Shockwaves spread through Sumter delegation

The Associated Press South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford wipes his tears Wednesday during a news conference in Columbia as he admitted to having an affair. He said he is resigning as chairman of the Republican Governors Association.

Hubris, remorse drove Sanford Sanford joins list of other governors embroiled in affairs First lady Jenny Sanford's statement Media need to give Sanford, his family space Online community reacts to Sanford's statements Sumterites react to governor's affair Politicians not calling for Sanford's resignation News conference transcript Gov. Mark Sanford

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By ANNABELLE ROBERTSON
Item Staff Writer
arobertson@theitem.com

Shockwaves are reverberating among the Sumter legislative delegates after Gov. Mark Sanford's announcement that he has been having an affair, and reactions among the delegation were grim.

"I'm shocked and very disappointed for him and for the state," said Sen. Phil Leventis, D-Sumter. "South Carolina is in such a terrible situation, and the last thing we need is a crisis in leadership. It's very disappointing. On a personal basis, I really regret this for him and his family. It's very sad. It's devastating."

Sen. John D. Land III, D-Manning, said he thought the governor's recent "erratic behavior" had something more to do with "just a man who wants to go off and relax by himself and clear his head."

In a press conference broadcast by all the major networks Wednesday afternoon, Sanford admitted that he had secretly flown to Argentina to visit a woman with whom he'd been having an affair. He apologized to family and said he will resign as head of the Republican Governors Association.

"I've let down a lot of people, that's the bottom line," said the 49-year-old governor, fighting unsuccessfully to hold back tears.

The announcement came after Sanford had been AWOL for seven days with widespread media speculation as to his whereabouts.

Before finally making the announcement about the affair, which came well into the 20-minute press conference, Sanford held his audience in suspense by apologizing to a long list of people. He began with his wife and children — who did not attend — and ended with the residents of South Carolina. He ruminated on God's law, moral absolutes and following one's heart, then finally admitted he had been having a relationship with "a dear, dear friend" of about eight years.

The affair, he said, didn't become romantic until a little over a year ago. Sanford has seen her three times since then, and his wife found out about it five months ago.

He told reporters he spent "the last five days of my life crying in Argentina" and the affair is now over. Sanford, a rumored 2012 presidential candidate, refused to say whether he'll leave office.

"What I did was wrong. Period," he said.

Sen. Land said shortly after the governor's announcement, "I was fearful all along that there was something else."

Land said he was unsure how the situation would progress throughout the next few months but that he did feel like there is a "double standard" when it comes to infidelity from a Republican leader compared to a Democratic one.

"I reckon what offends me is that many of these leaders wear their religious beliefs on their shirtsleeves," he said. "They always act holier-than-thou and, normally, they are the ones that commit the offense. I said years ago that when you take the high road, you'd better be sure you've got good traction. When you go around implying by your words that you are more patriotic or more of a citizen or more religious or more honest than anyone else, you're really setting yourself up for the fall."

Like the other politicians, Rep. Joe Neal, D-Hopkins, struggled to find words.

"The only reaction I have is that it's a sad day for his family and for the state of South Carolina, and I wish him and his family well during this difficult time," he said.

"That's an issue that he has to handle with his family," said Rep. Gerald Malloy (D-Hartsville). "The real issue is that the state of South Carolina had a governor who was MIA. That's where I would like to focus the attention. He's been derelict in his duties. Once again, this governor has placed us in the midst of a discussion and debate about something we shouldn't be having a discussion about."

Rep. Grady Brown, D-Bishopville, agreed. Brown said he is primarily troubled by Sanford's inaccessibility to his staff and the people of South Carolina during his weeklong leave of absence.

"The big concern for me is that he's gone from the state of South Carolina, which he was elected to lead, and nobody knew where he was," he said. "I think he needs to explain that to the people of South Carolina."

Reactions from Republicans focused on Sanford's wife and children.

"We've all sinned and fallen short; we need to pray for him and his family," said Rep. Phillip Lowe, R-Florence. "Hopefully he and his wife will find some way to reconcile and keep the family together."

"First and foremost, the Sanford family is in my prayers," said Murrell Smith, R-Sumter. "This is a difficult time. But it's embarrassing for our state."

Questions about Sanford's whereabouts arose early this week. For two days after reporters started asking questions, his office insisted he had gone hiking on the Appalachian Trail. After being cornered at the Atlanta airport by a reporter, Sanford revealed Wednesday morning that he'd gone to Argentina for a seven-day trip.

When news first broke about his mysterious disappearance, first lady Jenny Sanford told The Associated Press she did not know where her husband had gone for the Father's Day weekend. On Wednesday, she said she knew about the affair and that she had asked her husband to leave their home two weeks ago.

First elected governor in 2002, the former three-term congressman has more than a year remaining in his second term and is barred by state law from running again.

He most recently snared headlines for his unsuccessful fight to turn aside federal stimulus cash for his state's schools. His vocal battle against the Obama administration — and his libertarian, small-government leanings — won praise from conservative pundits.

Ultimately, a state court order required him to take the money.

Sanford has had seemingly endless run-ins with the GOP-dominated Legislature, once bringing pigs to the House chamber to protest pork barrel spending. He also put a "spending clock" outside his office to show how quickly a proposed budget would spend state money.



Contact Staff Writer Annabelle Robertson at arobertson@theitem.com or (803) 774-1250.



The Associated Press and Item Staff contributed to this article.