STATE — Dismissing calls for his resignation from Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer, Gov. Mark Sanford said now is not the time “to fold the tent.”

Sanford held a press conference Wednesday afternoon, in response to one held by Bauer earlier that day, where the Lt. Governor said he would not run for Governor if Sanford resigned.

“I’m not going to be railroad out of this office by political opponents, or folks that were never fans of mine in the first place,” Sanford said.

Sanford said he appreciated the discussion he had with Bauer and that while the offer is tempting, he will serve out the remaining 16 months of his second term in office.

Allowing Bauer to serve out the remainder of Sanford’s term would be “heaven on earth,” Sanford said.

“As I much I’d like to do that, as much I might want to do that, it would be wrong for a number of reasons,” Sanford said.

Although Bauer believes Sanford’s resignation would allow the state to move on from the controversies surrounding the governor, Sanford believes the state has moved on.

During his travels around the state, residents have been speaking with him about jobs, the economy, spending and restructuring government — not his affair, Sanford said.

“They talked about a number of things,” he said. “They’re not talking about this.

Ordinary citizens have “an amazing capacity for forgiveness, Sanford said.

“There’s an amazing acceptance of this notion that God can use imperfect people to fulfill jobs in all walks of life,” Sanford said.

Sanford’s political opponents are using this as an opportunity “to rewrite history,” he said.

“We have an incredible history when it comes to watching out for the taxpayer,” Sanford said. “When folks look at all the numbers ... we come out looking incredibly good.”

The governor said he could prove that he has used state planes much less than all previous administrations.

“I think it’s wrong to try to rewrite history on that front,” Sanford said.

The governor said his opponents, and the media, are focusing too much attention on him, and not enough on other issues, such as the state’s $100 million deficit.

“We have a real opportunity here in these last 16 months to do some profound things, with regard to restructuring, with regards to spending, with regard to jobs and the economy, that have never been here before in the history of, at least, my administration.”

Sanford did not take any questions from the press.