WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | List of lawmakers asking for Sanford's resignation grows

List of lawmakers asking for Sanford's resignation grows

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - Politicians and lawmakers around the state are beginning to ask for Gov. Mark Sanford's resignation.

U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett became the first South Carolina congressman to ask Sanford to resign, saying people have lost confidence in him after his extramarital affair was revealed.

The Republican told The Associated Press he called the governor Wednesday and told him it would be best for him to quit. Barrett says Sanford can no longer be the effective leader the state needs as South Carolina's unemployment rate tops 12 percent.

A new poll also suggests the public's opinion on a possible resignation is gaining support.

According to a WCSC/SurveyUSA poll out of 500 people, 69 percent say the governor should resign, 28 percent say he should remain and 3 percent said they aren't sure.

The governor's spokesman says Sanford is now keeping silent about the affair.

It's a change from Tuesday, when Gov. Sanford called 41-year-old Maria Belen Chapur his 'soul mate,' but that he would try to fall back in love with his wife. He also admitted more liaisons with Chapur than he had previously told the public about.

The comments stirred up a scandal that some said had begun to die down over the weekend.

"The governor has given a full and truthful account, and he is finished discussing this matter," said Sawyer. "He is focused on being Governor, on rebuilding his marriage, and on building back the trust of South Carolinians."

It may not be easy to win back some in the state, and there is a growing call to deny the governor the chance to try.

Rep. Barrett joins an already growing list of South Carolina lawmakers and politicians asking the governor to step down.

The growing chorus of lawmakers who've publicly announced or told The Associated Press they want the governor gone reached 14 Wednesday. There are 27 Republicans in the Senate -- a 46-member chamber the party controls.

The tally shows the erosion of the governor's support but has no practical effect. Any impeachment move would have to begin in the GOP-controlled House.

However, the Senate is where Sanford has drawn the most support from lawmakers. The defectors include five of his dozen closest allies, including Sen. Kevin Bryant, who called the governor's breach of trust with the citizens of the state "irreparable."

"As far as political support, I think this would be better for this movement of reform that I've supported ever since being elected in 2004, it's time for us to find a new quarterback for that reform movement that we've been fighting for," said Sen. Bryant.

When asked if he still trusted the governor, Sen. Bryant said, "I did up until Wednesday."

State GOP Chairwoman Karen Floyd says she has spoken to several Republican leaders across the state for the past few days and has come to a consensus.

"There is clearly a growing view that the time may have come for Governor Sanford to remove himself and his family from the limelight, so that he can devote his efforts full-time to repairing the damage in his personal life," said Floyd.

Senate Majority Leader Harvey Peeler of Gaffney said Tuesday's revelations from the governor about the affair raise doubts about Sanford's ability to lead the state.

Peeler says the governor has not been consistent in his story about liaisons with Chapur. He also says the governor seems unfocused.

Other senators joined him in a letter, including Jake Knotts, Thomas Alexander, Paul Campbell, Jr., Larry Martin and William O'Dell, while more have told reporters they want to see the governor go. [Read the statement here]

"We must have strong leadership from a Governor who is focused and trusted," said the statement. "Governor Sanford is neither."

Sanford ally Sen. Tom Davis says he met with the governor and his staff on Wednesday to discuss the governor's future. Davis says he has also spoken with Jenny Sanford about the new revelations.

"Based on these conversations, I expect to form my official position very shortly.  But I can assure you that whatever official position I ultimately reach will be one that I truly believe to be in the best interests of the people of Beaufort County in particular and the state of South Carolina in general," said Davis in his statement.

Davis called on the citizens of the state to continue to pray for the Sanfords.

Another Sanford ally, Republican gubernatorial candidate and state representative Nikki Haley says the people of South Carolina have heard enough about the governor's personal life, but instead needs to hear more about his plans to keep running the state for the next 18 months.

"I remain willing to listen to that case, but if he cannot make it convincingly, then he must move on," said Rep. Haley.

Other politicians in the state, such as RNC state representative Glenn McCall and State Superintendent Jim Rex have also called for the governor to step down.

US Senator Jim DeMint seems to think it's only a matter of time before the situation reaches a breaking point, as he spoke to Politico Wednesday.

"I have my concerns to whether or not [Gov. Sanford] can continue," Sen. DeMint said. "I think we will see some resolution in the next week."

DeMint was in Aiken on Wednesday promoting his new book. He says he's concerned that the governor's affair is giving the state a bad image around the country.

"Yes I'm concerned, I just came from New York and that's what the nation is talking about when they think about South Carolina, but this will pass, we've got too much going for us and too many good things happening here and a lot of strong leaders around the state, so fortunately all the leadership doesn't fall on just a few of us," said DeMint.

When asked if Sanford should stay in office, DeMint said, "I'm not saying one way or another right now."

At least seven South Carolina newspapers say Sanford should resign because of the revelations about his affair.

The Greenwood Index-Journal, The Greenville News, The Herald-Journal of Spartanburg, The Herald of Rock Hill, the Morning News of Florence, The Times and Democrat of Orangeburg and the Aiken Standard all called on Sanford to resign.

Spartanburg and Orangeburg newspapers earlier had called for Sanford to quit. Spartanburg said Wednesday that Sanford "has squandered the trust South Carolinians had in him."

The Greenville News said Sanford "has destroyed any shred of credibility with his lies unnecessarily added on top of other lies."

The Index-Journal editorial said it is time to "let some level of normalcy return to the State House before more damage is done."

Previous Stories:

• Sanford: Mistress is 'soul mate,' will try to love wife
• Push begins for investigation into Sanford's Argentina trips
• Sanford will not resign
• Top state GOP official asks for Sanford's resignation

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