Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, said the race won’t have national importance. “A Sanford win would simply reflect the massively GOP nature of the district,” he said. The district went for Republican Mitt Romney over Obama in last fall’s presidential election by a 58 percent to 40 percent margin. Ms. Colbert Busch is very likely to be a very short-term member of Congress, if elected,” Sabato said, “assuming 1st District Republicans choose more wisely next time.”