AP: Sanford Sought More Time In Argentina During Commerce Trip

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - State officials say South Carolina Gov.

Mark Sanford asked for extra economic development meetings in

Argentina during a trip that brought him to Buenos Aires, where his

mistress lived.

    Commerce Department spokeswoman Kara Borie said Friday that

official plans had been made to only visit Brazil on an

expenses-paid economic recruitment trip the governor took last

year.

    But Commerce Secretary Joe Taylor planned to say longer at his

own expense in Cordoba in Argentina for a bird-hunting trip and

invited the governor and others to come along.

    Borie said Sanford agreed to go along for a day and half, and

asked for additional meetings in Argentina tied to economic

development. On Thursday, Sanford said he would reimburse the state

for the trip.