CNN

If his wife takes him back she will be no different then the other politician wifes standing by their man like zombies with no brains. So far I give her a lot of credit. So far!

National Poll? Why are people in Maryland, Washington, and every other state really counted. Shouldn't the people of SC have a say in this more than anyone else?

Stop giving interviews for pete's sake. You can't keep your story straight and else you can't count! There is NO reason to keep dragging this out and hurting your family – those boys have to carry that name for the rest of their lives. Do something to make them proud, like shut up.

Sanford was AWOL from his job.
If this had been any other American being negligent of his/her duties, that person would have been reprimanded or fired.
Sanford is NOT above other people in this country. What is good for the goose is good for the gander.
Sanford should step down, he deserves his punishment.

Well, after his latest pronouncements he should resign.

I personally want Sanford to saty in office as long as possible...

Everyday that Sanford and Ensign – two men who said Clinton should resign for an affair but now hypocritically refuse to take their own advice- stay in power... the worse the GOP looks and the more likely that the GOP's "family values" talking points will get nothing but laughter from the American public, from here on out!

Thanks for once again putting party over country NeoCons – and now the whole country sees it! LOL... Watching the GOP kill litself is actually alot of fun!

Well said Jeff.

Hmmm lets see, Jefferson is found with thousands in his freezer and didnt resign, Rangel is a tax cheat and didnt resign, Geitner – tax cheat didnt resign, Pelosi lied to America about her knowledge of enhanced interrogations – didnt resign, Edwards has an affair and fathers a child while running for POTUS, barely covered, Obama smoked pot, snorted coke, pals with a domestic terrorist and a anti-semetic black power reverend and becomes POTUS, Murtha calls our troops murderers and has very suspicious ties to payback scandals and directs millions to the John Murtha airport that is barely used – doesnt resign yet libs want to crucify Sanford. What hypocrites.

As a Christian conservative, I say that this man needs to resign now, the media is already making him the face of the Republican Party. His affair is unacceptable and his blatant lying to his constituents demands his swift resignation. He should resign now, he is a shame to his party and his state.

So glad that "Americans" think that Gov Sanford should resign, when really, its only "South Carolinian's" opinion who really matters. Stay out of my states affairs.
__________

Yep, it's South Carolina's business and nobody else's. If a hurricane should, god forbid, strike Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, etc., don't send federal aid and don't look for the National Guard either. We will survive.

Jaime: So glad that "Americans" think that Gov Sanford should resign, when really, its only "South Carolinian's" opinion who really matters. Stay out of my states affairs.

It's NOT YOUR AFFAIR when the retarded GOP is trying to groom him for the presidency!!!!!

don't resign–lets keep core of how many other women you can date before you go .Family Value's _LOL

Average Democrat
"He should resign because he abandoned his post"

Yet Kennedy shouldn't have resigned for abandoning Mary Jo for dead.

The average Republicansbelieves the same for everyone regardless of ideology, as the poll shows a majority of republicans want him to step down.

DId Sanford not learn from history? He and his GOP buddies crucified Bill Clinton with the excuse that he lied under oath... about his personal life that nobody had any business asking about anyway. Now Sanford keeps changing his story, digging himself deeper into the hole. Had he just admitted about his affair, people would be upset, but his office would be safe. But he keeps changing his stories.
He should have learned from history. He didn't. And those who refuse to learn from history are apparently bound to not just repeat it, but make complete donkeys of themselves!

Too bad this is a national poll.

Darn right he should. JOB ABANDONDMENT, plain and simple. We wouldn't get away with it at our job why should ANY of our elected official have different rules for the job WE are paying them to do. All our politicians are a bunch of freeloaders. Wake up America, think about it. We're never going to get good health care reform passed because the elected officials, congress, senators, etc get FREE healthcare, for LOFE. They get a pension after simply being elected, for LIFE. Even if they resign their pension continues. Do WE get the same from our employer? We're lucky if we get a 2-week notice when our job is outsourced, for LIFE. EVERY state needs to get on the ballot that there is NO more free healthcare or lifetime pension, and then raise this to the Federal level. Stop the political WELFARE that is going on this country. It's time for a different type of Boston Tea Party to put these freeloaders in their place once and for all.

I think it is completely hysterical that NOW the NeoCons say things like "You Dems loved Clinton, but now you want Sanford to resign for the same thing – you are all hypocrites!"

You realize that you all supported impeaching Clinton for an affair and at the time acted like he was Charles Manson... but now it's a Republican and it is all OK cause "Clinton did it too"? LOL...

I really feel sorry for some of you who think this makes sense...

Clinton never took off and disappeared for days without telling anyone while on the job and visited his mistress with taxpayer money (on Father's Day no less) and Clinton never preached all "holier than thou" and called for the resignation of others for the same offense...

...and if it was impeachable for Clinton to have an affair, then it is should STILL be impeachable now... (I don't think it should be, but that is besides the point)... but you can't have it both ways because of the (R) after their names – that is HYPOCRITICAL!

Robin: Resign? The hate filled liberals want him shot at sunrise.

You confuse disgust with hate.......... but you republicans confuse SO MANY THINGS!!!!!!!!!

The GOP is still trying to come up with excuses for why they're failing, including finding scapegoats in their own party. The fact is the GOP is not a political underdog because of their moral hypocrisy, but because they are lazy whiners who parrot Rush Limbaugh and have no ideas of their own. Their 'alternate' budget proposal was a 16 page outline with NO NUMBERS! How can you have a budget with no numbers? Their 'alternate' health care plan was a 3 page outline, 80% borrowed from the Obama health care plan, and had no cost estimates. THAT's why nobody listens to them! Because they have nothing to say! No ideas, no plans! Finding scapegoats is not going to help them!

Let's try this again.

"Fifty-one percent of Democrats and 54 percent of Republicans want Sanford to step down."

See, republicans have consistant views regardless of ideology, the multipe terms served by Studds and Kennedy after doing much much worse shows that Democrats are dishonest hypcrites guided only by hate and partisanship.

Love the libs lying below, the facts show that you are the hypocrite, not the fair-minded honest conservatives who go by the act, not the ideology of the person.

To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.
William Shakespeare

Follow your heart, Mark. Set your good wife free. She will be OK. She is a beautiful strong woman in God's grace.
If you have found your soulmate then run to her and never look back. Be the man you promised you would be... but this time with the woman you truly love. Be a good father and be a good friend to the woman you gave you your children. Be honest, Mark. Be honest.

I also think that he should resign. But not because he had an affair but because of the way he acted. He left the country for days without informing anybody about his whereabouts or transferring power to his Lt. Gov. in case of an emergency. Such behavior shows a high degree of disregard for his responsibilities and the people of SC. Mark Sanford proved himself as not being trustworthy and responsible.

You can't "refuse to leave office" if you've been impeached. Clinton was impeached by the House, but not by the Senate.

Kitty June 30th, 2009 4:19 pm ET
Let me see – democrats polled? LOL – Give me a break – President Clinton was not impeached! Duh!!!

--------------------------------

Uh, you might want to re-check your facts. President Bill Clinton was indeed impeached by the House of Representatives; However, he was not removed from office which can only come from the Senate.

To Lynn, I think you are confused. If you can read, you can see that most posters belief that Sanford should resign because of his disappearance from his job with no way to contact him, not because of his affair. Interestingly, you have named Democrats with relationship issues, but no republicans (of which there are manay examples current and future, i.e., Ensign, Vitter, Craig, Foley, Gingrich, Guliani, McCain, etc.). Also,I am aware that Jesse Jackson senior had an affair, but I am not aware of any such accusations related to Jesse Jackson, jr. Please get your facts straight on this.

Billie: Name one democrat that was tossed out for lying.

What about the debt he is leaving for my children?

Mark needs to be honest with his heart. He no longer loves his wife and his political career is over. The worst that could happen has happened. The best choice at this point is to his own self be true. It will only be a true love story if love wins.
His wife will be fine. Set her free to find love and joy in this world, Mark. It's over.

"He's term limited and can't run for re-election."

Talk about lazy writing. "Term limit" is a noun, not a verb. I'm certainly not perfect, but can't we expect more from a news source?

Hey "Kitty",
have you seen the video where Sanford, back in the Clinton scandal days,
said how Clinton should be out of office and how cheating was good reason enough for clinton to step down?

In my view its bad when anyone do it, but im open to the idea someone can still run even if he cheated.

*BUT*, if sanford said in the clinton days that the cheating, in his view, is good enough reason for clinton to step down – in his OWN view – what i see is someone who is hypocryte, and since this time it is him who has cheated, it shouldnt count.

So for me, he should step down, because in his own view, someone who cheats should step down.

If he cant even apply his own convictions consistently, then his convictions are just bullcrop. It just serves him when it serves him, and its out the window when it gets in his way.

Anyone else?

So glad that "Americans" think that Gov Sanford should resign, when really, its only "South Carolinian's" opinion who really matters. Stay out of my states affairs.

Sanford was not AWOL? He notified his team that he would taking time off and would be difficult to contact. Even as Governor you have the right to take time off. There are others appointed leaders in place and in Command during his absence.

The Man used taxpayers dollars to go on a personal trip. He left the peopleof SC without a leader, and had his staff lie about his whereabout......

If it were you or I that stole money from taxpayers, then left the state, and had other people lie about our location what do you think would happen to us?

When this story broke one of the bloggers mentioned this is just the tip of the iceburg........I think they were right.
How much more do you think will come out of this story, and how much do you think he is not going to tell us?

I just hope the people of SC can see through this guys facade and make him do what is best for the state.

Sanford is like a fish flapping around on the dock in the hot sun, clinging to a thread of life. Its all about him. Here is a guy who abandonded his wife and children to cop some nookie. And South Carolinians think he cares about them? What a chump. It will be great fun to watch him flap around for a few more months, before he falls, ungracefully, out of the limelight. I feel bad for his wife, who seems like a woman of character and substance, and his four children, who deserve much better. What a chump.

Resign. Don't resign. I don't care. South Carolinians can decide. As for those of us in the rest of the country, would I be out of line in saying to the governor "Please just shut up!' His Tuesday comments about his Argentinian lover being his "soulmate" however he assures us he's "trying to fall in love with his wife" were the last straw. If Mrs. Sanford has a a shred of dignity left and if she really cares most about her role i.e. role model to her sons, she'll read that besotted fool's self-absorbed drivel and hightail-it straight to her attorney's office! Better yet, in a fit of turn-the-other-cheek Christian largesse, stop by a local travel agency on the way and buy him a one-way ticket to Argentina! I'll bet the boys would applaud her courage.

The lack of leadership qualities that encourage sharing a positive vision are too apparent. Step down and do your state and your family a huge favor.

I just want him to shut up and go away! I'm sick of whiny apologies and holier-then-thou lectures about learning from him.

In the last presidential election, the Republicans ran:

John McCain, who had an adulterous affair
Rudy Giuliani, who had an adulterous affair
and Fred Thompson, who "had" to marry his wife

They look to Newt Gingrich who had an adulterous affair
and brag about Ronald Reagan who "had" to marry Nancy.

That is their idea of "family values".

Roofin Reality, Houston, Tx. June 30th, 2009 4:09 pm ET

Difference between the moral majority, whose members run on a stark platform of family values, and the other party?
Repubs – ZERO resignations.
Dems – two resignations.
Remind me – which party owns up to their failures?
--------------------------
Remind me – which party owns up to their failures. Answer neither party, just a few individuals! "Cold cash" Jefferson resign? I think not!
Bill Clinton resign? I think not!
"school bus" Nagin resign? I think not! I could go on and one. So, don't sound so cavalier, my friend! Neither party is better than the other! Both contain frauds, cheats, etc!

As a left leaning independant that has had it with the GOP and their religion fueled hypocracy... I want Sanford to stay in office as long as he can... everyday he is still in power, the more hypocritical the Republicans look to average Americans!

Sanford & Ensign hurt the GOP everyday they are in office and totally destroy their "family values" talking points!

These polls do matter, because they also show that most Americans have had it with the hypocracy and shamelessness of the party of "NO"!

David, like the GOP, You must be drinking that wine, and I mean the party of whine. Obama shouldn't resign. He is what is helping this country. You might want to stop drinking wine and stick to kool aid man. yeah bro

Well, good for America, too bad that it only matters what SC says.

AWOL people are fired anywhere else, even for just being one day absent, let alone five, like this SOB was. Why should this cynic and adulterer politician be treated differently? Is he irreplaceable and a genius? If not, he should be impeached and forced to resign, in case the prick decides to not quit by himself.

Kitty June 30th, 2009 4:19 pm ET

Let me see – democrats polled? LOL – Give me a break – President Clinton was not impeached! Duh!!!
_____________________________________________________

Actually Kitty, he was impeached. He just refused to leave office. DUH!!!

Sanford is just going to drag this out for his 18 months then move to Argentina with his tax paid pension. Resign, you idiot-now. What a lot of nerve to keep his state in this turmoil.

As a Rebublican from SC, I say he has to go...and soon.

Of course he should resign. Thinking people in our state of South Carolina know that. If he fails to resign, then there are other remedies that may be pursued in the legislature.

Gov. Sanford is incredibly delusional, even for a politician. I feel sorry for the citizens of South Carolina.

What I think you are missing is the real point...the governor is elected to serve the people of SC, NOT himself (or his mistress!) This is his JOB and if you or anyone else were to leave your job for 5 days without telling ANYONE where you were, you would most certainly be FIRED! If anyone needs to grow up, it is the governor. Such selfish and self-serving behavior (forget about the affair...that is truly between him and his wife), to be so irresponsible as to vanish from his JOB for any period of time, is inexcuseable.

The SC governor is simply your typical run-of-the-mill male chauvinist pig which he has proven without a doubt by his behavior, complete lack of morals, poor judgment, and his exceptionally high level of stupidity. Do us all a great favor and stop showing his pathetic face.

Did Clinton go to another CONTINENT for 5 days without telling his staff and lie about his whereabouts?

No.

Did Sanford?

Yes.

That's the issue. Not the cheating.

Get a clue Sanford apologists!

Sanford was not AWOL? He notified his team that he would taking time off and would be difficult to contact. Even as Governor you have the right to take time off. There are others appointed leaders in place and in Command during his absence.

This whole AWOL thing was made up.

OMG. Republicans! Why is this so hard to get through your heads? He's a hypocrite because he has all this time professed to be better than dirty democrats that mis-behaved and he's NOT! He's as filthy as any one of them. On top of it he lies about who he is! That's why he's worse! He should resign because he abandoned his post and stole taxpayer dollars to do it. What is so unclear about that?

The majority of Americans, especially those with a job, and have always paid taxes to support the slackers, feel Obama should resign as well.

Re: J.P.

The "stagflation" economy of the 1970s started under Nixon, continued through the Ford administration and landed in Carter's lap.

If the totality of the governor's actions are not reason enough for his title as governor to be relinguished, then the people of SC are some of the most tolerant, ignorant, or apathetic people in the world. Sanford has shown himself to be an adulterer, liar, hypocrite, and a derelict. Does a republican governor in SC have to kill someone to be removed from office?

Hey JP, it was preceded by a HELL of a long time of Republican majority screwing up the nation. It took the Democrat control to get it back in order. You can delusionally refute that all you want, but it's still true.

the conservatives preach at all times "MORALITY"...i am totally appalled with respect to the govenor's behaviour..family values is considered to be the most important issue at present in this country..a person in such a distinguished office should have the dignity...pride..integrity ...of leading a state with established values and sincerity..he should definitely resign and seek help!

The fact that he didn't want to spend Father's day with his sons speaks volumes!

What don't many of you people understand?! This is NOT about who's naughtier, Democrats or Republicans, or even about the fact that he cheated on his wife. While I personally think he's a slime for doing so and then giving an 18 minute repentant speech, I am much more concerned that he lies and continues to humiliate his wife and children, while spewing off about moral values AND left his office of Governor without advising either family or staff!! Is he so lovesick that he lost his mind?! This moronic behavior is hardly befitting a governor – or any other politician for that matter. It looks to me like they need to understand that there's no special dispensation for being a politician.

He definitely should resign. He's given the Republicans ANOTHER black eye!!!!!!!

Roofin Reality, Houston, Tx. – A couple more for your list –
Bob Livingstone – for something that had happened 25+ years ago – resigned
Bill Clinton – for something that had happened repeatedly for 25+ years – nothing

PJ June 30th, 2009 3:50 pm ET
Yeah, right! He's in line to resign right after Marion Barry (drugs), Barney Frank (prostitution), Ted Kennedy (manslaughter, drunk driving), Bill Clinton (perjury) and a host of other democrats. Gimme a break! What he did was stupid, and immoral; not illegal.
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The only votes or opinions that matter are of the people of SC. Not a CNN poll.

JP Good points! Clinton had an affair with a young intern and then lied in court... everyone knew about JFK and they both are lib heroes think about it?

Let me see – democrats polled? LOL – Give me a break – President Clinton was not impeached! Duh!!!

@Melissa June 30th, 2009 3:52 pm ET

Yes, he should resign. But he won't. Because he's a Republican. They think that so long as its THEM doing the nasty morally reprehensible things, including going AWOL, there's nothing wrong with it because all they have to say is that their god told them to do it
___________________

Get a clue, Melissa. We are still waiting for Jefferson to resign after a load of cash was found in his freezer. And Clinton never resigned either after lying to a grand jury in his own sexual harrassment case. This crosses party lines. Sanford should resign...not because he had an affair but because he was AWOL. If he doesn't it has nothing to do with his party affilliation. Of course, mean-spirited hate-mongering lefties see things differently I guess.

It is not about what President Clnton did. Mark Sanford was one who voted to impeach Pres. Clinton and thought he should resign.

Now that he has committed the same sin – he should follow his own advice and resign.

Remember he suggested the punishment.

I agree! He can no longer govern effectively. He has to deal with the consequences of his poor choices.

Actually, I think any politicians caught up in ANY scandal should resign. That would give us how many left in Congress? Maybe a dozen in each chamber? Something might actually get accomplished.

Ok, he was caught cheating on his wife. He left is sons alone on fathers day to play with the girlfriend. Then the apology and let move on speach. But now he just keeps getting caught with more lies. Every day a new story. This guy is not fit to represent SC. He needs to go.

I guess since Sanford's wife had kicked him out of the house. Sanford could sneak off and see his mistress without having to go home. But, he got caught because one person asked "Where's the governor?". If i worked for the govenor as an employee, I would have been asked to leave the same day.

Gee.. cannot believe so many idiots.. I don't care about his personal affairs. But he is the head of SC and disappeared for one week without telling anyone. Can you image if there was any emergency happened in SC during that week? He is a elected government public worker not a person in the private sector. He needs to follow SC constitution and law.

Jim June 30th, 2009 3:47 pm ET

The democrats are far worse than any Republican.

No commenter here can argue against that fact.

Yeah you probably right, but the hypocrisy and deceit of the Republicans which Americans loathe is simply unmatched!

Hey! Good news! Just found out the MN SC has given MN's Senate seat to Stewart Smalley, giving Democrats a 60-vote, filibuster proof majority.

Let us look back to the last time Democrats had a filibuster-proof majority, shall we? It was 1977-1979. Democrats controlled 62 seats, I believe. And the result?

Double-digit unemployment
Double-digit inflation
Double-digit interest rates over 20%
Highest tax rates in recent memory
Misery index
Malaise
Decimation of armed forces
One asinine economic policy decision after another

Folks, we have seen this movie before. And it does not end well. The fact we have flashier, slicker marketing and a better packaging of a handsome actor playing the role of Jimmy Carter does not mean this will turn out any differently.

It's pretty obvious by his lies, this man has NO business in politics or handling ANY money! Get that sleeze out of office!

I just love the fact that the republicans are coming to the defense of Sanford. If it was a democrat, they would consider this an outrage. Much like the TARP money they keep saying the Obama Administration requested, but they forget it was Bush's Administration who requested the money with a 3 page memo which had in it a clause saying they could not be sued. Republicans need to quit talking about of both sides of the faces.

He should step down, not because of the other woman but because he left his state high and dry!

It's not about the cheating.

It's about the bizarre behavior, the lying, the disappearing, the dereliction of duty and the abuse of taxpayer funds. Oh, and the hypocrisy of course. Now more lying. Sanford should resign.

Jim June 30th, 2009 3:47 pm ET

The democrats are far worse than any Republican.

No commenter here can argue against that fact.
------------
You alone prove your statement to be a fairy tale. With morons like you, republicans will always get atleast some votes. keep em stupid, and they vote Republican.

it's a sorry world where any election is overturned due to sexual misconduct. He's just a governor, not a high Preist and have to be Holy and blameless. Lighten up we are just human after all. Though it might make a bit of difference if he had not been so hard line on Clinton's dailiance.

Gov. Sandford offered to pay back to the State of South Carolina for a personal trip to visit his mistress in Buenos Aires. Why did he not do this on his own accord? if he had not been cought in the affair, he would not pay back the State. Why can a politician steal from the Government and not be fired immediately? How many more politicians do we have who steal from the Government? It is really true that there are no honest politicians left. If Sandford were a decent man, he would step down, but I guess he is not.

BTW, for my Moral majority party friends, over the last three years
Craig in Utah – no resignation
Ensign in Nevada – no resignation
Vitter in Louisiana – no resignation
Foley in Florida – no resignation, didn't run again
Sanford (so far) – no resignation
McGreevy in New Jersey – Resigned
Spitzer in New York – Resigned
Guy who took Foley's spot – no resignation, didn't run again

Difference between the moral majority, whose members run on a stark platform of family values, and the other party?
Repubs – ZERO resignations.
Dems – two resignations.

Remind me – which party owns up to their failures?

Probably the same people who thought it incomprehensible to go after Bill Clinton for his many affairs. Democrats! At least be consistent with your views. If it was OK for the President of the United States to carry on affairs inside the White House with an intern and it be "none of our business" then why is it your business that a governor is having an affair with someone?
I said Clinton should have resigned and I think this guy should also. At least I'm consistent.

PJ June 30th, 2009 3:50 pm ET

Yeah, right! He's in line to resign right after Marion Barry (drugs), Barney Frank (prostitution), Ted Kennedy (manslaughter, drunk driving), Bill Clinton (perjury) and a host of other democrats. Gimme a break! What he did was stupid, and immoral; not illegal.
----------------------
There are laws on the books of South Carolina that specifically prohibit Adultery. as such, Yes, he DID break laws if he committed Adultery and is a resident of South Carolina. You would think the GOVERNOR, of all people, would be held to obide by STATE laws. Or since it's a republican do you think it's suddently ok to break the law?

Adultery? Who cares, non-issue. MIA for 5 days and using state money? Big issue. I think the "resign" numbers would be even higher if the poll concentrated on the REAL issue here.

He needs to stay CNN, bring the mistress up from Argentina, move into the Governors' mansion and continue to lie like a rug.

Of COURSE he should resign, and he did break the law by using taxpayer dollars to pay for his romp in the hay with Maria.

Also, for the record, I'm a Dem and did NOT support Clinton and never will–any of them.

Yes, this is between sanford and his State. He abandoned his job, left no notice to anyone on how he could be reach in an emergency. Did not pass the reins to his Lt. Gov as I am sure it is stated in the State Constitution. He could have just been sleeping by the river or on a retreat, he did not take vacation time, sick time no, just took off from his job.

I can't do that, you can't do that. Why can he?

First he lies about the affair–both to the People and to his wife; then says he wants to work on his marriage–another lie since it was only after flying back with his nearly week-long fling; then he lies about how often he's been out there.

The people of the United States can respect a man who makes a mistake and owns up to it. It is American tradition to see people who have fallen get back up with our full support–but America does not tolerate liars. He should step down, because I cannot look at the man without wondering what other lies he has not yet decided to disclose.

George I think the republiucans have a right to pout i mean isn't that what the democrats did the entire time Bush was in Office pout about the Supreme Court rejecting their coutless lawsuits while trying to get Gore in the Office instead.

Lie and cover up? Yeah, Bill Clinton never did anything like that. Of course he was only President, not the governor of South Carolina. Certainly Sanford held more sway of matters of importance than Clinton. Polls say he should resign. Well, how many of those polled were geniuses that voted for Obama. Yep, the Obama Barometer of intellect. Only slightly lower than certain fire fighters scores in New England.

Hang in there, Mark.

Each day your sordid affair reads like a chapter in a sex novel.

This is cheaper than buying a book at Borders, but just as fascinating.

Don't give up just yet, buddy.

After reading the comments, it is apparent that most of you believe the world will come apart if someone isn't in charge. My God people grow up!

I live in SC and I could care less where the Governor is. You see I, unlike most of you commenter’s here, do not need someone holding my hand. I can take care of myself. The Governor is not there to make sure everything will be safe. That would be impossible.

As for the affair. That is between him and his wife.

Should he resign? That is up to us in South Carolina.

The rest of you. MIND YOUR OWN BUISNESS!!!!

this guy is a right wing christian. WOWITS A NO BRANER.but thats up to the people that elected this scum bag.dont hear from boener or mitch mconell .whats up guys.are you next

Yet again at the risk of sounding like a broken record... Republicans, the problem is not the cheating, its the going AWOL, and the using his destitute states funds to do it after claiming to be a fundamentalist Christian superiority complex.

He should NOT resign! if he does, Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer will succeed him and receive an unfair advantage going into the next year's election, where multiple candidates have already lined up. I'm sure the poll didn't factor this in and most respondents where ignorant of the political reality in South Carolina, probably because CNN was too busy reporting on the death of Michael Jackson.

The difference between Bill Clinton and Mark Sandford is that Bill NEVER claimed to be "Holier-than-thou." What both did was reprehensible but Bill was not hypocritcal about his morals.

What kind of man would rather spend Father's Day with his mistress than his four sons?

cnn needs to resign from the media,tell bill bennett and lou dobbs, john king,they are a disgrace just like gov. sanford.lou dobbs is a cancer to your so called news network,like sanford is a cancer to south carolina,john king is a crusader for the gop, like sanford is a crusader of lies, and bill bennett salutes the confederate flag in south carolina,cnn we just got al franken to the senate seat and 60 looks better than 59 and will soon have a victory in south carolina in 2012, sanford made that happen, and tell linseed graham pack his bags 2 he is next to go, get in line.

Hello Mr. "Sandman" How many times did you drop your pants for this woman? By the way, don't answer that question.

You need to answer to the people of SC for absconding all those days and not letting anyone know you were AOL.

Did you pay for those trips out of pocket, or were paid for by the tax payers? Answer: partly by tax payers; you used a State vehicle for your little hide and go seek!

You are a bad boy Mr. "Sandman"

What a waste! Enough of the false tears. He should resign or be impeached. As time goes on, I am sure more and more will be revealed. He can't keep hs lies straight

Mark Sanford is not the first one to make a mystake, and he will not be the last one. Well President Clinton came out smelling like a rose so why is Mark Sanford any different. He has ask forgiveness and God has forgiven him and please let go. I say we keep him as our Governer of SC. Pray for him and his family.

P.J. You sound jealous! They all do it. Dems and Republicans. Say it.
"they all do it". Now move on, help get us going in the right direction.
No one party can do that. It takes both.

Perhaps he should. BUT only for one of these reasons.
1) he said Clinton should resign
2) he left the state of South Carolina without an official leader when he snuck off to climb his Argentenian Tail

The fact that he had an affair shouldn't make him resign. Unless, of course, he ran on a strong moral platform and is now a self-absorbed hypocrite.

Otherwise, he should remain and then go off to oblivion once his time is up.

I guess we know how Sanford will spend the fourth of July - by himself, lighting off "argentine firecrackers" (in his memory). Sad.

@JJ

Stop lying, there is no EPA report. It is a an opinion written by a right wing EPA economist with no training in science. You'd know that if you weren't just continously parroting wingtard talking points.

Hmmm lets see, Jefferson is found with thousands in his freezer and didnt resign, Rangel is a tax cheat and didnt resign, Geitner – tax cheat didnt resign, Pelosi lied to America about her knowledge of enhanced interrogations – didnt resign, Edwards has an affair and fathers a child while running for POTUS, barely covered, Obama smoked pot, snorted coke, pals with a domestic terrorist and a anti-semetic black power reverend and becomes POTUS, Murtha calls our troops murderers and has very suspicious ties to payback scandals and directs millions to the John Murtha airport that is barely used – doesnt resign yet libs want to crucify Sanform. What hypocrites.

Its funny now he's coming clean about other women he's meet too..I'm sure its just going to get worse before it gets better. Politicians love that power.

Steve-Michigan

Add Mark Sanford's name to the long list of Republican hypocrites that complained about Bill Clinton's affair and yet had their own extra-marital affairs:

Newt Gingrich (GA-Rep,Speaker of the House)
Larry Craig (ID-Sen),
Tom Delay (TX-Rep, Majority Leader),
Henry Hyde (IL-Rep, House Judiciary Chairman),
John Ensign (NV-Rep),
Robert Livingston (LA-Rep)
Rudy Giuliani (mayor of New York city),
John McCain (AZ-Sen),
David Vitter (LA-Sen)

So much for the "family values"/"moral majority" party.

stupid Americans..if he is doing a good job as governor, who cares about his personal life? Plus, SC people should decide.. not all Americans

This should be a lesson to all Americans that the preoccupation with sex scandals is no more than lazy journalism at its worst. While a member of Congress, Sanford was among those looking for Bill Clinton's head.

Then we learned about Henry Hyde, Livingston and a host of others who had unremarkable dalliances along the way, and of course, now here's Sanford a week after Sen. Ensign.

These relationships are simply none of our business. What do you think America's 50%+ divorce is all about after all? It's about this.

People should mind their own business, which is frequently at least as sordid, and stick to the real measure that should concern us: Are they doing their job?

Nine times out of ten, the answer is YES. So get out of the gutter, people, and pay attention to something that counts.

Its time to pack bags/go on a fishing trip/check on the farm
get away from the wolfs following you.

The guy was basically living in his governor's SUV since his wife (rightfully) threw him out of the house.

He's not a governor, he's a laughingstock.

I completely agree with Jim from Mateo. He should be punished for not coming to work after five days and not informing his staff of his whereabout not his affair. That situation is between Governor Sanford and his wife.

His wife should leave him and become the new Bachelorette on ABC.

Well the pollsters didn't ask ME!! And I say he should resign!

I really don't understand what is so complicated about this... The governor should resign... The thought of leaving your family on Father's Day, the great state of SC without a leader, committing adultery with little remorse, is reason enough to prove these past few months have been too much for this guy... Not leader material AT ALL.... Sorry Mark, you had me believin'....

According to his interview with AP he admits he has been tempted many times, by many women, on many overseas trips. Please – would he just shut up... we don't care... and he keeps making himself look foolish. Why would we believe that you only had one affair if you traveled several times out of the country to meet women? Why would his wife take him back if he keeps admitting to be tempted by many woman? Why...why...why and who cares????

Ah yes we have the right wing apologists who point at Clinton or some other Dem and screech "They did it too!" So that absolves them of any accountability.

Look here wingtards if you grabbed your pitchfork and torches when it was a Dem, but won't do the same when one of your own does it, what does that make you?

Give up?

It makes you a hypocrite.

Why is the whole nation being polled about South Carolina's dopey governor?

Actually, I say please, Mark, stay. Let's see your whole Jesus dog and pony show unfold. You know you can do it! A full scale state wide tent revival, maybe. Handle some snakes. Get a message from God regarding your ability to lead the state from darkness. Defend traditional marriage. Stone some witches, maybe even some of those who tempted you into their beds of sin! Get the whole religious circus going. I want to see it.

Oh would he please go away. Go back to South America and when you're broke, your jump off will send you back with your tail between your legs. CNN, can we get some new news up in here please? I'm begging! If I hear one more story on this loser I will puke!

Why are they polling people that do NOT live in SC. This is a SC issue, not a National Issue. People who do not live in the state of SC stay out of our business.
I live in the GREAT state of South Carolina. I was not polled! Who ever designs these polls, should ask the people of SC!

Robin, the hate-filled conservatives want him as president. I'm in the middle, as usual, with most of America: As soon as he quits and becomes a private citizen, we may apply the old reliable rubric of "Let he who is without sin among you throw the first stone(That would be me, but I'm also not interested in getting him stoned)." While he's governor, though, he can be treated the way you hate-filled, way-out, unChristian, wife-beating conservatives treat our president, namely call him every name in the book and if he denies anything he's a dirty liar. Fly south, Robin, and build a nest.
Matthew/Detroit, I'm guessing you voted for Sarah Palin, right? I'd like to see a picture of Obama ramming his cap down your throat, and I bet half the people on this page agree. Stay on topic, fool.

While I am a Democrat, i don't think Sanford should have to quit over the affair. If, and only if, it's discovered that he mis-used state funds or abused his power in some way, then he should consider resigning.

With that said, leaving the country and not telling anyone about it is a serious charge, and he should be censured for it, and perhaps fined. He should'nt just be able to walk away from it scot free...

Sanford needs to ounderstand that the resignation issue is NOT about sex, or God. It is about the fact that he abandoned his duties as an elected officer of the state of South Carolina. The fact that he does not understand the seriousness of this issue, and confuses it with his religious beliefs, is all the more reason for him to resign, or be impeached.

This scumbag would not have admitted a thing had he not been caught with his pants down.

YES Mr. Sanford should step down, not for being a lieing cheating husband, but because he is the governor and left his state without telling anyone. I'm sure the good state of South Carolina could find someone who is looking out for the poeple of South Carolina, instead of Mark Sanford who is "all" about himself...

Wow, I wish these same two faced hypocrites would have felt the same when Billy Boy did worse and wagged his finger at everyone saying he did not do the Lewinsky.
Liberals, showing once again whats okay for you is not okay for me.

Re: Enough (and others)

If you think CNN spends their time making up fake nation-wide polls about what a southern governor should or should not do, why do you even come here for your news?

Shouldn't you be foaming at the mouth over at Fox News or Free Republic with the rest of the paranoid crazies?

Just another Republican hiding behind his own lies ...

The Party Of NO ... truth

The Party Of NO ... morals

The Party Of NO ... help for the American people

"Sanford told The Associated Press he had met with Maria Belen Chapur seven times, including five visits in the past 12 months".

He should get a refund from that spiritual adivser (witch doctor?) who tagged along on one of the dates. Doesn't he know that seven is not always a lucky number? The hocus pocus did not work.

I think that Gov. Sanford, should step down, and go off somewhere and work on his marriage. Every time he opens his mouth, he puts his foot in it, I think he has not told the whole story yet, if he keeps talking, he will tell off on his self again, if I was his wife, I would divorce him, he made the statement that he would try and love her again, I would tell him to try and get over his self, I think he is in love with his self, more than anyone else. I don't think this wife of his is going to put up with much more of his crap, she is not like the rest of these women, who find themselves in this kind of mess, he is more worried about his self than anyone else. I feel bad for his children, thinking that they have such a father, that would leave them on fathers day, and had rather be with his girlfriend, that his family. WOW what a dad!!!!!!!!!!!

He really thinks that he can outsmart his constituents and talk his way out of the mess that he has created for his selfish self. He abandoned his state, cheated on his wife, lied to everybody and said that he "apologizes," not "I'm sorry." This man has bigtime issues and should not be head of his state's government.

bill cllinton didnt campaign to protect marriage. his main focus wasnt to talk about the sanctity of marriage while cheating on his wife. he didnt take plane trips to south america on taxpayer dollars and time.

Sanford should be fired – as Bill Clinton should have been fired, as should Barney Frank be fired, as should Nancy Pelosi be fired. As should 95% of all our elected members of federal government (along with all their appointees). Almighty God will judge this nation based on our leaders. I am fearful for the United States of America.

Get a clue, Mr. Sanford. Maybe you quit and run for office in Argentina.

Yes, he should resign. But he won't. Because he's a Republican. They think that so long as its THEM doing the nasty morally reprehensible things, including going AWOL, there's nothing wrong with it because all they have to say is that their god told them to do it.

When is this guy going to shut up? Does he think he's going to absolve himself by admitting all the lurid details of his extramarital love life? How embarassing for his wife and children. I think she should dump him on the curb. It's bad enough that he engaged in that type of behavior without acting like a total idiot by pulling that vanishing act, and then blabbing about it ad nauseum when he got caught. SHUT UP SANFORD!!!

MatthewDetriot wouldn't know socialism if his grandmother hit him in the head with her social security check. Or if he checked out an Ayn Rand book from a public library.

But please keep tossing your vective, it just shows you're that nothing but bloviating idiot.

Yeah, right! He's in line to resign right after Marion Barry (drugs), Barney Frank (prostitution), Ted Kennedy (manslaughter, drunk driving), Bill Clinton (perjury) and a host of other democrats. Gimme a break! What he did was stupid, and immoral; not illegal.

Who cares!!??? That is his decision!! Maybe America should concentrate on doing better also. We have a huge opportunity in front of us, but we choose to fight, throw stones, and pout like the republicans have been doing. How about for once, everyone in Washington, think about the country they say they so dearly love.
Quit fighting, start working for the good of our country. You people can
make HISTORY, not just news. Now President Obama, take the bull by the horns and insist that it doesn't turn around, because America is sick of getting the other end of the bull.

Yes he should step down. although the LT Gov may be as bad. He had said prevously that if Sanford did step down and he had to take hi place he would not run in the next election but now he is saying he is. It seems already he is lying. Perhaps he has a hidden agenda as well.

Hey CCN, where is the story on the cover up of the EPA report debunking this myth of global warming ? ?? ?

Stop the stories of Sanford..enough already (who cares!)!!!!

The democrats are far worse than any Republican.

No commenter here can argue against that fact.

Clinton got away with it...numerous times. Why is he different???

I think he should do the best job he possibly can for the people of his state (and not resign). Let Democracy take care of his fate at the end of his term.

Since when is falling in love a reason to resign? Ensign, Gingrich and Vitter had filthy affairs and they are adored by the hypocritical Repuglican establishment.

Yes, Mark Sanford lied; yes he committed adultery; and yes, his actions went against much of what he and the party to which he belongs preaches. But why should he resign, any more than President Bill Clinton should have resigned 11 years ago for doing many of the same things? In both cases, I believe resignation was/is not the best course of action. Let Mr. Sanford continue stewing in the public spotlight, in shame and humiliation, for a while longer... at least until South Carolina's voters have the opportunity to pass judgment on him.

Oh, I think he should stay. The longer we can rub the Republicans' noses in their utter hypocricy, the more I enjoy it.

He should resign now to continue his relationship with his mistress which should be obvious to anyone those are his plans now and later.

jo June 30th, 2009 3:21 pm ET

No body perfect

Jo, I have to agree ... you are far from perfect.

If you leave w/o notice for FIVE DAYS at ANY other job, you'd be fired. Well, technically you'd be fired for being M.I.A. after just two days. Sanford has got to go.

the man abandoned his job, without notice, can (Sam Bob) most criminals repay monies without penalty, no, abuse of funds, while rejecting stimulus funds, he should be impeached, and tried

Sanford to Argintina sounds good. If he wants to be with her he should leave and try yo be a Mayor of a small town. This is all he is qualified for anyway. You never leave a state that you (govern) un-attended. If I did that at work I would be fired..........

While no one needs to care about Sanford's marital issues they do require his total and complete accountability as the chief elected officer of his state. Sanford violated a most simple and a most important responsibility when he walked away from his responsibilities as Governor without informing anyone of his whereabouts.

That is the one standard on which he should be judged and the only reason why he should immediately tender his resignation as governor of South Carolina.

Re grin and Bare it..Do you need some lube to put around your arse while getting plowed by another Republican or do you prefer it raw and hard like you did in prison?

He needs to resign ASAP!!!

The People ion South Carolina should decide, certainly not a National Poll of random CNN viewers.

Governor Mark Sanford is the governor of the state of South Carolina. It is NOT up to the rest of the people of the United States to call for his resignation. Gov. Sanford serves the will of the people of South Carolina and is therefore NOT a federal employee subject to the will of the people of the U.S.

Former President Clinton should have been asked to resign or should have been impeached for his indiscretion while serving as president of the U.S. Even though the circumstances were very similar – except that Gov. Sanford didn't do his "dallying" in his office and home – Clinton was allowed to continue in office, unimpeded by national public opinion.

Oh, and of course, Mary Jo Kopechne was dead but, of course, Ted, a Kennedy, of course, was never charged with anything?

Sanford has not come near this kind of 'sick' behavior.

Let him finish out the term; after all, isn't that what we'd do with Ted?

Why should he resign? Has everybody forgot about what President Clinton did? Or is it OK for him to do it and not a GOP member?

What a scumbag,down banging some bimbo,and not with his kids on fathers day.I feel sorry for his wife,but she should also give him the boot

This pathetic pathological liar needs to resign immediately and begin working through his King David complex with his "spiritual advisor". What an azz!

Get thee out!!!
The more he lies, the worse he looks...

This "scandal" about Governor Sanford is one of the most absolutely boring events in recent history. He puts me to sleep with his rambling "apologies". Keep up the good work Republicans...electing dorks like Sanford is great for the Democratic party.

Quitting would be right and decent thing to do, but since when have you associated those traits with the GOP?!

Why should Sanford quit, Bill Clinton didn't.

Why does this affair affect his position? People have affairs every single day. Do they get fired from their jobs? Are you all forgetting BILL CLINTON? He was the PRESIDENT and LIED about his affair. Should we punish someone for actually telling the truth?

NO He SHOULDNT!!!! For all we know his wife mustve driven him off to the extremes he went to get love and affection

He should Divorce her and Move on!

But if Stanford resigns, who will be left to "protect marriage." Oh, that's right, Sen. Ensign.

Gotta' love these guys and their "values."

Without a doubt.....he should be gone

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, Sanford should resign? What about Clinton who slept with/had affairs with numerous women? What about JFK who had affairs with numerous women including Marilyn Monroe, what about Robert Kennedy who slept and had affairs with numerous women? And last but now least, what about Ted Kennedy, so loved and admired, whose car went off a bridge with Mary Jo Kopechne in it, walked to his home, slept through the night, then called the police the next morning. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm. All hypocrites! Oh, and Jesse Jackson Junior.

By-by Mark, you have lied your wife for seven years, maybe more, we don't know, you can not tell the whole story without leaving something out. You are a liar, and a cheat. Get out of town

Dan, Hilton Heqad Island, sc

if responders feel Sanford should resign, so then should Ted Kennedy resign; Bill Clinton should have been thrown out of the white house on his butt; Jesse Jackson should loose his ministry; etc.
You get where I'm going with this?

Who cares what the guy does with his PERSONAL life.
I sure as hell don't and all you hypocrites who think you are any better than he is need to go look in the mirror.

If he did not break any state or federal laws, the ultimate problem is between himself and his family, just like President Clinton's problem was between Hillary and Chelsey. What voters think or want should be expressed in the next Governor election, which is not of any relevance because Sanford cannot be reelected.

The Adulterer Left his job with a no call no show policy. Anyone one of us who left their job for 5days and didn't call would lose their job.

Obviously he should not resign based on the affair. Being derelict in duty is another matter entirely.

I want his resignation on the Lt. Governor's desk by the end of the day.

Let him stay! It only helps the Demodrats and the left.

Why is somebody like Pat Robertson so queit about this ???

When is Sanford going to apologize to Bill Clinton for dogging him for the same mistake?

typical GOP hypocrisy!!!

South Carolina needs to make that call. I think Obama should resign,but that's may opinon.

Now it makes sense why he did not want to accept the stimulus money. He was getting his own stimulus in Argentina.

@ Dave June 30th, 2009 2:23 pm ET

Does it matter what "Americans" want? No, it only matters about South Carolina. If these polls actually meant something, then we wouldn't passed the Stimulus, the Cap & Trade (in the house), the Tarps or be pursuing socialized medicine….
______________________________________________________

It absolutely matters what "Americans" want. We had the biggest poll of all of them last November. This IS what most Americans want. I couldn't care less what happens in SC in general. I mean I feel for the people there having to suffer this fool for a single minute longer, but if they are willing to put up with him, then I can't do a thing. It seems like a great deal of them want to see him resign, and he should, because it is the will of the people. If he wants to maintain any dignity at all, then he would abide by that.

Soal Mate? While he walks over his family in his jack-boots..

He now say's he has had 6 "daliances" (or however you spell it) with other women. I would say that those 6 other women at least were spared having their lives ruined by this egomaniac. He not only needs to resign, he needs a long, cold shower and a good dose of humility. He should be recalled from office as soon as possible.

Mark, as a republican, please resign, be quiet and go away. you are an embarrasement.

Word is, Sanford had involvement with other women, the Republican sleaze bucket seems to be very deep.

TCM and MathewDetroit are the same person, a paid Republican operative. CNN affords this individual much more access to the ticker to spread Republican lies and disinformation.

I wonder how Mathew/TCM is going to spin Sanford's abandoning his state for several days, using state money to pay for a mistress, etc.

Governer Sanford crashed in burned in a field of panti...s. He did not want to be rescused except of course by the all the ladies. It's hard to resist temptation, right Governor?

why is that such a news flash ,south caro is thru with him the most ,the fool of stimulus and commander and cheat,that is why what he said about bill clinton,is coming to bite him in his argentina tail.

WHAT HE SHOULD BE DOING is shaking his finger at the camera and saying "I did not have sex with that woman, Maria Chapur" then he'd get a free ride to the end of his term.

I think the public should separate the extra marital affair from the governor's dereliction of duty. What he does with the Argentine woman is his private affair. What he uses state money for is another issue (remember Gov Spitzer?). He He also didn't care about his office and for that reason he should be kicked out (if he doesn't want to resign).

If this guy is GOP yes!!!! get out you dirty, dishonest GOP!!! GOP IS DONE!!!!

It's time to step down – the guy is becoming an embarrassment.

No body perfect

It doesn't matter what the American people want. It's up to the people of South Carolina. What a stupid poll.

I wonder why it was so important for Governor Sanford to be with his mistress on Fathers Day??

Another CNN poll. The same polls that say Obama is doing a great job?? Consider the source!

Sneaky Sanford, where'd he go? Took state money had to blow, out of country with his ho!

Stay or go either way is win-win for dems, and he brought this upon himself by CHAMPIONING MORALITY while cheating on his wife, and then asking her if he could continue to see her, talk about IMMORAL.

He should not resign because of his affair. He should resign for lying and decieving his staff and constituents and his derilection of his duties as Governor.

Make me one of them...and I am from SC. Sanford is a disgrace and even before this a sorry Governor. The State Paper today said Sanford should stay...excuse me...but this from the same paper that kept his affair under wraps for 6 months. We in SC know what side thois paper is on and its not the people.

I don't care if he was in Argentina going to church, you don't abandon your job for 5 days! if you are a governor of a state people need to be able to get a hold of you in case there is an emergency.

Step down; your career is over. Your boys think of you as The Antichrist, and your wife is going to take every cent you have. You are making South Carolinians look like rubes, and even giving Argentina a bad name.

Do I have to draw you a picture? OK, this is you, right? And this is South Carolina, right? And this is your job, right, the big carrot-shaped thing. Now, imagine South Carolina were to take your job and shove it, right up your- oh, you get the picture? Resign soon, dimwit, and go off to be with your One True Love.

let's see..Sanford was screwing over his wife and Obama is screwing over America....I want BOZO to resign.

He should resign, immediately. And not because of the affair, though my heart goes out to his wife and kids because of the publicity it's getting. He should resign because he's unfit to serve. He left his state in a lurch for 5 days, all on the taxpayers' dime. The selfishness of his actions is astounding. Then there's the self-righteousness, which I won't even get into. Come on South Carolinians, neighbors, you know you deserve way better than this.

All I see is...Well, what about Bill Clinton?
I'll say the same thing about Sanford I said about Clinton regarding the marriage: it's between him, his wife, and her frying pan.

If Sanford used taxpayer money, if he was derelict in his duty by abandoing his post, then he should resign. Not because he had an affair. That should be up to his wife to punish him.

I don't care about his extra-marital affair. That's between him & his wife. I think he should resign because he abandoned his job for his own selfish interest. He obviously didn't care enough about the people of SC (or his job) to stay at his post. What would happen if other SC state employees were to decide to disappear for 5 days? I guarantee that they wouldn't have the option of resigning. They would surely be fired for job abandonment. Why should Sanford be any different? He could have taken a leave of absence to deal with his issues. Instead he CHOSE to sneak off and lie about it like a child getting caught skipping school!
He gets no points for "standing up like a man and admitting his mistake."
GARBAGE! He did it because he got caught, period!
He has shown himself:
1) to lack moral character
2) to lack commitment to his constituents
3) to disregard the needs of his staff
4) to show extremely poor judgment

And that's why he should resign.

Resign, resign resign and to the mistress tell her why is she upset?
Did she not expect this to happen when she decided to become involved with a man she new was married. Tell her not to "leave it to God" like she saids. I do not think God needs to be involved in this he has more important things to take care of then this affair.

Yes , he needs to resign , along with his bad memory and not being truthful ....makes a mockery of the moral "minority" and family values that a repub is suppose to possess, shows the GOP up for the hypocrital party they are.
I'll take Mr Obama and his date nights , his love for his daughters and family , and his obvious cool and calm over this GOP mess that just keeps getting worse. They just do not practice what they preach , do not do as I do , do as I say is just crap!

He should resign, specially people from the south, preaching good family values, and what about the expending money from our Taxes, and lack of responsibility in his duties as a governor. nobody has the power to decide who is IN and who is OUT, but the people of this country, not the elite of corruption and manipulative in government.

He lied the first time around, he had more encounters with his Argentinian mistress and also was with other women, so not only did he cheat on his wife, he cheat on his mistress who he said he loved more than anything. This guy is a joke, and he is making South Carolina look real bad in the eyes of America.

As a resident of South Carolina, two points need to be made:

1) What the "majority of Americans" think is irrelevant. He's the governor of South Carolina, not America. He is *OUR* business, and whether he steps down as governor of SC or not is none of *YOUR* business if you don't live here.

2) As for whether or not I feel he should step down (because, being a SC resident, I have a say), he should step down or be impeached. And I say that as a one who generally liked Sanford and agreed with him about 85% of the time.

CNN stop 'moderating' my posts!!!

To all those who says that 'This is not news' or 'This is old news, move on CNN' or 'what else could be expected from such a biased source like CNN?'...
Sorry... but Sanford was really vocal against everything that the current president did, no matter what it was, so he became sort of a poster boy for the GOP.
He put himself in the spotlight.
Then, or better, since forever he has posed as the Moral Values incarnated in human flesh. He even went to the lenghts to say that if he ever found himslef in the same spot of Bill Clinton (i.e. he had become an alduterer), he would resign. He said it.
Now that he was found in the same spot of former president Clinton, and only because he abandoned his post as the governor of a state to be with his mistress, he wants to use the classic line from that Genesis song 'Just do as I say, don't do as I do'? He is appealling to the same Christian values of forgiveness that he never professed before?
HYPOCRIT.
Caught on the spot and while still a major player in the Southern and National political stage.
That's why it is news...

He won't step down. He is too busy thinking of himself.

If he were a real man, he would step down and focus on repairing his relationship with his family. I still can't get over the fact that he was in Argentina with his mistress on Father's Day! Really, what kind of creep does that?

Boy, CNN is pushing this story big time. I wonder why they didn't push the John Edwards trist more.

Who cares about this stuff? Let's do a report on 9/11, or the federal reserve, or WMD, or torture. You know, important things

I'd say most of those who want him to stay are connected to his opponents – inside the Republican Partayyy or the Democrats. Clearly whoever he worships isn't giving him any insight into how ridiculous he now is. Maybe Buddhism would help him a bit more.

I don't know what America and Americans coming to. We don't have moral value and morality any more. In the name of forget and forgive we want to forget and forgive specially those who talk about value more than other. When: Money is lost, nothing is lost
When: Health is lost something is lost
when: Character is lost everything is lost

Mr. Sanford should resign immediately.

It's no really up to the entire country, so why waste time taking a poll?

Did his "spiritual advisor" share the bed with them in Argentina?

Once again CNN refuses to publish polling data....Funny how more republicans want him to resign...how many fake votes did you have to add for that one?

HAHAHA..!!!!

CNN only allows 8 posts about Obama's leadership....CENSORSHIP!

And yet, Sanford's numbers are still better than Obama's! Keep trying CNN, I'm sure that if you cannot fully discredit any conservative through smut smearing, Huffington will help!

He should have resigned a long time ago.

Just heard on TV his comments about his affair and disappearance. So he went AWOL to visit his soul mate and now he is TRYING to fall back in love with his wife! Were I she, I would tell him to stick it... the more I hear about this man and his situation the more I think he should step down or be pushed down! He does not have the good sence to govern. His private life is over the edge... sounds like a computer romance gone wild! We should expect more from our political officials. He needs to take off to his soul mate and let himself become history here. I am sure he could find some meaningful employment down there with his experience.... *grin and snicker*

I personally don't care about his affairs. What matters is that he went AWOL for five days. You do that in the military you get disciplined. You do that in the private sector and it's called voluntary termination, and that's after 3 days.

He has no need to worry... God is telling him what to do. If God wants him to stay on as Governor, he shall be Governor.

In 2012 he will be President, with Sister Sarah Palin as his VP.

Sound crazy? It is! This is the view of ridiculous religious right. They still praise God for George W Bush!

Agreed. Sanford should do the honorable thing and step down.

It doesn't really matter what a national poll thinks should be done. It's ultimately up to the people of South Carolina. CNN should have asked the people of the state instead of people all over the USA.

[...] Polls show a majority of Americans say he should resign.  Fellow conservatives want him to quit.   The state attorney general is gonna review his travel records.  And his wronged wife is setting new standards for the jilted political spouse. [...]

Jenny Sanford deserves SO MUCH MORE!! She is a class act, he is a typical politician who can't tell the truth!

If Mark Sanford stays governor this will be very hypocritical because it will send a message that you can be agovernor or an elective official and do whatever but if you are an an ordinary person thats a different story if you have a job and stays gone 4or 5 days without showing up or calling you will be jobless. So what makes the governor any different.

He went MIA for 5 days, leaving his state and office without telling his staff how he could be reached.

Does that constitute violating an oath or condition of office?

Mark Sanford, resign already!!!!!

I am not a Republican, and I do not support many of the Republican reps in office at all levels, and I surely disagree with neo-cons and conservatives BUT, this man, even though I don't agree with his policy stands, SHOULD NOT RESIGN FROM OFFICE. His personal failures have as much to do on how he does his job as a credit check does for someone about to work with something that has nothing to do with finances.

This is stupid. I expect to read about politics here not Access Hollywood tabloid matters with politicians.

One person said it best, debating the "morality" matter for any politician is like spitting into the wind, everyone's going to get spat on at some point.

As far as his hypocricy when dealing with his oppinions on Clinton for the same failure, well if he resigns for that, then that's a different story.

Polls don't make a president or a governor. I hope he doesn't take the easy way out and resign. Having been to SC many times, he is the perfect person to run the state. And besides, this just gets more entertaining everyday.

When did politicians start worrying about what Americans think?

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford should stay in office. Because adultery do not indicates that a person ( he or she) does or does not have the integrity to hold high public office, more like a family or personal thing.Governor Sanford has admitted to a year long extramarital affair with a woman from Argentina. Next time get someone closer to home. Argentina! well isn't like going out for a beer or a night out on the town/club to get away for a while.

Sigh. It's time to resign, if nothing else, to allow the republican party to try and overcome its hypocritical image of preaching "family values" and such. Not that it'll do any good.

I personally think we need to stop demanding our politicans be infallible, but if meaningless sex with a hooker means Spitzer has to resign, having an actual affair certainly means Sanford should.

He should probably resign however we did not ask President Clinton to resign when he had an affair and sexually harassed a government employee then lied under oath about it so why would we expect Sanford to?

Governor Sanford disappeared from his state and no one knew where he was. Even if he had simply been hiking the Appalachains as originally reported, it would have been a dereliction of his duties. His rational for staying in office seems to be his way of keeping himself on the straight and narrow. The people of the state of South Carolina do not owe him that opportunity. He owes his state his service. The affair itself is a matter between the Governor and his family with the financial aspect being the exception.

Let Sanford stay.
His marriage problems do not affect his ability to enforce lousy GOP policy.

You don't have to belong to one party or the other to know a rat when you see one.

It would appear that conservatism does not work for the state South Carolina, one of the poorest states in this country and third in unemployment. It would appear that some conservatives are going against their religious beliefs in allowing Sanford to remain in office. When scandal involves the Republicans, they will do all in their power to justify it. I call it forked tongue. Sanford himself is trying to justify his own mistake by making a half witted comment about God opening new doors. Forget it Sanford, you have disgraced the governorship of South Carolina. It is time for you leave office either on your own, or suffer the course of impeachment. I have no pity on politicians who continually serve themselves in the name of the people they were elected to serve.

The Almighty will see to a complete purge in the leadership of South Carolina. This governor was weakened beyond help so that there could be a dawning of a new day in this poor state. "Thy will be done!"

It doesn't really matter what a national poll says. What do the people of South Carolina think he should do? If you can't report relevent data, why bother reporting at all? Oh, I forgot, it's not about news, it's about scandal and ratings!

That lying "crow" should resign. -He look worst that Rudy did when he was hold up in Florida looking a chipmunk during the 2008 election!

Make up your minds America (and the GOP). If marriage is such a "sacred" covenant between a man and a woman .... WALK THE WALK. Otherwise shut up, screw around, and let everyone else do their thing.

Kick him to the curb, and I am Republican.

He cheated on his wife, disgraced her and his family through his actions. And what kind of an example is he settng for his boys.

Do not cheat, Do not Lie and Do not Steal.

This is a no-brainer !
Of course he should resign.
Let,s see if the others around him have the guts to insist he do the correct move!

Most South Carolinians don’t really care what the rest of the country thinks about our Governor after all most of them voted for Obama. To them we say,”mind your own business.” We’re sure you have problems of your own that require your attention.

The reason why I believe marital infidelity matters in politics is this: if a person cannot honor a vow he took to be faithful to his spouse in marriage, what makes you think such a person will keep a vow to uphold the laws of his state or country?

Governor Sullivan and his family have my sympathies. I've been tempted, and know how easy it would be to think "no one need know about this." Yet I remember my wife, and the commitment I made to her, so I stay the course and keep my vow. God willing, I will never break it.

he should resign, not because of the affair, but because he misappropriate state funds for his travels. so what if he offered to pay it back – he still used it. violating your marriage vows is your own business, violating the public trust = grounds for resignation/impeachment/prosecution.

he's finished anyway and should do something (finally) for his family.

If he'll lie to his wife, he'll lie to the taxpayers for any reason. Resign.

i think politicians who lie about matters that directly affect their ability to govern, mislead their staff members, exercise poor judgement and act irresponsibly should resign or be removed from office. governor sanford's bombshell admission that he was in argentine with his mistress has overshadowed his dereliction of duty - leaving the state for five-days without letting his staff or the next in command know that he was out of the country. sanford's case is more than an issue ofinfidelity and hypocrisy.

And for three-quarters of the respondents, it's probably not that he committed adultry at all but the mess and lying that's surrounding it. A week ago, he said he met this woman 5 times in 8 years. Now it's up to 7 times in the last year. The US had a policy against dealing with Argentina because they defaulted brazenly on their IMF debt ,but Sanford called the American embassy while he was in Brazil, hurriedly trying to set up meetings with anyone so that it looked like a kosher economic visit he could charge off to South Carolina. He's been lying all along and no one would have been the wiser if he didn't go off the deep end and leave the state in a tizzy looking for him. The man's mental state is in serious doubt. He's still saying he had his wife's permission to go to NY to see (end it with) his mistress; his wife says she never has and never would give her permission. It's a wonder anyone thinks he shouldn't resign.

Are we talking about all americans or a percentage of a percentage like .000001 percent of all americans? Polls are ridiculous and everyone except the media seems to know this.
Clinton didn't resign and he lied to us, so why should Sanford resign and why should everyone be doing polls and reading this dribble.
Lets blog on Iran and Israel and Palestine and the Turks and their oil in Iraq and other more relevant stuff.

Have to agree with the majority on this one. Good to see that this is not a partisan issue among those polled.

But adultry is only part of the issue. He lied and he abandoned his leadership position without notice. Not to mention, the people of SC would be picking up the tab if he hadn't been caught.

This hypocrite should step down because it is the "ethical" thing to do based on his own supposedly "high" moral standards. It's bad enough that he rejected the stimulus money for political reasons and turned a blind eye toward the people who are struggling financially in his state. Now he thinks it's okay to disappear without telling anyone while he fools around with his mistress in another country, traveling on the taxpayers' dime. Pathetic in every regard.

This was not about an affair. It was about dereliction of duty, dishonesty, and the invasion of warped religious principles into politics. Sanford is disgusting.

Adultery is involved, but that's not what this is about. It's about hypocrisy taken to its furthest extreme, and the heaping pile of lies used to cover it up.

It is not because of the infidelity...it is because of his negligence in failing to put the welfare of South Carolina before his personal pleasure.

Don't resign Mark!

He is a great poster boy for the GOP! You gotta love it.

The party of Rush Lumbug, Dicky Cheney, George Dubyu and Newt Gingrash needs all of the help that it can get.

Mark will lead the GOP in 2016. Heck.....he has been learning Spannish to bone up on his foreign AFFAIRS.

Hang in there Mark! Even if it is at the end of a rope!

It is time for the saga to end. There needs to be a referendum on whether he goes or stays. He has now come out a confessed that he had more meetings with the woman than first divulged. What next, a love child? That's probably going a bit too far but one never knows.

WOW!! Look at this guy, I really would like to know how this lady look. She must be gorgeous something for Mr. Governor to leave the states and go to Argentina and see her then trash his whole career. Everybody wants to be a playa.

Please Mr. Sanford; have some compassion for your wife and children. Resign and stop the embarassment you are causing her and her family. You sir are a disgrace.

Absent some legal misconduct, I don't see any grounds for throwing him out of office but he is obviously not thinking about his sons and the media circus that this admission is creating. And if he has any hopes of reconciling with the wife (and I am not sure that he does), this constant drip drip of details and the constant scrutiny is making a stressful situation even worse.

If it were just about him, I'd gladly want him to his licks since he was so self-righteous about other politicians who strayed. But his wife and kids don't deserve this. So yeah he should do the DECENT thing and resign. But if he was a decent guy to to begin with he wouldn't be in this situation, would he?

Sanford is such an idiot on so many levels – example: refusing stimulus money, thinking he could disappear for days without notice – the citizens of the state really ought to take the golden opportunity to get rid of him.

Mr. Sanford's latest remarks make it clear that he is little more than a self-absorbed, deluded hypocrite. The good people of the state of South Carolina need to give him the bum's rush. And they need to do it soon.

This is a useless poll. The opinion of Americans do not matter. It is entirely up to the citizens of SC to make this call. While his behavior is disgusting, it is a personal matter. The issue for the voters of SC is whether his temporary abdonment of his office warrants his removal. I know how I would vote but I don't live in SC.

Of course! At the very least, he should be FIRED like we all would be if we were AWOL from our jobs!

What's with the South Carolina legislature? Clinton was impeached for lying about "that woman" ! Its not just the adultery its not doing your job.

I think he should resign–not so much because of the affair–but because he was AWOL from office and spending public money to go on a trip to Argentina.

As a public school administrator, were I to abandon my school for a week without anyone knowing where I was–after dipping into my discretionary fund for a Carribean cruise–imagine the fallout! He's just using the adultery to distract the misuse of public funds.

Are you kidding me? There is a HUGE difference between Democrats & Republicans on this issue. Repubs will go after an unfaithful Dem until he/she is drummed out of office -no forgiveness for anyone whose political views differ from the Right. Oh, but if a Repub gets caught lying, as is the case with Sanford (or Rumsfeld, or Rice, or Cheney, or GWB), lying over and over again, as long as he invokes the name of "GOD", he's okay. Let him serve out the remainder of his term. What a crock, how hypocritical. Double-standard. Shame on you all.

Time to go, "Randy Sandy."

Despite my nickname for Mark Sanford, my opinion that he should resign is not primarily based on the adultery. Rather, it's based on his irresponsible behavior in leaving the state without word to his family and staff . And the lying. And using taxpayer money to visit his lady friend.

Now we're learning that he has visited Maria more often than he originally disclosed. What else has he been lying about to his family, friends, colleagues and SC's citizens?

And I'm willing to bet that Gov. Sanford would not have offered to reimburse SC for the $12,000 cost of his summer 2008 trip if his adventures in Argentina had not been discovered.

He's an opportunistic hypocrite. Bring out the hook.

News Flash!!! Gov. Stanford of that loser state should start his new career as a chicken farmer due to AMERICA'S CHICKENS COMING HOME TO ROOST! Sen Graham needs to resign and join Stanford too...

I feel kind of sorry for the guy, who is obviously in a lovesick, head-over-heels, unstable condition. It reminds me of "The Sorrows of Young Werther" or some other Romantic era novel. Unfortunately, going AWOL on the job and leaving the country while telling your staff you are out hiking is absolutely grounds for being fired, for pretty much any position. Certainly for governor.

He's also a hypocrite, given that he wanted Bill Clinton impeached for really quite similar behavior. As for his self-comparisons to King David, Sanford should be reminded that God's punishment of David for his transgressions with Bathsheba was to be in a constant state of war against enemies for the rest of his life. South Carolina could do without that, I'm sure.

He is a bottom feeder....He just admited to other affairs...GO SANFORD...

Yes he should resign.If I remember right, Sanford was one of the linchmen to push for Clintons impeachment. That involvement in the impeachment process was his feelings at the time, So does this make him a FLIP FLOPPER ?

The rest of America should stay out of South Carolina's business. As for the polls, lets not forget a certain President "Bill Clinton" who was able to stay in office after he disgraced the White house with Monica. If Sanford steps down or is made to leave office, it should be for using State Funds and vehicles while having the affair.

This man is a whining, holier than thou hypocrite. He professes his
God fearing values, denegrates any one who doesn't live up to his 'so
called' christian standards, and then does as he pleases. His tears are pitiful and his apology worthless. His sons deserve better, as does his state. He's a liar, a cheat and should not put his state in this position. Show some backbone and resign.

Ha! More Republicans than Democrats think he should step down.

I guess this means we won't be hearing anymore "B... b... but, Clinton..." from the Republican apologists, right?

Of course not.

Even though more of their own think he should resign, they'll still turn this into a partisan who-did-what. Yes, we know Ted Kennedy was in a deadly car accident 40 years ago. Let's stick with the here and now and preferably the stances, not the personal lives, of our politicians.

Sanford says he's "trying to fall in love with his wife again." Run, Jenny! Run like the wind. This loser doesn't deserve you.

Of course he should resign. He's not capable of making rational, responsible decisions.

Resign? The hate filled liberals want him shot at sunrise.

Nah nah nah nah...
Hey, hey, hey...
GOODBYE!

RIP GOP

He left the state vulnerable all because he couldn't keep it in his pants. He needs to resign. I bet he's blessing the coverage of Michael Jackson for keeping him off the news for a bit. These politicians, especially GOPs, need to think with their brain first, not with other body parts. I applaud his wife for giving him what's for and not sugarcoating her comments to or about him. He is scum.

Resign with respect for your family and not your lover. You are a shame and disgrace to South Carolina Mark.

Sanford should go NOT for having an affair, but he should resign for violating the trust of citizens in South Carolina and for being a hypocrite. Based on comments he made during the Clinton impeachment, Sanford should follow his own standard.

Please Note:

The headline reads, Americans Think Sanford, Should Resign. Not Democrats, Say Sanford Should Resign. I'm sure there are a few who believe that if you're not a republican, you're not an American, but this is just not true. This was a lie told by, and spread by the likes of George Bush, Karl Rove and Dick Cheney. Three people who have the same dignity and morals as Sanford..

Mark Sanford is a pathetic hypocrite and an embarrassment to my state of South Carolina. He should resign immediately.

L I A R...stilling lying about how many times he meet with his homewrecker.

CNN.
Please stop all the crap about Sanford. He should resign Period.
Now lets move onto our socialist president ramming cap and trade down our throats.
He is completely Anti American. He wants All of America to suffer. He thinks it is wrong that we live how we live.
HE would love the US to be broke (as he spends us into the ground) make us depend on the goverment and build a large welfare state.
He is pushing us into the stone age.
Cap and Trade will only tax all of us and rais the costs of goods for all americans. This is a bad idea and should be stopped now.
VOTE NO ON CAP AND TRADE. WRITE YOUR SENATORS TODAY.

Gov. Sanford is going to be run out of office, while GOP Mayor Rudy Giulliani has multiple affairs while in office, and made a run for the presidency. Gee, Gov. Sanford, maybe you should have had your political aspirations in a more liberal state.

What non-SC residents think is irrelevant. I think he should resign, but s what - I'm up here in New England. What happens to him politically is between him and the voters of SC.

Erratic behavior and lying are the public policy issues here. He has to live with himself and deal with his family about the adultery, not us.

The people of S.C. should decide if he stay's or resigns. They elected him, thye should make that decission. Besides, according to Rush it's becuase of Obama that this happened. How can you argue with that kind of logic?

Well when slick willy did it, it was okay to the dems, now that it is a member of the gop it is a horrible thing. Thank god the liberal one way media.

The affair is not the reason why Sanford should resign. He should resign for derelection of duty in being MIA for days and for using taxpayer dollars to see his mistress–it doesn't matter if he plans to pay the money back. If he had never been caught, would he still return the funds? Doubtful.

Governor Sanford may have made some personal mistakes, but it has not effected his ability to govern. I stand by him. Those who judge him know neither Sanford nor the wolves chomping at the bit to get him out.

Don't worry Mark, Jenny is doing her best to see that your boys can hold their heads up high. Maybe someday they will run for office and live up to the standards that you could only talk about.

Um...I think the opinions of the South Carolina voters is more important than what the average average American thinks. If they want him to not resign then who are we to say he should resign?

well fortunately for teh governor, he need only report to those in his state. who cares what the rest of the country thinks?

Adultery isn't the point here. The point is that he left the State of South Carolina without a Chief Executive for five days and then tried to cover it up. That's the point and that's the reason he should resign. What he did while he was away is between his wife and himself.

Does it matter what "Americans" want? No, it only matters about South Carolina. If these polls actually meant something, then we wouldn't passed the Stimulus, the Cap & Trade (in the house), the Tarps or be pursuing socialized medicine....

Uh...yeah.

YES, I'm one of those polled who think this man should have RESIGNED a week ago.

Sanford continues to LIE and COVER UP his hypocrisy and incompetence. Mark Sanford should be FIRED immediately.

Duuuh, ya' think?