It Was Only a Matter of Time: Governor Sanford and His Wife Are Separating

Governor Mark Sanford and his wife Jenny are separating. Jenny Sanford is moving to the couple's beach home in Sullivan Island, near Charleston.

The couple's separation was inevitable. Mark Sanford created quite a stir last month after he mysteriously left the state without disclosing his location to his staff, including his security detail. During the time of his absence, early reports placed him on a hiking trip, but these stories were false. Instead, the governor was in Argentina visiting a romantic interest.

After he returned to the United States, Mark Sanford made numerous statements asking the citizens of South Carolina to forgive him and expressing a desire to save his marriage. But he also described his lover as his "soulmate," which certainly had to complicate any possibility of reconciliation.

Here is another wrinkle in the couple's ability to save their marriage: Judging from her public statements, Jenny Sanford seems immensely intelligent, classy, patient and sincere. She deserves more than her husband's foolish antics. Apparently, she now realizes this and has taken the first step towards extricating herself from him.