By Harriet McLeod
CHARLESTON, South Carolina (Reuters) - Voters in coastal South Carolina on Tuesday will choose between former Republican Governor Mark Sanford and Democratic businesswoman Elizabeth Colbert Busch in a personality-driven House race that has drawn national attention.
A poll released on Sunday showed a tight race between the political veteran and first-time candidate, with Sanford leading 47 percent to 46 percent over Colbert Busch, whose brother is television political satirist Stephen Colbert.
The margin of error for the survey of 1,239 likely voters was plus or minus 2.8 percent, according to Public Policy Polling.
Sanford gained momentum after trailing Colbert Busch by nine points two weeks ago in a poll taken soon after allegations by Sanford's ex-wife that he trespassed at her home became public. Sanford said he went there to watch the Super Bowl with one of their four sons.
Sanford, 52, is looking for a political comeback after his efforts to hide an extramarital affair marred his second term as governor. He previously held the First Congressional District seat from 1995 to 2001.
"Two weeks ago, a lot of Republicans were really unhappy with Sanford," said Kendra Stewart, a political scientist at the College of Charleston. "But now I see them holding their nose on Tuesday and going to the ballot box and voting for someone they would rather not vote for. It's going to be close."
A win for Colbert Busch, 58, would make her the first Democrat to represent the First Congressional District since the early 1980s and only the second woman in South Carolina to be elected to Congress.
It would not, however, shift the balance of power in the House of Representatives, where Republicans have a majority, 232 to 201 with two vacancies.
Sanford has been the subject of attack ads that accuse him of deserting the state in 2009 when the then-married governor tried to hide a six-day visit with his mistress in Argentina by saying he was hiking the Appalachian Trail.
He subsequently divorced and is now engaged to the other woman, Maria Belen Chapur.
Sanford has accused Colbert Busch of having ties to unions and national Democrats, who are unpopular in the Republican-leaning district.
The special election is being held to fill the seat vacated by Republican Tim Scott when he was appointed to the U.S. Senate by Governor Nikki Haley in December.
Polls open at 7 a.m. Eastern time and close at 7 p.m.
(Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Steve Orlofsky)
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/sanford-colbert-busch-contend-house-seat-100352832.html
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