UPDATED: Could Jenny Sanford Endorse Elizabeth Colbert Busch?

UPDATED TO INCLUDE RESPONSE FROM COLBERT BUSCH CAMPAIGN:

In response to the story the Colbert Busch campaign issued the following statement to Patch:

"Elizabeth has not met with or in any way pursued such an endorsement. We have too much respect for Jenny as a mother. We are focused on getting our message to the people of the 1st District and preparing for whomever our Republican opponent may be, whether it is Mark Sanford or Curtis Bostic."

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Jenny Sanford and Elizabeth Colbert Busch have discussed having the former governor's ex-wife endorse the Democratic nominee and Mark Sanford's potential congressional election opponent, Patch has learned.

Multiple sources, including from within the Colbert Busch campaign, said that the two women have discussed the subject. The sources did not want to be identified because they were not at liberty to discuss the matter on the record.

Sources outside the Colbert Busch campaign said that Sanford and Colbert Busch travel within the same circles in the Charleston area and an endorsement has been discussed.

Jenny Sanford has not returned calls or emails seeking comment.

Colbert Busch will find out on April 2 whether she will face Mark Sanford or Curtis Bostic in the general election for the right to represent SC1 in Washington, DC. 

Jenny Sanford managed her husband's previous campaigns and he reportedly asked her to manage his comeback attempt, but she declined.

Colbert Busch easily won the Democratic primary, but winning the general election will be a tougher row to hoe, as Republicans hold a strong majority in the district.

However, women also make up 55 percent of the district, and the backing of Jenny Sanford would almost certainly help Colbert Busch.

But a female Republican operative who requested anonymoity and knows both women said an endorsement from Jenny Sanford is unlikely. "She's a mother first and foremost, I don't believe she'd put her children in that kind of a position."

Another GOP insider said it was unlikely for the same reason.

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