UNLOAD: Sanford selling $3.5 million beach house

The mammon-filled 2012 candidates must figure 2009 is the time to morph from prince to pauper.

First, Mitt Romney sold his 9,514 mansion in Utah and 13 room Colonial mansion in Massachusetts; now SC Gov. Mark Sanford is getting rid of his $3.5 million beachhouse on Sullivan's island.

Romney's excuse, via spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom:

"The Romney children are all grown up with families of their own, and Mitt and (his wife) Ann have more space than they need. So they are simplifying and downsizing."

Sanford's excuse:

Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer says the governor has two sons who will be going off to college soon and the family wants to find a smaller place on the island on the north side of Charleston Harbor.

2009-it like 2012 is just around the corner.