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Former South Carolina governor talks 2012

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    Fox News contributor Mark Sanford weighs in

  • Duration 4:13
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Okay we're back with Mark Sanford is sorry about the audio problem you're having today great to have you back thank you.

OK and so let's hope that we can move forward now you're a veteran South Carolina -- we hear a lot about.

A cover political arena in your home state what is it that sets it apart from the rest.

Well -- think there's you know politics is rough and tumble to Begin with I think it's exacerbated have Caroline's case for two reasons one is.

If you look for the last thirty years South Carolina has been an incredibly good predictor.

In fact a telltale predictor of who would be the eventual nominee -- thirty years if you haven't won in South Carolina.

You didn't go on to win the nomination so.

This is sort of make or break time for a lot of these candidates.

You know if they don't do it here it's it's game over in many cases for the candidacy.

For the may be nominee if the if they win here it's an awfully good predictor of what comes next I think that that brings that hard elbows but probably the biggest thing is the money.

It's a relatively inexpensive media marketplace and it cost about three and 2000 dollars to five states worth of TV.

In this state -- to me in the state like Florida.

So you know all a lot of folks say this is -- place to test that is what works what doesn't work and as result you see a lot of elbows fly.

There you go -- they -- to saturate the airwaves with these spots as you've been playing out.

How important do you -- the evangelical vote in South Carolina.

And to what extent are social conservative issues going to have an impact in this presidential contest.

Well let's say -- you you know social conservatives.

Though there labeled as different group care about the same things that you and I care about.

In terms of jobs and economy.

You know what what what kind of America where the kids -- and their kids or their grandkids grow up and so I'd say you know it's not a monolith that can on observe and to other issues.

As to what one traditionally thinks about when they think of social conservative abortion other issues like that.

It is a very important voting bloc in South Carolina particularly along the upstate of our state along the I 85 -- -- -- -- call -- the Bible Belt.

And those issues.

Okay.

Resonate in -- it -- significant way.

All across the state but particularly in that part of South Carolina and you have three folks really contending hard.

Between Gingrich Santorum and and -- For that particular block of votes it seems right now vote some of those -- today even tell conservatives she'd be going Romney's way as well.

Well you know -- employment -- remains high in your state what contributed to this situation and what's it gonna take.

To convince voters there that any one of these GOP contenders can make a difference to change the unemployment forecast.

Well I I think.

And you know it it's a long conversation say all the ingredients to go into unemployment number in some cases there is driven by a lot of folks moving to our state because they think there's more opportunity.

In our state that verses where they left in Ohio Michigan or host of spots in the northeast but.

But leaving those -- sort of -- -- -- I think that the bigger issue with unemployment is the way that South Carolina will be a test case for what come in the in the campaign.

Really across the nation.

If you look at Iowa and if you look at New Hampshire you have relatively low unemployment in those states.

Well below the national average in South Carolina were above the national average as it's a case in Florida which is next.

Republican primary state so I think that the that the probably the more interest in question is.

How or folks gonna vote differently in South Carolina based on being and a high unemployment state vs how the might of voted perhaps and -- -- New Hampshire.

Indeed are you really take any bets right -- who EC.

Winning the race next week.

Well I I'd say the race is tightening its its in some ways Romney stood to lose.

But it seems you know I and he who walked into -- -- the the the race in South Carolina with a fairly sizable lead.

That lead is -- and so will -- with the voters decide come next Saturday -- and I thank you very much for joining us today.

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