I Guess Haley Barbour Is Now Chairman of the RGA; (Updated) It’s Official, He Is

In a very strange week for the South Carolina Governor, Mark Sanford admitted to an affair today. Sanford had been missing and acknowledged he was in Argentina visiting the mistress. Sanford was thought of as a 2012 candidate for president, but obviously that thought is now out the window.

Besides being a 2012 hopeful, Sanford was also serving as head of the Republican Governors Association. He has stepped down. Haley Barbour was Vice-Chairman. I am assuming Barbour will now take over Sanford’s post as Chairman.

You have to also think this opens a new window for Haley Barbour in 2012 should he opt to run for president. Sanford, like Barbour, is from the South but some saw Sanford as the more appealing candidate because, among other things, his lack of a Southern accent.

Update: Barbour is the new RGA chair, and said this about Sanford:

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour was quickly named as Sanford’s replacement at the RGA. Barbour said the Sanford news “hurts all of us who have gotten to know Governor Sanford over the years.”

Update 2: Full statement from Barbour:

“The news revealed today hurts all of us who have gotten to know Governor Sanford over the years and so it is with regret that the RGA accepted Governor Sanford’s resignation as chairman”

While this news is deeply disappointing, I also know it’s important to remain focused on the future and Governor Sanford’s resignation allows him and us to do just that.

The RGA has an important task over the next two years. I am committed to seeing it through and confident we will succeed.”