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Former Gov. Mark Sanford finished first in Tuesday's crowded Republican primary for the U.S. House special election in South Carolina, CNN projects. However, Sanford fell well short of the 50% margin needed to avoid a runoff.

The former governor will compete against Curtis Bostic, a former Charleston councilman, in a runoff election in two weeks.

On the Democratic side, CNN projects Elizabeth Colbert Busch, sister of comedian Stephen Colbert, won the nomination.

"This is absolutely incredible. What a wonderful night," she told supporters at a victory party in Charleston, South Carolina. "It's the start of a new beginning, right?"

The longtime area businesswoman was considered the favorite on the Democratic side over opponent Ben Frasier. She'll compete against the Republican nominee in the general election in May.

Sanford's re-entry into politics comes after an extramarital affair derailed his marriage and political career. As governor, he infamously told the public in 2009 he was hiking the Appalachian Trail while he was actually traveling to Argentina to carry on the affair.

Sanford is asking the public for a second chance, and in his own informal poll of the voters, he said he's finding an openness to forgive, if not forget.

"There's this amazing reservoir of human grace out there that's a reflection of God's grace, and I've seen it first hand," he said, adding that he looks forward to a "spirited contest" during the runoff.

John Avlon, a CNN political contributor whose family has lived in South Carolina for decades, said Sanford's honesty about his imperfect personal life has made him more relatable to voters.

"There is an affection for a guy who admits he's a sinner and asks for forgiveness, especially down here," Avlon said.Excerpts from http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/19/cnn-projects-colbert-b
usch-wins-democratic-primary-in-s-c-sanford-in-gop-runoff/?hpt=hp_t2

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