SC governor says linking him to ‘60s radical is bogus

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has landed in the middle of a back and forth between the Obama and McCain campaigns over Obama’s link to a 1960s-era radical.

In an e-mail combatting attacks by Gov. Sarah Palin, Obama’s campaign connected Sanford and William Ayers and said Palin had lowered the standards by which politicians could be linked to the founder of the Weather Underground.

Ayers has spoken at the University of South Carolina about six times over the last 13 years and Sanford is an ex officio trustee of the university.

Sanford calls it bizarre that the Obama campaign would use those facts to link him to Ayers.

Sanford says he’s never been in the same room with Ayers and it’s bogus to suggest they have any connection.