Defiant Gov Sanford to Lt. Gov: I'm Not Going Anywhere

South Carolina Lt. Gov asks his boss to resign amid sex scandal

South Carolina's lieutenant governor asked Gov. Mark Sanford, whose liaisons with a Latin love got him into hot water, to resign from office today -- but Sanford responded by defiantly pledging to stay in office.

Lt. Gov. Andrew Bauer said he'll bow out of the gubernatorial race next year if the embattled governor steps down following his embarrassing admission that he had steamy encounters with an Argentine woman for more than a year while in office.

"It is my opinion the best interest of the people of South Carolina can no longer be served by the current administration," Bauer said. "The serious misconduct that has been revealed along with lingering questions and continuing distractions make it virtually impossible for our state to solve the critical problems we're facing without a change in leadership."

Later, at a press conference, Sanford said he had no plans to resign and that he would not "railroaded out of office." The embattled governor said he thinks he can still function as the state's chief executive for the remaining 16 months of his term.

Sanford, a married father of four, went to Argentina to see his mistress mid-June and led his staff to believe he was hiking the Appalachian trail. He admitted the tryst upon his return to the U.S.

Get more: NBCNewYork.com, AP, MSNBC

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