With several hundred Republicans in the room and Katie Arrington sitting a few tables away, U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford let an opportunity to endorse her for Congress pass by.
At Thursday’s Charleston County GOP reunion of retired 1st District congressmen, Sanford instead focused on why it’s OK to have differences in the Republican Party after she defeated him in the June primary, effectively ending his D.C. career.
Separately, Sanford told Palmetto Politics there were lingering issues from the campaign, many of which are tied to Arrington, Donald Trump and what he called “an identity crisis of what we’re about,” meaning Republicans.
Will an endorsement ever come in her race against Democrat Joe Cunningham?
“Not yet. I’m looking at it. It’s not definitive,” he said.
Still there was some joking. Sanford thanked Arrington in front of the crowd at Alhambra Hall in Mount Pleasant by saying her win gives him more time with his sons, while Arrington said she would call him to find out “where the bodies are buried.”
For the rest of the senior members of the 1st District alumni squad, each had differing views of President Trump’s performance, with their opinions running from disdain to full-on support.
Tommy Hartnett, 77, who served from 1981-87
“I think he’s the biggest embarrassment we have and hopefully will ever have in the White House,” he said.
Hartnett said anyone who serves as president must be “above” the personal attacks Trump thrives on.
“Personally, I have a strong dislike for him,” Hartnett said.
Arthur Ravenel Jr., 91, 1987-95
Ravenel said he’s an enthusiastic Trump supporter up and down the line.
“He’s good. We like everything he’s doing,” he said, starting with the GOP tax cut.
“I like that, too. That’s ‘Mid-American.’ He speaks our language.”
Henry Brown, 82, 2001-11
Brown said he likes what Trump is doing for the economy and used the analogy that a rising tide lifts all boats.
But he, too, had issues with Trump’s people skills.
“I can’t pick a perfect person,” he said.
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