Dem vs Rep or maybe a third force: two more years what to do?

[Philip]

J.J. wrote: "oh my god.

And it's obvious the media is trying to cover for him by their insistence that they're all "gaffs." But that's all we need is to go to war with Europe because he mistakes France for Syr..."

Given Trump invoked National Security for Tariffs imposed on allies not sure Biden would be wrong.

[Scout]

Mark Sanford is running against Trump. This was the governor of South Carolina who, in June 2009, after having disappeared from the state for several days, publicly revealed that he had engaged in an extramarital affair. Sanford had led his staff to believe that he was going hiking on the Appalachian Trail, but actually went to visit his mistress in Argentina. Is this guy deluded, maybe certifiable?

[Ian]

It is a big field - he will be lost in the other contenders.

[J.J.]

I can understand someone running because they want to offer voters a "moral" choice, but this guy is not it.

Trump's approval is so high among Republican voters, I can't see Trump showing up to debate any of the challengers.

[J.]

Ian wrote: "It is a big field - he will be lost in the other contenders."

We're ramping up to the primaries and caucuses, so Sanford is only challenging Trump for the Republican nomination for President. He wouldn't face the Democratic nominee until after the conventions. I'm guessing that he believes that he can primary Trump (less likely than the second coming of Jesus with his life partner, Buddha), and then he can easily beat any of the Democratic frontrunners by not being totally bat-shit insane.

Barring that, he could be trying to rebuild his political career by establishing name recognition that doesn't involve jokes about hiking the Appalachian Trail. He's kinda stupid.

[Ian]

J., to be honest, I had never heard of Sanford until this thread.

[Nik]

Scout wrote: ".....publicly revealed that he had engaged in an extramarital affair...."

Sounds a bit more straightforward than paying hush money plus he's got now worldwide recognition even all the way down to New Zealand, which I hear offer excellent hiking trails

[Ian]

We do indeed have excellent hiking trails,, although I am not sure they will help Sanford :-)