War Room - Salon.com

Wednesday, Jul 1, 2009 16:55 EDT

How long can Sanford hang on?

The pressure on the governor increases, as even more members of his own party push him to step down

Since he confessed his affair last week, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has let it be known that he has no intention of giving up his post. And at least one of his allies says Sanford will continue to be "defiant" and that if he goes out, it will be "in the ugliest, messiest way." But if he does remain in office, it will be in the face of ever-growing pressure from his fellow South Carolina Republicans, who are lining up to push him out the door.

Already, the chair of the South Carolina Republican Party has suggested that it's time for Sanford to step down, and more than half of the Republicans in the state Senate have called on him to do so.

On Wednesday, Sanford reportedly started hearing from Republicans in his state's congressional delegation, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, who's the godfather of his youngest son. Graham, Sen. Jim DeMint and Rep. Gresham Barrett all called Sanford, Politico reports, and they weren't just calling to chat or to offer him their help.

Politico quotes one unnamed "top Republican in the state" as saying the governor "was made aware that his support is getting to be dang-near nonexistent." Another source said the calls were "clearly geared toward, 'Do the right thing.'"