Breaking And Developing: Governor Sanford Was In Argentina, Had Affair – Second Video Added
Jun 24, 2009 49 Comments ›› Erik Wong
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford says he’s been having an affair and will resign as head of the Republican Governor’s Association.
The married father of four emotionally apologized to his wife, staff and others after returning Wednesday from a trip to Argentina that followed a dayslong absence. He staff had said the Republican was hiking on the Appalachian Trail.
He had been a rumored contender for the 2012 GOP ticket. A former congressman, he’s most recently snared headlines for his unsuccessful fight to turn aside federal stimulus cash for his state’s schools.
Latest development: Governor Sanford admitted to having an affair with an Argentinian woman and resigns from the Republican Governors Association.
ATLANTA (Reuters) – South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford returned to the United States on Wednesday from a secret private trip to Argentina, ending days of speculation over his whereabouts and raising questions about his judgment.
Sanford is the chairman of the Republican Governors’ Association and a prominent fiscal conservative who has been talked about as a potential Republican candidate for the 2012 U.S. presidential election.
Analysts said Sanford’s six-day disappearance, during which he apparently failed to inform aides of his whereabouts, could damage his chances if he decided to run in 2012.
Republican strategist Rich Galen said the issue would “absolutely” torpedo any presidential aspirations. “To have someone who is willing to take a hike, literally or figuratively, I just think is a disqualification,” he said.
When media reported Sanford’s whereabouts were unknown since last Thursday and that even his wife did not know where he was, his aides said he was hiking on the Appalachian Trail in the eastern United States to get away for a break after a tough state legislative session.
During his absence, some South Carolina politicians accused him of abdicating responsibility for state affairs.
Sanford flew to Atlanta early on Wednesday and told a reporter for The State, South Carolina’s biggest newspaper, he had decided at the last minute to go to Argentina and drive along its coastline.
“I wanted to do something exotic … to get out of the bubble I am in,” he told the paper, adding he had traveled alone.
QUESTIONS OVER RESPONSIBILITY
Sanford gained prominence this year by opposing Democratic President Barack Obama’s economic stimulus bill and rejecting $700 million of South Carolina’s portion of the funds on grounds the law was reckless and would undermine the state’s fiscal stability.
The state’s Supreme Court ruled this month that the federal cash must be accepted.
Interest in Sanford’s mystery absence will blow over in the short term but could hurt him if he has his eye on the White House, said Robert Oldendick, political science professor at the University of South Carolina.
“If he disappeared … without telling staff or his family, then that raises a question of ‘Is this the type of person we want with the responsibility for being in charge of nuclear weapons or in crisis situations?’” Oldendick said.
Last week, Senator John Ensign, another potential Republican presidential contender in 2012, announced he had an affair with a woman who was a close family friend and resigned his position as chairman of the Republican Policy Committee.
Other possible Republican presidential contenders include former governors Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich and governors Bobby Jindal, Sarah Palin, Charlie Crist and Tim Pawlenty.
