Jenny Sanford issued a letter in support of Republican state Rep. Nikki Haley to succeed her husband when the term-limited politician leaves office.

    Perception… is reality.

    That phrase was voiced emphatically and frequently by my greatest mentor during my radio days, Tom Harrrell of WSTP-WRDX in Salisbury, North Carolina.  He would use it to remind employees that whatever our stations were perceived to be by their listeners, that’s what they were, and we’d better make the perception a good one.

    It can also be translated:  you are whatever people perceive you to be.

    Perception… is reality.

    And the reality of perception is catching up with Olympic champion swimmer Michael Phelps.