Missing Governor Was in Argentina

South Carolina Politicians Spar as Sanford Returns

By ALEX ROTH and VALERIE BAUERLEIN
WSJ

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford was in Argentina during his unexplained five-day absence, not hiking along the Appalachian Trail as his office previously said, he told a South Carolina newspaper.

The Republican told the State newspaper that he decided at the last minute to go to the South American country. He had considered hiking on the Appalachian Trail but wanted to do something "exotic." He arrived at the Atlanta airport Wednesday, according to the newspaper, on a flight from Buenos Aires.

Mr. Sanford said he returned Wednesday because of the unexpected media attention caused by his trip.

The episode opened wide the rifts among Republican leaders in conservative South Carolina, as accusations were lobbed by both supporters and critics of Mr. Sanford -- who has been viewed as a potential contender for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.

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