Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford announced he plans to suspend his presidential primary campaign, citing “impeachment noise” as one of his main reasons.
Sanford said in a speech at the New Hampshire State House that substantive discussions and debate are too difficult with the polarization created by the impeachment inquiry.
His statement:
“I am suspending my race for the presidency because impeachment has made my goal of making the debt, deficit and spending issue a part of this presidential debate impossible right now. From day one, I was fully aware of how hard it would be to elevate these issues with a sitting president of my own party ignoring them. Impeachment noise has moved what was hard to herculean as nearly everything in Republican party politics is currently viewed through the prism of impeachment.
“This is hardly a lens through which I want to look at things as I believe the debate of ideas is vital for both the conservative movement and for the American voter. What’s needed here is simply a national conversation on whether or not we believe in math. Ours does not add up in Washington and continued denial here could end the American civilization and the dreams that come with it. Unfortunately, with impeachment the wagons are circled, tribes and allegiances are declared and this obliterates the chance to debate and address a host of critical issues.
“More than anything we need a debate about our debt and how we pay for this political season’s many grand promises and the ones already accumulated in Washington. We also need a robust debate on trade and tariffs, our belief in institutions, the president’s tone and a whole lot more, but those things will not happen in a Republican primary embattled with impeachment,” said Sanford.
“Finally I would like to thank the people of New Hampshire and people from across this country for the conversations we have had on the need for financial sanity.
“It’s my hope and intention to find new ways to raise and elevate these vital themes.”
Sanford has long been embroiled in scandal and saw his run for president as a shot at redemption, which we wrote about for the Deseret News earlier this year.