(CNN) -- The fiery South Carolina congressional special election between former Gov. Mark Sanford and Elizabeth Colbert Busch is attracting national attention -- but not for the reasons it should. Listening to much of the national coverage, it can sound like a race between Jenny Sanford -- the ex-wife of the ex-governor -- and comedian Stephen Colbert, the brother of the Democratic candidate. But the real news is that a Democrat could win the 1st Congressional District in South Carolina, reversing Republican control of the seat since 1981. Polls show Colbert Busch ahead and her confident debate performance on Monday night helped solidify the sense that momentum is behind her campaign.
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John Avlon: Media emphasizing Jenny Sanford and Stephen Colbert in special election
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In reality, the story is the race between Mark Sanford and Elizabeth Colbert Busch
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He says there's reason Democrats can hope to capture the seat
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Avlon: Changing demographics make victory for centrist Democrats possible
But if @placeholder does win, it should shake up the lazy partisan assumptions that underlie our politics.