By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

Republican Mark Sanford could do all conservatives a big favor and resign as South Carolina's governor -- as GOP Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer urged him to do Wednesday.

Sanford once was a favored GOP candidate for the 2012 presidential race. But his well-known personal problems -- especially his extramarital affair with a woman in Argentina and his high-profile split from his wife -- have sapped much of his credibility.

But even these problems might have been overlooked by some supporters after he weepingly apologized on TV for his affair -- except for this:

While preaching accountability with public dollars, Sanford apparently was not practicing that very admirable trait.

New reports recently indicated the governor had used state planes for personal and political trips.

Sanford has resisted previous calls for his resignation, even from top Republicans in the state legislature.

So stay tuned: He's expected to respond to Bauer's demands later Wednesday.