Gov. Sanford returns from Argentina, not Appalachia

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford (R) is returning to his home state from Buenos Aires and had not been hiking on the Appalachian Trail, as reported by his staff.

In an interview with Columbia, S.C.’s The State newspaper, Sanford said he made a last-minute decision to head to Argentina, where he drove along the coastline. He stayed in the South American country for a seven-day trip.

That stands in contrast with what Sanford’s office had maintained through the early part of this week, that the governor was hiking the Appalachian Trail.

{mosads}Asked why his staff would say he was hiking a segment of the more than 2,000-mile-long trail when he was instead in South America, Sanford told The State: “I don’t know.”

Sanford has been seen as a GOP presidential contender in 2012, and had made headlines by attempting to refuse federal funds from the economic stimulus package, which he viewed as reckless spending.

The difference between Sanford’s actual location and his purported vacation choice has already sparked outrage and outright confusion from former advisers, political allies and otherwise loyal South Carolina Republicans. One Republican strategist has dubbed the events “Gaucho-gate.”

“It’s not the act, it’s the cover-up, and that’s where his team has a lot of explaining to do,” a former Sanford adviser told The Hill. “Were they being told something different, or were they just, you know, making up their own story?”

Sanford said he had told his staff he might go hiking on the trail, something he did in high school. He told the newspaper he returned to the Atlanta airport instead of the Columbia airport, from which he departed, in order to avoid the media.

Questions about Sanford’s whereabouts emerged Monday when state Sen. Jake Knotts (R) and other Republicans who have been at odds with the governor publicly wondered why Sanford had been out of contact since last Thursday. Knotts had made his initial inquiries on Saturday, while Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer (R) learned of Sanford’s absence on Sunday.

Sanford’s wife, Jenny, initially told The Associated Press she had no idea where her husband was, though she said she was not worried. On Tuesday, she told a CNN reporter: “I have not heard from my husband. I am taking care of my children.”

{mosads}Sanford was out of the state over Father’s Day weekend, even though those close to the governor say he makes a point to talk to his children every night before they go to bed. He told The State he had gone to South America by himself.

Sanford’s close political allies are baffled by the governor’s behavior, which they worry raises credibility problems he will have to address before he makes a decision on whether to run for president in 2012.

Enemies, meanwhile, are reveling in the opportunity to take their rival down a notch or two. Sanford has said he needed to get away following a brutal legislative session in which several of his vetoes were overturned by a Republican Legislature. Those legislators have used Sanford’s absence and bizarre behavior to score more points.

Party strategists who have clashed with Sanford in the past openly laughed when asked for their thoughts on the governor over the past few days.