Stephen Colbert has publicly supported his sister's congressional campaign. Sanford: Stephen Colbert not running

Former Gov. Mark Sanford previewed his lines of attack against Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch on Wednesday, saying her famous comedian brother wasn’t on the ballot and her issue stances would eventually sink her candidacy.

“She’s not held office,” Sanford said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” the day after his victory in the GOP runoff. “Right now, the one thing that people know about her is that she is Stephen Colbert’s sister. Well, at the end of the day, Stephen Colbert is a very popular, well-regarded comedian, but at the end of the day he’s not on the ticket.”


Sanford, who left office in disgrace after admitting to lying to his staff and having an affair, won with 57 percent of the vote in a GOP primary runoff on Tuesday in South Carolina’s 1st congressional district. But national Republicans are already worried baggage from his governorship could drag down his candidacy and cost the GOP a seat Mitt Romney won by 18 points. The general election is set for May 7.

( Also on POLITICO: GOP frets Mark Sanford could blow it)

Sanford was confident the district’s natural conservative tendencies would come through.

“We’re going to have a debate about ideas,” he said. “And I think when people really begin to digest those ideas and see a real strong contrast between where she should be and where I would be, I think that will substantially change a poll that I think now identifies name I.D. as people know it, not issue I.D. and I think ultimately the debates and campaigns are decided on issues.”

A Colbert Busch spokesman said the Democrat was clearly making strides in the coastal district, which Sanford previously represented from 1995 to 2001.

“Elizabeth is a tough, independent businesswoman who spent twenty years working at South Carolina’s Ports and developing the economy here in the 1st District,” James Smith said in a statement. “She has deep roots in the District and her focus on creating jobs, balancing the budget and doing what’s right by the families and businesses of South Carolina is clearly resonating with voters.”