Bauer: Offer to take Sanford's job expires soon

It seems not a day passes in South Carolina that lawmakers or voters do not pine for embattled Gov. Mark Sanford (R) to resign his post -- and speculate who might fill it.

And it happened again on Thursday, when a constituent at a healthcare forum asked Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer (R), “Who's going to be our governor for the next 17 months?”

"South Carolina needs a governor full time, not running around trying to explain everything. Not to mention, it's going to be the best reality TV ever,” Bauer told the voter, adding that his offer to assume Sanford's job and bow out of the 2010 gubernatorial race expires in October.

“I'll probably announce in the latter part of October, and until I announce, I said I'll just take myself out the running if he'll step down," he added. "But I have to start my campaign at some point.”

Bauer has long offered to take Sanford's job, but the governor has dismissed all of the calls for his resignation.