Sanford involved in affair, GOP loses another 2012 presidential contender

June 24, 4:52 PMLiberal ExaminerRaymond Gellner

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South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford  (AP/Ann Chastain)

Republican Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina admitted earlier today to having an affair with an Argentinean woman. In the press conference, which was held in his office in Columbia, South Carolina, he stated that his mysterious trip was to Buenos Aires and not to hike the Appalachian Trail as was previously reported by his staff. He further stated that he had known the woman for eight years as a close friend, and the relationship had been ongoing for about a year.

In the room swarming with reporters, Sanford apologized to his wife and four young children. "I've been unfaithful to my wife, and I developed a relationship with what started as a dear, dear friend from Argentina," Sanford stated, with tears. Sanford’s wife was not in attendance. In addition, Sanford stated that his wife has known of this for five months now, and they were in the process of trying to “work through” this.

In regard to the earlier reports that he had gone to hike on the Appalachian Trail, he was initially going to do so, stating, “But I said ‘no’ I wanted to do something exotic.”

Sanford seemed to think it was not out of the ordinary for the governor to disappear on a week long trip without any contact with his office. He went to Argentina in order to recuperate from the in-state legislative battle he had concerning the expenditure of stimulus money. In that battle he had fought unsuccessfully to use United States taxpayer money from the economic stimulus package to pay off South Carolina debt. This morning he returned early from his trip when he learned that his absence was creating a buzz in the media.

This all comes at a time when the Republican Party has been at a crossroads, searching for an identity and a leader for the 2012 Presidential race. Sanford, like Nevada GOP Senator John Ensign, was a legitimate possibility in an open field of contenders. While many in the GOP consider themselves to have a shot at the White House, most have views that would not win over enough supporters to make them a threat to the Democratic Party. There will surely be more candidates to appear in the next year or two, just as there will be more scandals to knock many from contention. The question is, can the Republicans deliver a candidate who is not living in a house of glass of the GOP’s own making?