June 24, 2009 8:47 AM

S.C. Gov. Went To Argentina, Not Hiking

By
Kevin Hechtkopf
Topics
In The News
(AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain)
This post was updated at 12:20 p.m. ET

Gov. Sanford will hold a press conference at 2:00 p.m. ET to explain his "exotic" retreat from Washington to Argentina.

Gov. Mark Sanford has returned to South Carolina, but it appears there's a new story about where he went.

Sanford told The State newspaper this morning that he went to Buenos Aires during his mysterious absence from the state. That conflicts with the claim by his staff earlier this week that Sanford had been hiking on the Appalachian trail.

Sanford's communications director, Joel Sawyer, said on Tuesday morning that he had spoken to the governor, who was returning from his trip and had been taken aback by the interest in the story. Sawyer did not indicate then that Sanford had been in Argentina, leaving the Appalachian Trail story in place.

Now, however, the Republican governor says that he had considered going hiking as a break after the state legislative session, but then changed his mind at the last minute.

"I wanted to do something exotic," Sanford told The State. He added that he has previously taken trips to coast of Turkey, the Greek Isles and South America, in order to "get out of the bubble I am in."

Sanford made national headlines on Monday after state lawmakers realized he had been out of pocket since the previous Thursday. Even Sanford's wife said she didn't know where he went. He cut his trip short after he learned of the hoopla.

"I don't know how this thing got blown out of proportion," he said.

Now that Sanford has returned, questions turn to why he left, why the story changed, and what this means for his political career. As for the why, we may find out at a press conference the governor has scheduled for 2 p.m. ET today.

As for Sanford's future, CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris points out that this episode might "inject a dose of reality" into Sanford as he moves forward with a possible 2012 presidential bid. Prior to this week, Sanford had been talked about as one of the frontrunners for the Republican nomination.

"The reality is: as a high-profile politician, privacy is out the window -- political opponents, voters and the media won't accept vague or inaccurate information about one's whereabouts," Chaggaris said.

Chaggaris also explains why this episode has seemed so "strange" to some and how it could hurt Sanford down the road.

"The two strangest aspects of this episode are: 1) the idea that a governor of a state feels he can totally drop off the grid for a week and not tell anyone his whereabouts and 2) the fact that no one in the governor's office could successfully communicate that he simply was taking a vacation to South America," he said.

"If he plans a presidential run, he may want to make sure his staff is fully up to speed on simple questions, to avoid a dustup like this -- one that should be simple to avoid," Chaggaris added.

You can also check out the Associated Press' analysis here on the potential problems for the Republican party that could arise from this.

Add a Comment See all 122 Comments
by maxonhudson June 24, 2009 4:50 PM EDT
GOP family values are as hollow as their cry of support our troops.
Reply to this comment
by mrzerato June 24, 2009 3:21 PM EDT
Top ten excuses Sanford went to Argentina

10 He went to a Tea party with Newt and ended up in bar in Cordoba, Argentina

9. He was checking to see where he could send his state?s 12% unemployed

8. He thought Buenos Aries was Spanish for Disney

7. Tried to educate the South Carolina school children by playing Where?s Dumbo

6. He wanted to know if he could secede South Carolina to Argentina

5. He could not take the breakup of the Jon and Kate well and had to get out of town

4. It was Argentina or spend time with his family

3. He thought the Appalachian trail was in Argentina

2. He was just playing hide and seek with his staff

1. He went to Argentina to kick Chavez?s buttocks, but had geography education in South Carolina.
Reply to this comment
by specialty8 June 24, 2009 2:52 PM EDT
You guys just tear me up with republicans. Just take a good look at congress right now. Kennedy should still be in jail.
Reply to this comment
by -Lawyers-Guns-n-Money- June 24, 2009 3:07 PM EDT
You OWN this one. Take it to the bank for a trade in if you can.
by -Lawyers-Guns-n-Money- June 24, 2009 2:51 PM EDT
Oooops! Looks like the guvnah indeed needed to get his package 'stimulused.'
Reply to this comment
by nanc12 June 24, 2009 2:42 PM EDT
Ah - "I was unfaithful to my wife with a friend in Argentina." What a surprise. Resigned as chair of the repub governors association. They're dropping like flies.
Reply to this comment
by -Lawyers-Guns-n-Money- June 24, 2009 2:37 PM EDT
I could really care less where Governor Sanford went and wht he did while gone. The overriding factor is that he is the chief executive of a state, not to mention the CINC of the state's National Guard and did nothing to transition power in his absence.
Reply to this comment
by ibsteve2u June 24, 2009 2:33 PM EDT
Ahhh....just that normal Republican hypocrisy thing: He is having an affair.

Scratch a Republican, and you find a self-centered being who is incapable of acting in any manner except for his own self-interest...

lollll...morality, ethics, patriotism, religion? With Republicans, they all come to a screeching halt right at the edge of their wallets OR their zippers - whichever is sticking out furthest.
Reply to this comment
by specialty8 June 24, 2009 2:30 PM EDT
I just love all the new Bush supporters on here. Same policies, just a different party, only thing different is if Bush spent $400 billion, Obama will spend a trillion. And I thought all along every one hated Bush. I can feel the love now.
Reply to this comment
by ibsteve2u June 24, 2009 2:29 PM EDT
What do you suppose he was doing? Looking for a military alliance with Argentina, in case he decides to tell South Carolina that they are seceding from the Union?
Reply to this comment
by nikosk11 June 24, 2009 2:20 PM EDT
He was checking out the real estate and preparing the grounds for D*i*c*k and help him to escape.
Reply to this comment
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