“Jenny For Governor” Group Forms

Without question, the one person who has emerged from the Mark Sanford sex scandal with near universal acclaim is S.C. First Lady Jenny Sanford.

Refusing to stand by her man – but leaving the door open for a possible reconciliation in the future – Jenny has struck the perfect balance with a broad cross-section of audiences, and her unflinching honesty about the painful details of her husbands affair have earned her even more respect.

Not surprisingly, the way Mrs. Sanford has handled this whole mess has many speculating about her political future.

After all, Jenny is undefeated as a campaign manager, a brilliant political strategist who more than anyone else got her husband elected to the U.S. Congress three times and the S.C. Governor’s Office twice. She’s also served as a staff member in his gubernatorial office, helping shape and articulate policy while at the same time serving as her husband’s most influential advisor.

In other words, she knows the campaign trail and the inner workings of state government in South Carolina like the back of her hand – which is just part of an already impressive resume that includes Wall Street experience, rock solid conservative credentials and the ability to self-finance her campaign.

Perhaps not surprisingly, a Facebook group urging Jenny to run for governor has cropped up in the wake of her husband’s scandal – well, sort of.

“This is not a real endorsement, but it is a show of support for a woman who demonstrates dignity and determination,” writes Lisa Lovett Moreno Blaney, who formed the group. “She’s got her priorities straight; she’s tough; she doesn’t cave under pressure. Regardless of your politics, you have to agree the woman is cool.”

Mrs. Sanford’s “gubernatorial” Facebook page is already receiving some high profile support.

“(I) hope her example becomes the default template for all women and men with young children on how to handle such a situation. Kudos to Jenny!” wrote former State Treasurer Thomas Ravenel, who joined the group.

Interestingly enough, we speculated on the possibility of Jenny running for governor two years ago when a rumor was floated that Team Sanford was actually looking at her to carry the reform movement’s torch in 2010.

“If members of South Carolina’s bass-ackwards General Assembly thought that conservative Gov. Mark Sanford was a thorn in their sides, then First Lady Jenny Sanford would be a .45 Magnum in their faces,” we wrote at the time.

We also noted that Mrs. Sanford possessed “infinitely more in the way of street smarts and intestinal fortitude than her philosophical, at times meandering husband.”

Of course, there’s only one problem with all this speculation … at no point has Jenny Sanford ever indicated so much as a passing interest in running for office herself.

Frankly, that’s too bad.

South Carolina could use more women in elected office – particularly women of Jenny’s caliber.

Update – The “Jenny for Governor” group has Tommy Tutone’s hit “867-5309″ as its theme song … how cool is that?

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