Sanford On The Clock

CNN is reporting that South Carolina state Republican lawmakers who met with embattled Gov. Mark Sanford asked him to resign outright, and were rebuffed.

Rep. Nathan Ballentine — a Sanford ally in the legislature — and Rep. Gerry Simrill met with Sanford in the South Carolina state House for about 40 minutes and warned him that unless he steps down, House Republicans are likely to impeach him.

“Barring some swing of momentum in his favor, I told him the writing is on the wall,” Ballentine told CNN. “I thought there could be a change in scenery and he could put an end to it all, but if he doesn’t, members of the House will take things into their hands.”

House Republicans are meeting this weekend in Myrtle Beach for their annual caucus retreat, and the impeachment matter is likely to dominate the agenda, according to those planning to attend.

Sanford has come under a new round of scrutiny after investigations into his travel expenses revealed that he spent thousands of dollars on business and first class airline tickets for overseas flights, and used state aircraft for personal and political travel. Those probes were prompted by Sanford’s disclosure in June that he had an affair with an Argentine woman.

Members of the House Judiciary Committee told CNN there are enough votes on the committee to send an impeachment motion to the floor of the House when the legislative session begins in January.

“I would be surprised if impeachment articles weren’t being drafted by someone,” said Rep. Jim Harrison, the Republican chairman of the Judiciary Committee.

But Ballentine said the governor rejected the idea of resigning instead of facing impeachment — even with the message coming from a friend.

“I think he wants people to sit back take a deep breath and see what other information is out there,” Ballentine said.

Folks, when your own party is publicly telling you to resign for the good of the state and the party ahead of impeachment articles that will be drafted by, well, your own party, you're done. It's not a question of "if" Sanford will leave office anymore, but how he will: under his own choice, or by force.

I just don't see how he can make it to January under another four months of pressure. I'm expecting some sort of deal to be brokered before then. That's the logical thing to do.

Then again, logic and Mark Sanford clearly are at odds.

[UPDATE 10:47 AM] The State newspaper is reporting SC's GOP Lt. Governor Andre Bauer is going to call for Sanford's resignation today, with the promise that Bauer will not run in 2010 for the Governor's mansion in 2010 if Sanford resigns now.

Bauer is the first constitutional officer to join a growing chorus of lawmakers pushing for Sanford to resign, including a majority of Republican state senators.

Today’s announcement, according to a source close to Bauer, is intended to send a message to State House leadership that Sanford needs to step down and Bauer won’t stand in the way. Some lawmakers have been hesitant to push for Sanford’s resignation because it would give Bauer an unfair advantage in the 2010 race, as he would be running for governor as an incumbent.

Bauer plans to send a letter to Sanford today to ask him to resign. The House Republican Caucus will discuss whether to impeach Sanford this weekend at its Myrtle Beach retreat.

If Bauer becomes governor to serve out the balance of Sanford’s term, he would make job creation and education his priorities, said a source close to Bauer.

Sanford's days are most certainly numbered at this point. He will be made an offer he cannot refuse. If he doesn't take the deal, it'll be taken for him. The last thing the state GOP wants is an ugly, Blagogate-style impeachment disaster that will hurt the party in 2010.