South Carolina lieutenant governor Andre Bauer announced today that disgraced governor Mark Sanford, whose wife has left him over his much-publicized South American affair, should step down. If he stays in office, the scandal will "dominate next year’s legislative session instead of issues like the economy and job creation," Bauer, a fellow Republican, warned. As proof that he's not interested in staying in the governor's mansion if Sanford leaves, Bauer renewed a promise to stay out of the 2010 gubernatorial race (Sanford's term is scheduled to end in 2011). This is meaningful, because politicians who talk about whether or not they will run in coming elections always keep their promises.

S.C. LT. GOV CALLS ON MARK SANFORD TO RESIGN [NYP]