Gov. Mark Sanford looks on as President Barack Obama delivers remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, Feb. 4, 2010 (Reuters Pictures)

GOVERNOR MAKES UNPLANNED VISIT TO WASHINGTON, MEETS WITH DUNCAN

Less than a year after throwing an epic temper-tantrum over accepting South Carolina’s discretionary portion of the federal stimulus package, Gov. Mark Sanford made an impromptu trip to Washington on Thursday to seek, well… another stimulus of sorts for the Palmetto State.

Sanford met with U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan to request $300 million in federal funds for use in converting failing public schools into charter schools.

The governor’s spokesman, Ben Fox, said Sanford was not asking for stimulus funds but rather for a federal grant from the Obama Administration’s $4 billion in “Race to the Top” education program.

Sanford also spoke with Duncan about extending charter schools permissions to last for five years, instead of three years.

While in Washington, Sanford also attended President Barack Obama’s National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday.

The trip drew praise from one of Sanford’s long-time rivals, U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn.

“I am pleased to see that the governor is finally taking an interest in South Carolina’s public schools,” Clyburn said. “After going to court last year to prevent stimulus funds from coming to South Carolina, his meeting with Secretary Duncan appears to be the governor’s admission that the stimulus was not only necessary but effective. I hope this is an indication he is willing to move forward together.”

Sanford opposed accepting South Carolina’s $700 million in stimulus cash last year, arguing it would drive up debt and cost the state jobs; or, in his words, would be equivalent to “fiscal child abuse.”

The governor inevitably lost his battle against the stimulus after the State Supreme Court ordered he accept the money.

And then, three weeks later, he disappeared to Argentina for five days to visit his mistress. But that’s a different story.