Sanford seeks forgiveness in new campaign

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COLUMBIA, S.C., Feb. 18 (UPI) -- After giving "hiking the Appalachian trail" a new meaning, former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford is seeking forgiveness for his "mistakes."

The politician, whose staff said he was hiking when he went AWOL to visit a South American mistress, is running again for the congressional seat he held before becoming governor. In his first television commercial, Sanford acknowledges the mistakes that forced him to resign the governorship.

"More recently I've experienced how none of us go through life without mistakes," said Sanford, a Republican, in the clip. "But in their wake we can learn a lot about grace, a God of second chances and be the better for it," he continued. "In that light, I humbly step forward and ask for your help in changing Washington."

The 30 second spot is entitled "Change Washington."

Sanford is running in a special election for the Palmetto State's second congressional district, in the Columbia area, Politico said Monday. It was vacated after Tim Scott was appointed to the U.S. Senate to fill a seat left open when Sen. Jim DeMint quit to run the conservative Heritage Foundation earlier this year.

Sanford faces a Republican primary against Teddy Turner, son of the liberal media tycoon Ted Turner. The Democratic nominee appears to be Elizabeth Colbert Busch, sister of political satirist Stephen Colbert.