S.C. governor to return to job after mystery trip

< Prev | 1 | 2

NBC Video: Politics

Obama: Emphasis on 'accelerating job growth'
Dec. 5: During his weekly radio and Internet address, President Obama says, "In the coming days, I'll be unveiling additional ideas aimed at accelerating job growth and hiring as we emerge from this economic storm." Watch the entire address.

The secret life of drones

Secretary Clinton… in many languages

Aetna reportedly will raise prices

How is health reform faring in the Senate?

Slideshow

First 100 days
Striking images from President Barack Obama’s jam-packed first 100 days in office.

more photos

INTERACTIVE

Get political at Newsvine
Read, rate and discuss the latest news.

Sanford, a trim, 49-year-old former real estate investor and Air Force reservist, is typically drained at the end of a legislative session, former aides said. State Sen. Tom Davis, a Beaufort Republican and Sanford's former chief of staff, said he visited with Sanford last Wednesday and could tell the governor was ready for a break.

"It's not unusual to take off and kind of be by himself," Davis said. "It's part of what makes him him."

Another former chief of staff also wasn't surprised to learn about Sanford's disappearing act.

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

"Mark Sanford is an original," Fred Carter said. "He will never conform to your expectations or mine. And that's the beauty and the tragedy of this administration."

The governor has long been known as a loner — bucking GOP leadership during three U.S. House terms and casting the only dissenting vote on Medicaid coverage for some breast and cervical cancer treatment. He clashes often with the Republicans who control both chambers of his state Legislature, once famously carrying two piglets to the door of the House in opposition to what he said was pork-barrel spending.

But past vacations never left Sanford completely out of touch, said Chris Drummond, Sanford's former spokesman. At worst, Sanford would call in daily or would respond to voice mails.

Who was in charge?
This time, Sanford had been untethered from staff since Thursday, apparently out of state. The Appalachian Trail passes through 14 states, but not South Carolina.

Video
S.C. governor lost and found
June 23: South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer discusses the bizarre disappearance of Gov. Mark Sanford, R-S.C.
MSNBC
How his office handled it was a problem, said Rozell, the political scientist.

"The citizens who elected him have the right to know that someone there is in charge of the executive branch," Rozell said.

Who was in charge became the political and practical question.

Essentially, Sanford's staffers said they'd decide who to call if an emergency popped up and the governor couldn't be reached. The state's constitution says as a temporary absence would give the lieutenant governor full authority in the state. But the temporary absence has never been defined.

Click for related content

First Read: Have you seen this man? Sanford, MIA

Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell, a Charleston Republican, says the state's law needs to be clarified. He said state residents want important decisions to be made by elected leaders who take oaths.

"In an emergency," he said, "it should be those people who consult with staff to make a decision and not the other way around."

More on Mark Sanford | Appalachian Trail