Peripatetic adulterer Mark Sanford received quite the endorsement today! Senator Rand Paul, a name habitually invoked by Republican politicians who are significantly more hated than Senator Rand Paul and really have nothing to do with him, has thrown his weight behind Sanford’s congressional campaign. In a statement, Paul said the following: “More than anything, Washington needs strong and consistent voices for fiscal responsibility and liberty . . . Mark has proven during his time in office that watching out for taxpayers and holding the line on spending are his top priorities.” Reading between the lines here, one can infer than during Sanford’s time out of office—for example, the time he literally went A.W.O.L. from his physical office—his priorities shift away from taxpayers and holding the line on spending.

And speaking of Sanford’s career-ending South American bildungsroman, the ex-governor’s opponent, Elizabeth Colbert Busch, mentioned the incident at last night’s debate, which unfortunately happens to be the race’s only debate. The Daily Kos has a delicious recap:

“When we talk about fiscal spending and we talk about protecting the taxpayers, it doesn’t mean you take the money we saved and leave the country for a personal purpose.” […]

With much of the crowd hooting and hollering, Sanford seemed shaken. “I couldn’t hear what she said . . . repeat it, I didn’t hear,” he said.

“Answer the question,” Colbert Busch interjected.

“What was the question?” Sanford said, appearing stunned.“O.K., but anyway, ah ah, on the sequester, I’ll go back to the sequester . . . ”

It’s just too bad this is the sole debate, as Sanford will not get the chance to test out his other ace rhetorical strategies: The Picking Up His Phone to Take a Fake Phone Call; the Pretending an Audience Member Had a Question; and the Accusing His Opponent of Talking Too Softly for Anyone to Hear.