ends in two years that he's had enough of politics? Or is it likely that the former U.S. House member — who adhered to his six-year term-limit pledge — will try to return to Washington as a senator? Even more intriguing: Is there the slightest chance that he might be headed that way sooner than later?

After McCain became the GOP's presumptive presidential nominee, the Sanford ticket talk was fanned primarily by national publications. He repeatedly made the short list of a number of syndicated columnists who cited his good standing with conservatives as a chief asset. But even before his recent embarrassing gaffe on CNN when he drew a blank on a question involving policy differences between McCain and President Bush, few S.C. insiders took the speculation seriously.

A supporter of McCain in 2000, the governor's decision to stay on the sidelines in this year's critical S.C. presidential primary is often cited as a reason he isn't on McCain's short list. It's also noted that some who did stump for McCain — Senate Finance Chairman Hugh Leatherman comes to mind — are Sanford detractors. Sanford also has been viewed as having too little to contribute to the ticket's electability since this state is considered safe for McCain in November.

But what would be the impact on this state if McCain is elected president? Few are closer to him politically than S.C.'s senior U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, who's also on the November ballot and should easily win six more years. Most agree Graham could write his own ticket. Still, what could be better than being one of the president's very best friends in the Senate? What about secretary of defense or secretary of state?

Some of Graham's best friends insist no other office could tempt him. But suppose the case could be made. Obviously his Senate seat would have to be vacated. Not only are such interim appointments up to the governor, but not-so-ancient history tells us there is a way the governor could take the seat himself, and serve until the next general election.

It happened in the spring of 1965 after the death of Sen. Olin Johnston and is recounted in fascinating detail in Phillip G. Grose's book "South Carolina at the Brink, Robert McNair and the Politics of Civil Rights."

Donald Russell, former president of the University of South Carolina, was governor and McNair was lieutenant governor. According to Grose, Russell — an assistant to S.C.'s James F. Byrnes when he headed the World War II mobilization effort — was regarded as something of a political outsider in the state and had a yen to return to Washington.

He resigned with the understanding that McNair would appoint him to the Johnston seat. An hour after he became governor, McNair fulfilled his part of the bargain.

Would Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer be similarly inclined if the same chance came Gov. Sanford's way? Or, for that matter, would Sanford? No question he would have to weigh the odds of completing his reform agenda.

At the same time, such a vacancy might be Sanford's only foreseeable chance at a Senate seat. The junior senator, Jim DeMint, not only is another popular Republican, the two men have virtually the same political base.

But Sanford also doubtless would be mindful of Donald Russell's short-lived Senate stay. Ernest F. Hollings ousted Russell when he ran for the seat a year later. But having lost an earlier race for governor to Hollings, Russell didn't have the same track record with the voters that Sanford enjoys.

Here's a portion of a Grose interview with the late, long-time Speaker of the House Solomon Blatt, who was present when Russell broached his proposal to McNair.

"... They talked with me about it and what the effect of it would be, and I told them, of course, the danger of it. But I said I just want to tell you one thing, 'Donald wants to be a U.S. senator and Bob wants to be governor. This is the only way I know of that it's going to happen, both of you getting what you want.' "

It couldn't happen again, could it?

Barbara S. Williams, editor emeritus of The Post and Courier, may be reached at bwilliams@postandcourier.com