海角大神

Has the scandal surrounding Mark Sanford, South Carolina's governor, opened a Pandora鈥檚 box in the state's politics?

New, steamy allegations involving other state leaders are emerging, and the accusations are weakening uneasy truces between political enemies. One political observer calls it "the night of the long knives" between entrenched political dynasties.

It could mean that next year鈥檚 gubernatorial election is likely to focus not on the economy, school funding, or unemployment, but on candidates鈥� relationships.

"This really goes back to the Sanford scandal, which let loose the floodgates for this kind of stuff," says David Woodard, a political scientist at Clemson University in South Carolina. "As a result, we're up to our knees in this kind of mire where all the discussion is, 'What's his love life like?' "

First, a short review. Governor Sanford disappeared in June and emerged five days later, only to admit a year-long affair with an Argentinian mistress. Weeks and weeks of talk about impeachment have followed.

Now, eyebrow-raising accusations have been leveled against two other public figures.

Let's start with Lt. Gov. Andr茅 Bauer, who would take the reins of the state should Sanford resign or be ousted. He's a forty-something bachelor and conservative 海角大神. And he has a daredevil reputation in the conservative Palmetto State because he's been stopped more than once for speeding and has also crash-landed a small plane.

Now, that Mr. Bauer is gay 鈥� something that others adamantly deny.

鈥淎s one of Andre鈥檚 closest friends having known him since he was eight years old, I am 100% certain the rumor is false,鈥� wrote state Sen. John "Jake" Knotts Jr. (R) to fellow lawmakers.

Knotts鈥檚 letter comes a week after Bauer became the highest executive in the state to call for Sanford鈥檚 resignation. Sanford and Bauer are both Republicans, though are not considered allies.

In his letter, Knotts, a former police officer, claims that a similar smear campaign, allegedly orchestrated by Sanford, was launched against him. He offered few details and no evidence of Sanford鈥檚 alleged role.

The rumors around Bauer point to tectonic shifts in South Carolina politics. Some see Sanford as a political outsider who has fought the Republican-led legislature over issues ranging from school funding to the acceptance of federal stimulus funds.

鈥淸Knotts's] letter is simply wrong and in that regard, as bizarre as many of the other claims and attacks of recent weeks,鈥� Sanford spokesman Ben Fox . "Some have even argued this indeed points to an obsession with slandering anyone who tries to change the 鈥榞ood ol鈥� boy鈥� system of politics in Columbia.鈥�

Bauer isn't the only one who's dealing with unpleasant accusations. Kristin Maguire, who until this week was chairman of the State Board of Education (a position appointed by Sanford), is alleged to be the author of steamy erotic fiction.

Ms. Maguire is the executive committeewoman of the state Republican Party and a strong supporter of abstinence-only education, , a South Carolina-based political website. Sanford's appointment of Maguire, who home-schooled her four kids, was hailed as a victory by social conservatives across the South.

She resigned from the Board of Education this week, citing "family responsibilities."

Maguire has denied writing erotic fiction under the nom de plume of Bridget Keeney 鈥� allegations that were published on FitsNews.com. But she has admitted to frequenting certain X-rated sites during a self-described difficult time in her life.

"Maguire鈥檚 alleged alter-ego would obviously be quite a contrast from her carefully-cultivated public persona," according to the story, which has run on Google News.

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