For weeks, political intrigue swirled in South Carolina over a part-time position no one seemed to want, especially for just six months.
How hard was it to find someone to become lieutenant governor in South Carolina? Well, Republicans in line for the job refused. And Democrats — who haven't won a statewide race in South Carolina since 2006 — weren't exactly tempted either. Finally, a state senator whose re-election was in doubt offered to take the seat.
The saga reminds some people of when John Nance Garner, vice president of the U.S. under Franklin Roosevelt, said the No. 2 office "is not worth a bucket of warm spit," (or in some accounts, something even more vulgar).
It would help if states gave their second-in-command more responsibilities, said the executive director of the National Lieutenant Governor's Association.
"It is the second-highest ranking elected official in the state. You can make it into whatever your state needs," said Julia Hurst, executive director of the association.
South Carolina's constitution says the office of lieutenant governor's post — when vacated — is to be filled by the powerful president pro tempore of the state Senate. So when Lt. Gov. Ken Ard resigned in 2012 after pleading guilty to spending campaign money on personal items, GOP Senate President pro tem Glenn McConnell was legally mandated to take over the office. McConnell's friends told him that it was the biggest political sacrifice in South Carolina history.
Others weren't so ready to sacrifice when McConnell decided to step down as lieutenant governor after two years on the job to become president at the College of Charleston.