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.