Miami reporter still kicking butt in S.C.

UPDATED: Hear Lush discuss the story here on NPR.


Tamara Lush, the Miami-based AP reporter who once worked at Miami New Times, has been doing some great work since being dispatched to South Carolina last Friday to work on the Mark Sanford story.

But today she's outdone herself by scoring an exclusive that's sure to be leading all of the cable news shows today. The NY Times blogs about the story here.

What's unique about this is that Lush, who's only been in S.C. four days, is beating journalists who have been covering Governor Sanford day in and day out for years.

By TAMARA LUSH and EVAN BERLAND - Associated Press Writers

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford is admitting more encounters with his Argentine mistress than he previously has disclosed.

In a lengthy, emotional interview with The Associated Press, the governor described seven meetings with the woman, including their first in 2001. Sanford says there have been five over a 12-month period, including two multi-night stays with her in New York.

It was the first disclosure of any get-togethers with her in the United States and contradicted a public confession last week during which he admitted to a total of four encounters in the past year.

Repercussions are already reverberating throughout the state capitol due to Lush's scoop.

"S.C. State Sen. Vincent Sheheen, D-Camden, called Tuesday for Gov. Mark Sanford to resign.
"Sheheen’s statement came just minutes after The Associated Press released a story in which Sanford admitted to meeting his Argentine mistress more often than previously acknowledged, including twice in New York City, the first meetings in the United States Sanford have disclosed."