Rand Paul endorses Mark Sanford in a statement

Chris Moody
·Political Reporter

Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul formally endorsed South Carolina Republican House candidate Mark Sanford Tuesday. Sanford is running against Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch to represent the state's first congressional district.

"More than anything, Washington needs strong and consistent voices for fiscal responsibility and liberty," Paul said in a statement released to reporters by the Sanford campaign. "Mark has proven during his time in office that watching out for taxpayers and holding the line on spending are his top priorities. What we absolutely cannot afford is someone like his opponent, who will be yet another vote for a return to the Pelosi speakership, for disastrous programs like Obamacare, and for more spending and debt. I am pleased to endorse Mark and stand with him in this race."

Paul, who is mulling a presidential run in 2016 and plans to visit South Carolina this summer, is one of the few national Republicans to engage in the race. Earlier this month, the National Republican Congressional Committee announced it would withhold financial support for Sanford after the Associated Press reported that his ex-wife had accused him of trespassing on her property.

South Carolina is holding a special election on Tuesday, May 7, to fill the seat vacated by former Republican Rep. Tim Scott, who was appointed to the Senate after former Sen. Jim DeMint left the chamber to lead the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.