(CNN) – South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer will call on Gov. Mark Sanford to resign in a press conference scheduled for Wednesday at noon, making him the highest ranking official in the state to do so, according to a source close to Bauer.
But Bauer - who has been plotting his entrance into the 2010 governor's race - will also pledge in the news conference not to seek the top office himself if Sanford does decide to step down in the coming weeks.
The lieutenant governor will send a letter to Sanford later today asking him to step down, a move that would elevate Bauer into the governor's mansion for the remainder of Sanford's term.
That prospect is an uncomfortable one for rival Republicans in the governor's race, who believe Bauer would gain an upper hand in the 2010 race as an incumbent. And because he stands to benefit directly, Bauer also risks appearing nakedly ambitious by asking Sanford to go.
But Bauer is promising not to enter the race if he assumes the governorship - a scenario he first floated to CNN in June after Sanford revealed an extramarital affair and came under fire from members of his own party.
"What it would do is it would get the politics out of it," Bauer told CNN about his proposal at the time. "The people that are so concerned for their own political future about running for governor, would no longer be worried if I came in and became governor, because I would just say.'You know what? This is bigger than politics. I will go and lead in for the next 18 months and not run for re-election.'"
Rivals to Bauer have noted that this isn't the first time he has promised to avoid future campaigning. In 2006, Bauer told The Greenville News that if were to win re-election in that year's campaign for lieutenant governor, he would not seek the governorship in 2010.
Bauer and Sanford did not run as a ticket and were elected separately in past elections.
The other Republicans running for governor are Attorney General Henry McMaster, Rep. Gresham Barrett, state Rep. Nikki Haley and state Sen. Larry Grooms.
From CNN Politics
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Was the writing on the wall done in lipstick?
it's about time!
As well he should for using state resources for his own personal actions. With the high rate of unemployment lack of jobs and so on where does he get off using their resources.
As for having an affair while it is not the most tasteful thing he could have done....that has nothing to do with him being governor.
If I was a citizen of SC I would want this guys resignation. He cheated on his wife proving he cannot keep a sacred promise. Therefore, it is obvious he would not/could not keep a sacred promise to the people of SC. He then adds insult to injury by using public fund and lies to visit he mistress. His leadership or lack of leadership is making the State of SC (not the people of SC) a laughing stock. He should man up and resign.
hes a scum bag. boot him
i hate republicans
i hate democrats
thats why im a LIBERTARIAN.
's.
Why the delay? For God's sake, his "soul mate" is in Argentina. Resigning, should make sense to him. Why stick around an empty governors mansion? Jenny and the kids are long gone. It's time for Mark to catch the next flight to Argentina, at his own expense of course, to be with the one he truly loves "like and addiction". LOL
Sounds like a power play by Bauer. He would like to be governor so bad that he'll try anything to seize that power. He needs to sit down and shut up and run for governor when it's time and see how far he gets. Not very far I suspect.
he should have gone away when he got caught.so not to many people really care . so he should crawl under a rock and stay there
don't need to hear about him any longer
That Sanford and Craig, Ensign, and Vitter are still serving is amazing to me. Obviously their electorates don't care how big a scumbag they have elected. This is the heart and soul of the current Republican Party, the supposed party of values. What a croc of you know what. The Republican Taliban wants everyone to act as they say, not as they do. The party needs to do some soul searching and expunge the so called evangelicals who do not practice their religion or any form of Christianity. The biggest hypocrites in the country are the phony religious who extoll their virtues which they do not adhere to.
Forget the obfuscating politics Bauer – you would obviously change your mind later. BO does it all the time!
The slime-bag is part of C-Street republicans that firmly believe they are chosen by God to rule the "little" people, with no accountability for their behavior. ONLY POWER for themselves and republicans.
Get rid of the thug.
A man's personal life should not be fodder for political persecution – but Governor Sanford went AWOL from his job and used tax payer money lavishly and foolishly at a time when his state and his nation were on the brink of bankruptcy – and when he was fighting against helping his constituents through the use of Recovery Act funds. He needs to go.
Yes, impeach this hypocrite. He can move to Argentina and be with his lover. His wife should divorce him.
I suspect that most of this is over the head of most South Carolinians – don't forget they elected him in the first place. Maybe prayer and fasting is the answer – right Michele Bachmann?
I wish this country was as unforgiving of office and power abuse as it is about sexual betrayal.
The problem is his c-street belief that he should get away with it because he is above everyone and their "mortal" laws. This guy is fruit cake!
Ya right Bauer! You say that now, saying you won't run for guv in 2010...we all know how you republicans do "business"...you say that crap now, but I can GUARANTEE your lying butt will be on the ballot and in the campaign for governor next year! you republicans prey on the intelligently challenged and those who are in denial and tend to 'overlook' or forget stuff while shouting at others about the same thing! Republicans are a boil on the butt of american humanity!
This is a perfect example of if you're going to dig a hole dig two. I would like a break down of exactly how the misappropriation of funds has effected me, they never want to devulge that information. He needs to disgracefully bow out – I mean he did commit an immoral act.
I have been wondering when the behind the scenes political forces would get around to pushing him out the door. I just wish the people/voters had clamorded for him to leave sooner. I believe it reflects very badly on the image of the Republican Party. Not because of the "affair". Because of being AWOL and dereliction of duty.
he should be impeached not because of his sexual escapades thats his right to have a soul mate. he should not however have used tax payer dollars for his sexual adventures and abandoning his gubernatorian functions. let him pay for it ...
Mark Sanford – be GONE!!
I still think the woman from Argentina came to her senses dumped Sanford!!
How come when a Democrat is caught in an affair, the right screams he should resign, but when a Republican has an affair, "he is one of God's children that made a mistake and should be forgiven"?
Do only repubs have the ear of God?
Does God only speak to neo-cons like Sanford and tells them "you can have a separate set of FAMILY VALUES and it is ok"?
How about the moral values of using state assets for private use, has God approved of such illegal actions?
Hurry, neo-con thumers let us heathens know our souls are confused!
Adultrey is not a crime in S.C., but stealing time and money to go see your girlfriend on taxpayers money is.
..Let he who hath never sin cast the 1st stone...