Jenny Sanford for U.S. Senate

News broke today that Sen. Jim DeMint (T–SC) is quitting the US Senate to head up the Heritage Foundation. The reason for DeMint’s abrupt departure is unclear. Assuming there are no skeletons that were about to come to light, or someone having dirt on him—and there’s no indication such is the case—my own guess is he may have realized the future for himself and his Tea Party caucus in the Senate isn’t very bright.

DeMint’s is a minority caucus in the minority party. Because he’s been such a thorn in the GOP establishment’s side—recruiting and organizing primary opponents to Republican incumbents across the nation—he’d be unlikely to be rewarded with much in the way of committee assignments and chairmanships, even if his party does reclaim the chamber’s majority soon (which in itself is a big “if”).

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley now gets to appoint DeMint’s successor for the remainder of his term. While DeMint’s own preference is for conservative Rep. Tim Scott to fill his seat, it’s not DeMint’s call and the strategically smart move for Republicans would be somewhat more unorthodox.

Remember a dopey, lovestruck governor, busted en flagrante upon his return from the Appalachian Trail Buenos Aires?

Yeah, not him—his wife.

A magna cum laude from Georgetown University, Jenny Sanford worked for six years at Wall Street investment firm Lazard Freres & Co. in New York, and later would run each of her husband’s successful campaigns for both Congress and Governor. She has long been viewed as the brains of the operation.

The state’s former first lady is a policy wonk who has worked on issues like the role of good nutrition and regular physical activity in preventing cancer and other chronic diseases. She serves on a number of  research and non-profit boards and advisory committees.

The former Mrs. Sanford remains widely beloved and respected in her state. Her political skills are formidable, her Republican credentials solid, and her party is in dire need of prominent female faces. She’s likeable, and even gets on charmingly with urban, left-leaning smartypantses like Jon Stewart (see below).

Appointing Jenny Sanford instead of yet one more male Republican suit to the U.S. Senate would be an inspired, strategically smart move.

The liberal in me is relieved it’ll never happen.

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