EDITORIAL: Bauer’s melodramatics are pure politics

At his press conference last week, Lt. Governor André Bauer attempted a dramatic—though somewhat typical—political maneuver. When Bauer said he would seek the office of governor only if Governor Sanford had not stepped down or been removed by October he might as well have “officially” announced his candidacy anyway. Bauer’s intent to pursue higher office comes as no surprise. He has been public about his intentions before, but Wednesday’s press conference may prove to hurt Bauer’s quest for governor before it really even begins.

It should come as no surprise that what Bauer did last week was one of his first campaign events. To be known as the “reluctant public servant” is campaign gold, and that is exactly what André Bauer is attempting to become. When he declared last Wednesday that it was time to “put the interest of the people first, regardless of political consequences,” established the entire tone of his soon to be declared campaign.

When Lyndon Baines Johnson announced his decision to not seek a second term in 1968, his wife, Ladybird, made sure that his address read he would not seek or accept the parties nomination. She knew that given Johnson’s political prowess, should the Democratic Party ask nominate him anyway, LBJ would probably leap at the chance because of the political capital he would have at his disposal. It wouldn’t be politics, it would be a call to duty, and what politician could resist that?

In Bauer’s case, his strategy could play out one of two ways.

First, should Sanford remain in office after October, Bauer could join the chorus of other candidates and their shouts for “change.” Should Sanford vacate the governorship and Bauer be forced to step in, he would then be entering a year’s long working campaign where two other strategies could be applied. He could go with the typical, “There is more work left to be done,” and “I need to finish what I started” philosophy, or the more complex idea of claiming that while he doesn’t want to stay, the public outcry for the opposite is just too great to ignore.
Given what was said at the press conference last week, the lieutenant governor may later regret the manner in which he went about getting his campaign started.

Whatever path he chooses, the idea that Bauer is not running is extremely hard to believe.

Bauer’s bid to stand out from the pack and make himself unique to voters will have also been wasted if Sanford chooses to remain. He will simply be just another voice in the growing chorus of those seeking to bring “change” to South Carolina.

In the unlikely event that Sanford does resign—or the more likely one that he is removed by the legislature—Bauer will have a difficult time running with the “answering the call of duty” strategy. Claims of public requests and a job left unfinished will be a difficult sell barring a monumental shift in the state’s economic situation. Furthermore, he might have some serious explaining to do if he suddenly goes back on his word and decides to seek a full term anyway.

Regardless, the Aug. 26 press conference should be looked at as nothing more than a politician launching what he hopes proves to be a cleverly crafted campaign strategy. In all likelihood, Bauer made up his mind long before the woes of Sanford came to light. Now, he is just adapting to the current political climate.