Another Republican has stepped forward to challenge President Donald Trump. This week, former South Carolina governor and congressman Mark Sanford kicked off his campaign for the Republican nomination, including a stop Friday in the Quad Cities.
While the Democratic candidates are talking about impeachment, immigration, and health care, Sanford is focusing on the federal budget and deficit, calling his roadtrip "Kids, We're Bankrupt and We Didn't Even Know It."
He says the federal deficit this year is already 1.2 trillion dollars.
"What does that mean for a household here, 42 hundred dollars of additional debt was added just this last year to every household in this area, every household in the midwest, every household in this country. The question of my run for the presidency is are we going to have a conversation about that in this presidential race."
So when Republicans tell him he shouldn't challenge their leader, Sanford says the party will be stronger if there is what he calls a "robust competition of ideas."
"I think it is destructive not to have an earnest debate on the Republican side because if all you have is a debate that is taking place on the Democratic side with no concurrent debate on the Republican side, we are made weaker not stronger in that process. "
His cross-country roadtrip began Wednesday in Philadelphia and ends next Wednesday in Los Angeles. Thursday he traveled across Ohio to Indiana, then started Friday in Peoria.
Following the Friday midday stop in the Quad Cities, Sanford will drive to Des Moines, then head Saturday to Omaha and Denver.
