Mark Sanford Gets Into Contentious Debate With Cardboard Cutout of Nancy Pelosi on Sidewalk (You Read That Right)

Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford speaks with reporters at Hay Tire & Automotive in Mount Pleasant, S.C., on Monday, April 22, 2013. Sanford questioned why his Democratic opponent, Elizabeth Colbert Busch, is not debating him at several events. The two are running in a special election for the state's vacant 1st District congressional seat. Credit: AP

Attacking his congressional opponent for allegedly avoiding public appearances, GOP candidate and former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford held a mock debate on the sidewalk with a cardboard cutout of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Wednesday. The cutout was apparently acting as Elizabeth Colbert-Busch's stand-in due to her supposed aversion to appearances.

"My opponent continues to run a stealth campaign, avoiding public appearances and refusing to commit to televised forums for the benefit of 1st district voters," Sanford said in a press release. "Since Elizabeth Colbert Busch refuses to articulate her views publicly, we are left to draw inferences for what she stands for on the basis of the groups that have made substantial monetary investments on her behalf."

Sanford hit "Pelosi" with several questions relating to the South Carolina congressional campaign. He even joking criticized the cutout for its silence.

“She’s not going to answer that one,” Sanford said after asking the inanimate object a question about the National Labor Relations Board.

Watch some of the "debate" below via Now This News:

The Colbert-Busch campaign released its own statement ridiculing Sanford for the theatrical display.

“While Mark Sanford continues his desperate campaign to deceive voters, Elizabeth Colbert Busch is spending her time with real people who support her campaign," the statement read. "Today alone, she’s meeting with a group of Republicans for Elizabeth Colbert Busch and a rally at Burke High School. She doesn’t have to resort to phony cardboard cutouts to talk with the people of South Carolina."

(H/T: HuffPost)

Featured image via AP