Everyone’s saying that Sanford’s extramarital revelations have disqualified him for 2012. But have they really? Over at Politico, Roger Simon suggests maybe they don’t—Sanford is a good enough politician to spin this into acceptability, especially if Jenny forgives him.Either way, his affair is having campaign implications in South Carolina as various Republicans vie for the Republican nomination for next year. State Rep. Nikki Haley, seen as his endorsed successor, is now distancing herself from the governor but is no doubt hoping he doesn’t resign. That would give an advantage to Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, a political enemy to Sanford, who would then get to be a one-year incumbent. Bauer, who helped blow the lid on the Sanford-is-missing story, is likely to be hit in the campaign over his fast-driving, scantily-clad-women-on-his-MySpace-page ways. (Speaking of campaigns gone wild: A fundraiser for a California congressional candidate ends in pepper spray and handcuffs.) Some Republicans are gleeful over the narrow passage of the American Clean Energy and Security Act, which gives them an easy message for next year’s congressional campaigns. Politico takes a look at some of the most vulnerable Democrats. Even in the White House, the Obama team is breaking ground in Internet campaigning. They’ve convinced No. 1 tweeter Ashton Kutcher to help them spread their message, and are encouraging supporters to use hash tags to spread the word. Odds & Ends:
Chief Justice Roberts announced the Supreme Court will rehear arguments in a McCain-Feingold case. Former Rep. Pat Toomey is increasingly the establishment candidate in the Pennsylvania Republican primary. Is Coleman costing the GOP too much? Republicans lay low on Sotomayor.