Sanford hikes back into politics with poll win Mark Sanford, the former South Carolina governor who became a household name when he told constituents that he was "hiking on the Appalachian trail" to cover up an extramarital affair, made a comeback on Tuesday after winning a special congressional election. Mr Sanford's defeat of Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch marks a victory for Tea Party activists, who supported his candidacy after he was abandoned by the Republican campaign committee that usually backs party candidates. The National Republican Congressional Committee dumped Mr Sanford after his ex-wife alleged that he had repeatedly entered her home without permission. For weeks it appeared that Ms Colbert Busch could pull off a victory in the conservative state and that voters were not ready to give Mr Sanford another chance. In 2009 he was forced into a tearful public confession after he was exposed for lying about his whereabouts and activities to hide an affair with an Argentine woman. The two are now engaged. Ms Colbert Busch's candidacy was also closely covered because she is the sister of comedian Stephen Colbert, whose Colbert Report programme satirises Fox News, the conservative news network. Amy Kremer, chairwoman of the Tea Party Express, an activist group, said Mr Sanford's victory proved that the Tea Party was continuing to "fuel election upsets." On Tuesday night Associated Press reported that Mr Sanford led by 54 per cent to 45 per cent. There could be a silver lining for the Democrats. Republicans have been forced to defend their record after they were accused by Democrats of waging a "war on women" for their policies on abortion and their opposition to equal pay laws. In response to the trespassing allegations, the former governor said he had sought to contact his ex-wife before entering her home to watch the Super Bowl with his son, because he did not want him to watch the game by himself.