June 9, 2009

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — About 60 people rallied at the Statehouse to call for South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's resignation or removal.

The "resign or impeach citizen's rally" Thursday was promoted through the social networking site Facebook. The rally came two weeks after Sanford returned from a mysterious, six-day disappearance to reveal he was in Argentina to rendezvous with his mistress.

Protesters said that while the affair is a private matter between Sanford and his wife of 20 years, the governor should resign for abandoning the state without passing on authority to the lieutenant governor.

A handful of Sanford supporters argued the governor took a much-deserved vacation after working overtime to fight the federal stimulus.

South Carolina New Democrats president Phil Noble acknowledged it was a largely Democratic crowd.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.